Perth Winter 2025

A total of 14.03 seconds on the final average decided the 3x3x3 One-Handed title, demonstrating the meticulous finger control and smooth table-sliding transitions that the single-palm discipline demands. Across two competitive rounds featuring 36 entrants, Lachlan Stephens controlled the rotation pace with surgical execution. His winning mark came alongside a best single of 12.65 seconds, edging Joshua Hounslow with a 14.97 second average and Amy Smith at 15.49 seconds on the podium. Managing complex algorithms with five fingers on one hand demands exceptional ergonomics, and Stephens delivered the defining performance of the event.

Held across June 21 and June 22 at Sacred Heart College, Perth Winter 2025 gathered 56 competitors in Perth, Western Australia, Australia for an action-packed winter speedcubing meeting. Across 19 rounds of play in nine distinct events, the WCA competition saw fierce rivalry across traditional Rubik's Cube variants as well as shape-shifting side events. Entrants from Australia and Singapore shared the competition floor in the 2025 fixture, providing sharp displays of turning speed from the first qualifying heats to the Sunday finals.

The standard three-layer classic delivered electric moments as Joshua Hounslow took the top spot in the 3x3x3 Cube final. Navigating three rounds among 55 entrants, Hounslow secured victory with a 7.69 average and produced the tournament's fastest single solve at 5.91 seconds. Aaron Espiritu took second position with an 8.20 average, while Stephens secured third with an 8.56 mark. The official 3x3 results underlined the exceptional depth across the local field, where quick recognition and rapid lookahead decided tiny margins.

Hounslow enjoyed a commanding weekend across multiple formats, collecting four individual gold medals. In the fast-paced 2x2x2 Cube, he topped the podium with a 1.93 winning average, narrowly surpassing Marco Campitelli at 1.97 and Espiritu at 2.09 after three rounds. Moving to the dodecahedral Megaminx, Hounslow conquered the 12-sided challenge with a 51.58 average and a 49.27 single, holding off James Holdsworth at 54.28 and Zak Kenny at 59.98. Hounslow added his fourth title in Pyraminx, logging a 3.04 average to beat Espiritu's 3.53 and Joel Harrop's 3.84.

Beyond the primary disciplines, Amy Smith showcased outstanding versatility by securing two major victories at Perth Winter 2025. In the 3x3x3 Blindfolded category, where competitors must rely on sheer memory before donning a blindfold, Smith recorded a standout winning single of 21.17 seconds. Joel Tan took second place with a 32.01 solve, and Declan Sander followed in 1:01.72. Smith returned to the tables to capture the Skewb crown, finishing with a 4.54 winning average and a 2.85 best single over two rounds of play.

Across the other finals, Jaxon Foster emerged victorious in the 4x4x4 Cube, posting a 32.55 average and a 30.78 single to hold off Zak Kenny, who finished just behind at 32.64, and Hounslow in third at 35.60. The Square-1 final was dominated by Ethan Caalim, who posted a 9.24 winning average with an 8.71 single, finishing comfortably ahead of Espiritu with 12.59 and Smith with 14.66. The technical complexity across nine events kept judges and participants active throughout the busy cubing competition schedule.

Away from the podium battles, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones and personal bests that highlighted the depth of the gathering. Sevastien Tecksingani took on eight events and posted a massive 70.4 percent reduction in 2x2x2 Cube with a 1.18 personal best, alongside a 9th-place finish in 3x3x3 One-Handed with a 14.95 mark. Zeke McQueen Laval cut his 2x2x2 personal best by 48.8 percent down to 1.05 and notched a 10th-place finish. Castiel Pountney Cheshire tackled seven events, slicing 35.9 percent off their Pyraminx mark to record 6.10, while Jeremiah Fox improved their Pyraminx best by 34.4 percent to 7.14.

Fresh challenges and event debuts brought further excitement to the scoreboards. Caleb Chew entered eight categories, lowering his 3x3x3 One-Handed best by 33.8 percent to 23.26 and making his first ever attempt at Megaminx with 1:37.56. Myles Carruthers improved his 3x3x3 mark by 30.3 percent to 30.44 while attempting Skewb for the first time with 21.18. Mark Browning took on nine events, dropping his Megaminx best by 28.7 percent to 1:31.56, and Lucas Glisenti took on five events, making first attempts at Skewb in 20.16, 2x2x2 in 9.63, and one-handed solving in 1:33.49.

The competitive calendar at Perth Winter 2025 wrapped up with Australia claiming 26 podium places and Singapore securing one. With thrilling head-to-head battles, intense one-handed execution, and dozens of personal benchmarks set on the competition tables, the weekend celebrated the very best of speed cubing excellence in Western Australia as solvers look ahead to the next season of play.