Open de Gatineau 2026

The tables at Cégep Heritage were alive with the steady click of turning plastic on February 28, 2026, as 89 competitors gathered in Hull, Quebec, Canada. Timers rested beside stacked mats while judges observed every move across nine intense rounds. In an environment where a single misaligned layer can unravel a solve, speedcubing rewards those whose routines withstand repeated scrutiny. Over five distinct events, this cubing competition proved that true victory comes from sustainable pacing rather than relying on isolated bursts of speed.

Nowhere was that steady excellence clearer than in the main 3x3x3 Cube event at the Open de Gatineau 2026. Facing a field of 86 solvers across three rounds, William Lavoie secured first place with an outstanding 7.11 winning average, anchored by a best single of 6.23. While single solves can capture attention, stringing together five dependable attempts under tournament conditions decided the final outcome. Darshan Bhavanasi claimed second place with an 8.62 average, and Jonathan Wang took third with an 8.88 mark in the 3x3 results.

Lavoie carried that exact same discipline into the 2x2x2 Cube, where margins are razor-thin and tiny errors are magnified. Out of 84 competitors across two rounds, he captured the title with a 1.63 winning average and a lightning single of 1.03. Rémi Chrétien followed closely with a 1.86 average for second place, while Jonathan Proulx took third at 1.92. The tight spread among the top trio demonstrated how vital five stable turns are when contesting the shorter Rubik's Cube variants.

The Square-1 contest also belonged to Lavoie, who navigated the shifting geometry of the puzzle to average 11.94 across a 30-person field, posting a best single of 10.76. Jack Chicoine finished as runner-up with a 12.78 average, and Jonathan Wang stepped onto the podium again in third with a 14.96 mark. Adding to an already remarkable day, Lavoie earned podium spots in all four of the events he entered, securing three gold medals and one silver.

Away from the top of the standings, the tournament was defined by remarkable individual growth and bold debuts across the roster. Thomas Betancur-Garcia authored one of the steepest progressions of the day, setting a 2x2x2 personal best of 0.77 that was 79.5 percent faster than his previous mark, while also recording his first ever attempt at Square-1 with a 38.73 solve. Iaroslav Pisarevskii achieved a 78.7 percent drop in 2x2x2 with a new personal best of 1.56. Rian Coelho Gouveia Portela lowered his 2x2x2 best to 1.57, an improvement of 71.9 percent, and registered his first official Clock solve at 13.75. John Whissel shaved 62.9 percent off his previous benchmark in 3x3x3 One-Handed with a 41.27 personal best.

Several others took on unfamiliar challenges with immense dedication throughout the busy schedule. Antony Guirguis took on five events, completing a first ever attempt at Square-1 in 30.59, a Clock debut of 15.57, and an initial One-Handed mark of 30.65. Théodore Mathieu logged a Clock debut of 10.90 alongside a Square-1 debut of 35.11 while posting a 2x2x2 personal best of 1.07, which was 64.6 percent faster than before. Oscar John completed his first Clock attempt in 9.47, and first-time participant Ludovic Berriault completed four separate events in his WCA competition debut, including an initial Clock solve of 25.41.

The specialised puzzles produced fierce drama of their own, beginning with Clock where Jonathan Wang took top honours. Across two rounds with 50 entrants, Wang put together a stunning 2.72 winning average and a 2.11 single, building a decisive gap over Jonathan Proulx, who placed second with a 4.55 average, and Lavoie, who finished third at 5.23. The mechanical precision required on the dual-sided dials rewarded Wang's unwavering technique throughout the final.

In the one-handed division, Darshan Bhavanasi delivered the decisive showing of the afternoon. Facing 46 entrants in the single round of 3x3x3 One-Handed, Bhavanasi captured the title with a 14.59 winning average and a best single of 12.04. Lavoie followed in second place with a 16.62 average, and Charles-Olivier Rivard rounded out the top three with 17.29, showing total control through complex algorithms using just five fingers.

Across the five disciplines, competitors from Canada collected 13 podium places, while India earned two through Bhavanasi's stellar performances. As the single-day meet drew to a close, the Open de Gatineau 2026 proved that poise and repeatability form the bedrock of speed cubing success. Solvers pack their gear knowing that each five-solve set is an honest test of preparation, setting a solid foundation as they look ahead to the next season.