Ottawa 3x3x3 Winter A 2026

Thirty-six competitors gathered on January 9, 2026, as high-level speedcubing returned to Kanata, Ontario, Canada for Ottawa 3x3x3 Winter A 2026. Hosted at A.Y. Jackson S.S., the compact one-day meet brought together a focused field across two events and three intense rounds. Experienced solvers wasted little time stamping their authority on the tables, demonstrating the precision and composure that comes from years of tournament experience.

The 3x3x3 Cube contest stood at the center of the schedule, drawing 34 competitors through two rounds of classic Rubik's Cube action. Veteran campaigner Omar Ellabban took control of the event, posting a decisive winning average of 8.19 seconds to secure top honours. Ellabban also delivered the fastest single solve of the entire discipline at 7.55 seconds, leaving no doubt about his sharp form early in the 2026 season.

Behind the champion, the race for the remaining podium places in the 3x3 results stayed remarkably close. Jeremy Lamoureux pieced together a reliable set of solves to capture the runner-up spot with a 10.57-second average. Just two hundredths of a second separated second from third, as Rémi Chrétien locked down the bronze position with an average of 10.59 seconds, underscoring the razor-thin margins at the top.

Chrétien was far from finished with his day, stepping up to headline the 2x2x2 Cube event across a single, high-stakes round featuring 32 entrants. Showcasing seasoned turning speed and efficient inspection, Chrétien captured the gold medal with a winning average of 3.24 seconds, backed by a blistering best single of 1.71 seconds. His dual-podium performance made him one of the standout figures of the gathering.

The 2x2x2 Cube podium was completed by fellow Canadian solvers who pushed the pace throughout the afternoon. Ethan Wang claimed the second step with a steady 3.92-second average, while Malcom Guernon secured third place with a mark of 4.16 seconds. Canadian competitors swept all six available podium spots across the two disciplines, completing a dominant performance on home turf at this sanctioned WCA competition.

Beyond the top steps of the podium, Ottawa 3x3x3 Winter A 2026 provided fertile ground for breakthroughs and steep learning curves across the roster. Thomas Aud produced one of the most dramatic leaps of the day, cutting his 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 55.6 percent down to 4.58 seconds while also slashing his 3x3x3 Cube personal best to 18.33 seconds, a 40.5 percent improvement. Alvin Lu made substantial strides as well, dropping his 2x2x2 Cube mark by 52.9 percent to 3.67 seconds and establishing a 9.35-second 3x3x3 Cube personal best on his way to sixth place.

Other competitors made their marks through rapid progression and debut attempts at the venue. Sylvie Perron took 42.3 percent off her 2x2x2 Cube best to finish at 48.03 seconds, while Ryan Gorman improved his 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 27.3 percent down to 6.39 seconds. Oscar John logged his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube with a rapid 2.53-second single to place sixth overall, alongside a 19.6 percent improvement in 3x3x3 Cube to 15.68 seconds. Luciano Volpe secured fourth place in 2x2x2 Cube with a 3.36-second personal best, while newcomers Samuel Wang and Samuel Agudelo completed their first official tournaments, logging maiden 2x2x2 singles of 6.22 and 7.53 seconds respectively.

The efficient two-event slate highlighted the depth of local speed cubing talent, offering seasoned veterans a platform to hone their tournament craft while giving emerging solvers vital stage time. With commanding wins from Ellabban and Chrétien setting the benchmark, the competition in Kanata closed out as a spirited start to the regional calendar, leaving the field well prepared for the tests that lie ahead.