PBQ NCSU 2026

Aditya Arunkumar delivered a flawless multi-blind performance by solving eight out of eight puzzles in 41 minutes and 41 seconds to highlight PBQ NCSU 2026. The single-day WCA competition took place on March 15, 2026, at the North Carolina State University Witherspoon Student Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. Nineteen competitors gathered to contest six specialized events across seven rounds, drawing a dedicated group of enthusiasts who brought remarkable energy to the venue.

While the meet showcased high-level blindfolded mastery and big cubes, the gathering stood out for the new milestones achieved across the board. Many participants stepped onto the official floor to take on complex events for the very first time. From early attempts at memorization to demanding endurance solves, speedcubing showed its depth as fresh faces and seasoned enthusiasts shared the competition tables throughout the action-packed day.

Big cube solving opened with fierce competition in the 6x6x6 Cube event, where Ibrahim Khanani captured first place with a winning average of 1:44.10 and a top single solve of 1:40.13. Bhuvanesh Ganta pushed Khanani all the way to secure the second step on the podium with a 1:44.96 average. Ashten Jampayas took third place with a mark of 1:46.23, completing a tight contest among the eighteen entrants in the round.

Khanani continued his winning form in the 7x7x7 Cube division, securing his second victory of the weekend with a final average of 2:25.45 and the fastest single solve of 2:17.26. Ganta claimed another runner-up finish by posting an average of 2:36.12, while Jampayas once again earned third place with a time of 2:54.16. The duo of Khanani and Ganta established a high standard across both large-puzzle disciplines in Raleigh.

Beyond the podium places, several competitors delivered massive personal breakthroughs across the scorecards. Natassia Jones chopped 29.3 percent off her previous standard in 3x3x3 Blindfolded with a 5:05.25 single, alongside a 4:23.91 in 6x6x6 Cube and a 6:26.24 mark in 7x7x7 Cube across three entered events. Evan Millsap cut 19.6 percent off his 7x7x7 Cube personal best down to 2:40.06 to finish fourth overall. Joshua Riker tackled his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Blindfolded with a 3:00.94 single, earning fifth place, while also lowering his 7x7x7 Cube best by 18.4 percent to 3:55.05 and his 6x6x6 Cube best by 10 percent to 2:33.70.

Jack Taylor made significant strides in the 7x7x7 Cube, posting a personal best of 4:51.49 to improve by 14.3 percent. Addy Coolidge took on two events and recorded personal bests in both, dropping her 7x7x7 Cube time by 12.7 percent to 4:33.16 and her 6x6x6 Cube mark by 12.5 percent to 2:33.21. Ada Cooke shaved 3.7 percent from her 7x7x7 Cube personal best with a time of 3:17.06, finishing eighth. Mayson Frye competed in two events, reaching seventh in 6x6x6 Cube, while Dalton Padgett secured a fifth-place finish in 3x3x3 Blindfolded after entering four separate disciplines.

The blindfolded categories offered plenty of excitement, with Arunkumar sweeping every event on the schedule. In the standard 3x3x3 Blindfolded contest, Arunkumar claimed the top spot with a best single of 57.07 seconds. Rue Clippinger earned second place with a final single of 1:21.89, followed by Raghav Reddy in third with a time of 1:37.08. Competitors throughout the field pursued precision while solving the classic Rubik's Cube completely unseen after an initial memorization phase.

Arunkumar expanded his tally in the 4x4x4 Blindfolded event, recording a winning single of 6:56.77 to finish as the lone competitor with a successful solve on the scorecard. The 5x5x5 Blindfolded division proved exceptionally difficult for the field, as both entrants registered DNFs on all attempts. Nonetheless, the high difficulty showcased the technical skill demanded at elite levels of speed cubing.

In the multi-blind challenge, Arunkumar sealed an exceptional four-event sweep by converting all eight cubes in 41:41. Ledger Ramirez delivered a clean performance to claim second place with a 3/3 result in 19:03, while Kyra Joiner rounded out the podium with 8 out of 13 cubes solved in 55:00. Looking over the official 3x3 results across the blindfolded rounds, the tournament offered a comprehensive test of memory and technique.

The successful running of PBQ NCSU 2026 highlighted the vibrant community of solvers gathered in North Carolina. Across six events, every podium position went to United States competitors, while solvers from multiple backgrounds tested their limits on the official tables. With impressive sweeps, personal records, and ambitious debut attempts, the cubing competition set an inspiring benchmark for the rest of the 2026 season.