Only Odds in Minnesota 2026

The gym floor at the Maplewood YMCA Community Center buzzed with shared energy on September 12, 2026, as tables filled with timers, mats, and an array of uniquely structured puzzles. Competitors gathered to trade solving tips, inspect corner mechanisms, and catch up with old friends across the practice tables. The gathering marked Only Odds in Minnesota 2026, an event entirely dedicated to puzzles of odd dimensions. Between calls to the solving stations, groups mingled to compare hardware modifications and solve side puzzles casually, setting a warm, social tone for the entire single-day gathering in Maplewood, Minnesota, USA.

This specialized WCA competition spotlighted five distinct disciplines, leaving out even-layered puzzles entirely to test mastery across odd-layered challenges and odd-shaped side events. Enthusiasts of speedcubing embraced the unique schedule, which moved seamlessly from rapid-fire pyramid turns to the grueling concentration required for larger cubes. Across the competition floor, participants cheered each other through nerve-wracking solves and shared advice on fingertricks, showing how a local cubing competition fosters connection just as much as intense competition across every skill bracket.

The 3x3x3 Cube contest, the classic Rubik's Cube discipline, provided a dramatic centerpiece for the afternoon. Nathan Phillips delivered an exceptional display of efficiency and dexterity, securing first place with an average time of 7.45 seconds. Nathan Rahn chased closely behind to claim the runner-up spot with an 8.25-second average, while Christoph Wu rounded out the podium in third place at 8.34 seconds. The official 3x3 results demonstrated remarkable consistency at the top table, where every turn counted toward separating the leading trio.

Beyond the standard cube, Nathan Phillips extended his dominance into the larger puzzles on the schedule. In the 5x5x5 Cube, Phillips earned another victory by registering a top time of 46.76 seconds, finishing ahead of Kaius Young with 51.48 seconds and Tyler Robinson at 1:01.20. The endurance test of the 7x7x7 Cube brought similar success for Phillips, who completed a winning solve of 2:07.41. Walker Welch placed second in the 7x7x7 event in 2:40.48, followed by Kaius Young taking third in 2:45.68 to conclude a grueling big-cube lineup.

The side events brought rapid pace and technical variety to Only Odds in Minnesota 2026. In the Pyraminx division, Ryan Michael Sisneros achieved the top podium step with a swift winning mark of 2.44 seconds. Carl Overbye secured second place with 2.80 seconds, narrowly edging Nathan Rahn who took third in 2.92 seconds. Rahn quickly rebounded in the Skewb event, taking first place with an impressive 2.69-second result. Tyler Robinson followed in second at 3.28 seconds, while Carl Overbye collected another medal in third with a time of 5.23 seconds.

Away from the top podium steps, personal milestones highlighted the depth of the field throughout the weekend. Charles Hakala achieved a Skewb personal best of 11.90 seconds, marking a massive 49.1 percent improvement over his previous best, while also logging a first ever attempt at Pyraminx in 15.55 seconds. Oleksandr Tovpeko cut 42.4 percent off his Pyraminx personal best down to 5.67 seconds, while taking on four events including his first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube in 2:35.04 and Skewb in 8.86 seconds. Ida Penn-McGree logged an impressive 42.4 percent improvement in the 3x3x3 Cube to set a personal best of 26.13 seconds alongside debut attempts in Pyraminx and Skewb. Theodore Lounsbery cut his 7x7x7 Cube mark by 41.8 percent down to 4:12.12 and reached a 7th place finish.

Newcomers and developing solvers continued to embrace fresh challenges across the board. Theodore Sargent-Clark improved his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 37.8 percent down to 33.06 seconds and logged a first ever attempt at Pyraminx in 19.07 seconds. Tobias Carroll advanced his Pyraminx personal best by 30.7 percent to 7.63 seconds and tackled four events in Maplewood. Elliot Anderson recorded a 28.8 percent cut to reach a 20.65-second personal best in the 3x3x3 Cube. Meanwhile, Theodore Lindeman completed his first WCA competition by entering three separate events, recording initial official marks in the 3x3x3 Cube, Pyraminx, and Skewb.

The collective camaraderie and focused problem-solving on display made Only Odds in Minnesota 2026 a memorable celebration of speed cubing in the region. Competitors supported each other through challenging rotations and celebrated breakthroughs across every round. As the final tables were cleared at the Maplewood YMCA Community Center, participants packed their gear and shared farewells, looking forward to the next gathering of the regional community in the upcoming season.