PBQniversity of Alabama 2026

Fourteen competitors gathered in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA on March 28, 2026, taking on a compact schedule focused on big cubes and memory disciplines. Staged at the University of Alabama Student Center, PBQniversity of Alabama 2026 offered five distinct events across five total rounds. The single-day schedule provided a dedicated platform for athletes who specialize outside of standard speedcubing mainstays, testing patience, memorization, and precise turning mechanics.

The morning schedule opened with precision events where turn efficiency and rhythm took center stage. In Clock, eleven solvers competed across a single round of five solves. Enoch Sanders captured first place with an average of 6.99 seconds, anchored by a best single effort of 5.87 seconds. Micah Morrison followed closely in second place with a 7.08 average, edging out Roman Wofford who secured third at 7.09 seconds in one of the tightest podium finishes of the day.

As the schedule progressed toward the larger mechanical puzzles, the 7x7x7 Cube tested stamina across eleven competitors. Jared Stinson secured the top spot on the podium with a winning average of 2:41.17, which included the fastest single solve of the event at 2:33.07. Micah Morrison claimed second place with a 2:45.42 average, while Nate Hunter took third position with an average time of 3:31.70.

The afternoon shifted entirely toward blindfolded disciplines, beginning with 3x3x3 Blindfolded. Memorizing the classic Rubik's Cube before executing the solve without sight requires absolute concentration. Micah Morrison took victory with a winning single of 50.62 seconds. Enoch Sanders took second place on the podium with a best solve of 2:04.66, and Jared Stinson finished third with a single time of 2:28.24 among the twelve competitors who entered the event.

Beyond the top steps of the podium, PBQniversity of Alabama 2026 showcased impressive individual breakthroughs across the roster. John Shidemantle tackled four different events throughout the day, recording a 6.93 Clock single to improve his personal best by 9.5 percent from 7.66. Shidemantle also recorded his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Blindfolded with a 3:33.81 single, his first ever attempt at 7x7x7 Cube with an 8:25.06, and earned a fourth-place finish in 3x3x3 Multi-Blind. Alexander Guirgues logged a first career attempt at 3x3x3 Blindfolded, putting up an 8:24.75 single for ninth place, while Annye Bennett completed a debut blindfolded attempt at 11:48.00 alongside an eighth-place finish in the 7x7x7 Cube. Isak Danke achieved a Clock personal best single of 8.42 seconds, trimming 4.8 percent off his prior 8.84 mark.

The personal milestones continued as athletes expanded their repertoires at this WCA competition. Sam Cooperman registered his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Blindfolded with a successful single of 8:24.95, while also claiming ninth in the 7x7x7 Cube. Nathan A. Hetzel entered two events and earned a fourth-place finish in 3x3x3 Multi-Blind. Lee Crowe focused on a single event, taking a fourth-place finish in Clock. Representing Ireland, Declan Mangan-Lamb took on four separate events across the day, highlighted by a fourth-place result in 3x3x3 Multi-Blind and a 2:37.19 single in 3x3x3 Blindfolded.

The blindfolded marathon concluded with 3x3x3 Multi-Blind, where competitors memorize and solve multiple puzzles in sequence under a sixty-minute cap. Fred Johnson took top honors by successfully solving 6 out of 6 cubes in a time of 50:21. Micah Morrison earned second place by completing 8 out of 11 cubes in 56:05, while Nate Hunter took third by delivering a flawless 4 out of 4 cubes in 37:51. The 4x4x4 Blindfolded event closed the day with three entrants, where Fred Johnson, Micah Morrison, and Jared Stinson shared the top placement.

By the close of the single-day cubing competition, the focus on specialist events provided a clear alternative to standard 3x3 results. With fifteen podium places earned across the five disciplines, PBQniversity of Alabama 2026 brought high-level speed cubing focus to the University of Alabama Student Center, giving both seasoned specialists and expanding competitors valuable official experience heading into future calendar stops.