PBQ in Tashkent 2026

Inside School #207, the atmosphere carried the distinct stillness that defines an elite assembly of memory-based puzzle events. Blindfolds rested beside timers, notation sheets lay waiting on desks, and competitors quietly prepared their minds for some of the most complex disciplines in modern speedcubing. Running from March 28 to March 29, the PBQ in Tashkent 2026 brought together a dedicated field of 11 competitors in Tashkent, Uzbekistan for a rigorous program of mental endurance across six rounds and five distinct events.

For anyone stepping into this specialized arena, the challenge of a speed cubing meet focused on blindfolded solving and efficiency is unmistakable. Unlike a standard cubing competition where raw turning speed dominates, these rounds demand complete spatial memorisation, absolute discipline under pressure, and intricate planning. Every participant at the venue took on events that offer zero margin for error, with the 2026 gathering providing an intense stage where every solved state earned genuine respect across the room.

Vladimir Sergeev delivered a commanding sweep of the blindfolded categories throughout the two-day schedule. In the 3x3x3 Blindfolded event, Sergeev captured first place with an extraordinary best single of 22.22 seconds, having also posted a 23.52 single across the two rounds. The runner-up spot went to Akram Usarov of Uzbekistan with a single of 46.62 seconds, while fellow countryman Igor Aipkin took third place with a time of 1:03.02. The round served as the headline display among the weekend 3x3 results, proving how rapidly elite solvers can execute full memorisation and blind execution.

Sergeev extended his dominance into the larger puzzles, securing the top spot in 4x4x4 Blindfolded with a winning single time of 2:04.06. Igor Aipkin earned the silver medal position with a time of 5:28.08, followed by Jiayu Wang of China who completed the podium in 5:43.09. Sergeev then concluded his triple-crown sweep in 5x5x5 Blindfolded, recording a winning single of 6:11.00. Bekzodjon Yusupov of Uzbekistan finished second with 15:50.00, while Wang collected another podium spot with 16:41.00.

Beyond the top steps of the podium, several determined competitors demonstrated massive individual progress across demanding multi-step puzzles at the PBQ in Tashkent 2026. Diasbek Zhuraev took on all five events on the schedule and earned a fourth-place finish in 3x3x3 Blindfolded. Zhuraev produced a standout personal best in 5x5x5 Blindfolded with a time of 17:52.00, cutting his previous mark of 25:18.00 down by 29.4 percent, alongside a new personal best of 7/8 points in 44:04 in 3x3x3 Multi-Blind. Meanwhile, Asset Agabekov tackled four events and achieved a personal best of 5/5 in 29:41 in 3x3x3 Multi-Blind to take sixth place.

That same commitment was shared across the rest of the field, where dedicated specialists focused their efforts on single disciplines. Jasur Beknazov entered 3x3x3 Fewest Moves as his sole event of the weekend, securing an eighth-place finish on the final standings. Aleksandr Podolskiy concentrated exclusively on the complex demands of 5x5x5 Blindfolded, earning a seventh-place finish. Their performances reflected the quiet determination that sits behind every score sheet at a sanctioned WCA competition.

The remaining events highlighted different tactical approaches to the classic Rubik's Cube. In 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, Damir Zhanataev of Kazakhstan claimed victory with a winning average of 36.33 moves across the three attempts, backed by a best single of 31 moves. Bekzodjon Yusupov took second place with an average of 37.67 moves, and Jiayu Wang rounded out the top three with an average of 39.33 moves, demonstrating high-level analytical efficiency under standard competition time limits.

The 3x3x3 Multi-Blind event capped off an intense schedule of memory feats at PBQ in Tashkent 2026, where Igor Aipkin took first place by successfully resolving 13 out of 14 cubes in 52:00. Bekmurod Astanaliyev secured second place with a flawless 10 out of 10 cubes in 50:10, while Bekzodjon Yusupov finished third with 12 out of 14 cubes in 55:25. Host nation Uzbekistan led the overall tally with eight podium finishes, while Russia and China earned three each and Kazakhstan took one, concluding an exceptional weekend of specialist solving in Tashkent.