Ōtepoti Big Cubes 2025

Twenty-five rounds across thirteen events pushed a tight field of eleven solvers through a relentless schedule in Dunedin, New Zealand. Held over August 30 and August 31 at the Green Island Bowling Club, Ōtepoti Big Cubes 2025 relied on a two-round progression for nearly every event on the docket. That consistent structure demanded immediate reliability from the opening phase to the final five solves, narrowing down small groups of competitors into high-pressure shootouts where even a single unsteady turn could alter the podium standings.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube contest illustrated the value of staying sharp through each stage of the bracket. Jasper Murray topped the final round with a 6.40 average, highlighted by a rapid 5.33 single. Dwyane Ramos kept pace throughout the final to claim the runner-up spot with a 6.90 average, while Henry Eyles completed the podium with a 7.64 mark. In an eleven-person speedcubing bracket where almost everyone advanced, pacing across multiple rounds proved crucial, shaping the final 3x3 results at the top of the order.

Big cubes formed the core of the weekend, testing stamina and solving efficiency across extended solves. Henry Eyles dominated the upper tier of puzzles, claiming first place in the 6x6x6 Cube with an average of 1:28.66 and a single of 1:24.45, finishing ahead of Dwyane Ramos who took second in 1:30.17 and James Dyer who took third in 1:46.86. Eyles doubled up his big cube success by winning the 7x7x7 Cube with an average of 2:19.89 and a fastest single of 2:14.53, maintaining consistency across both rounds.

The 5x5x5 Cube delivered one of the closest conclusions seen all weekend at Ōtepoti Big Cubes 2025. Dwyane Ramos captured the title with a 50.35 average, edging Henry Eyles who posted a 50.52 average for second place. Jasper Murray followed closely to secure third with a 53.93 average. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Murray turned the tables by winning the two-round event with a 29.91 average and a 26.09 single, while Eyles finished second in 31.25 and Ramos claimed third in 32.38.

Away from the top of the podiums, the multi-event schedule offered fertile ground for personal milestones and competitive debuts. Jordan Harvey tackled nine events and took fourth in the Rubik's Cube, recording a 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best of 19.50 that improved upon their previous mark by 16.4 percent, alongside a Skewb best of 3.69 that was 15.8 percent faster and a 4x4x4 Cube best of 29.43 that cut 9.1 percent. Naman Shastri took on twelve disciplines during the weekend, logging their first ever attempts at Clock in 1:23.40, 7x7x7 Cube in 5:31.48, and Square-1 in 1:05.66. Eamon Henderson entered their first WCA competition, competing in five events while posting debut marks of 20.02 on the 3x3x3 Cube, 7.49 on the 2x2x2 Cube, and 2:54.41 on the 4x4x4 Cube.

Short-format puzzles also featured prominently through the two-round setup. In the 2x2x2 Cube, Henry Eyles emerged victorious with a 2.43 average and a 1.63 single in the final. Jasper Murray excelled in the Pyraminx, producing a winning average of 2.01 and a best single of 1.29 across the two rounds. In Skewb, Dwyane Ramos took first place with a 2.86 average, joined on the podium by Adrien Auvray Matyn with 3.85 and Gabe Smith with 4.68.

Specialist events tested distinct disciplines under the same rigorous multi-round formats. In the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, Dwyane Ramos captured the win with a 9.35 average and a 7.26 single, holding off Jasper Murray who averaged 9.79 and Adrien Auvray Matyn who averaged 12.85. Square-1 saw Adrien Auvray Matyn take the title with a 5.66 average, ahead of Henry Eyles with 9.21 and Ramos with 13.45. Eyles picked up further hardware by winning Megaminx in 46.63 and Clock in 5.42, showcasing broad technical range at this cubing competition.

The only single-round discipline of the tournament was 3x3x3 Blindfolded, where memorisation and flawless execution under a blindfold decide the outcome without a safety net. Gabe Smith won the event by logging a single of 3:57.85 among three competitors, while Henry Eyles secured second place with a successful solve of 6:39.84. Dwyane Ramos took third place despite recording a DNF, concluding an intense test of mental discipline.

Across the two days of competition, New Zealand competitors collected thirty-eight podium placements, alongside one podium finish from Australia. By structuring twelve of the thirteen events across two stages, Ōtepoti Big Cubes 2025 gave its field repeated opportunities to manage stage pressure and refine their solves. The compact gathering highlighted how structured multi-round formats elevate performance across the speed cubing spectrum in Dunedin as solvers look forward to the next season.

From the fast turns of the 3x3x3 Cube to the demanding endurance of the largest puzzles, the meet provided a comprehensive showcase of modern solving. The efficient execution of twenty-five rounds inside the Green Island Bowling Club demonstrated the depth of talent present at Ōtepoti Big Cubes 2025. With balanced podium distributions between Ramos, Eyles, Murray, and Matyn, the 2025 gathering underscored the value of precision when every single turn counts.