Queen City NC 2025

Caleb Chen delivered the defining performance of Queen City NC 2025 by capturing the 3x3x3 Cube crown with a sensational 5.26-second winning average, anchored by a blistering best single of 4.92 seconds. Taking place on March 8, 2025, at the Tyvola Senior Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, the gathering brought together 77 competitors across five events and nine rounds. For the local speedcubing community, watching a domestic standout post world-class times on home soil provided the absolute centerpiece of the weekend action.

The main event featured 76 competitors navigating three competitive rounds, culminating in a fast final where Chen stood atop the podium. Kerry Creech claimed second place with a 6.93 average, while Andreas Lambropoulos took third with a 6.98 average. Enthusiasts closely following 3x3 results witnessed remarkable precision on the classic Rubik's Cube, as Chen maintained his composure under pressure to close out the competition with the only sub-six-second average of the tournament.

Chen was not finished after the marquee event, stepping right back up to sweep the 2x2x2 Cube title as well. Over two rounds featuring 70 competitors, he posted a winning average of 1.52 seconds and a best single of 1.25 seconds to secure his second gold of the meet. Creech took the runner-up spot once more with a 1.87 average, and Breylan Ouellette completed the podium in third with an average of 2.04 seconds, capping a high-intensity sprint event.

The puzzle variety continued with Alex Bohac taking first place in Clock, recording a winning average of 3.53 seconds and a best single of 3.09 across two rounds of 48 competitors. Justin Barker finished second with a 4.87 average, followed closely by Drake Denton Richard in third at 5.15 seconds. In the Megaminx division, NJ Kim conquered the twelve-sided puzzle, topping a field of 43 competitors with a winning average of 50.82 seconds and a best single of 45.75 seconds, outpacing Matthew A. Kight and Daniel Mullen.

In 3x3x3 Blindfolded, an event requiring complete memorisation before executing the solve with a blindfold, Xi Lu secured victory among 20 competitors with a best single of 21.86 seconds despite finishing with a DNF average. The podium was rounded out by Daniel Mullen in second place with a single of 1:40.57 and Eddie Artze in third at 1:54.06. Across the five disciplines, podium places were awarded fifteen times, with competitors from the United States taking 14 podium spots and China securing one.

Beyond the podium battles, Queen City NC 2025 was defined by personal milestones across the venue. Reese Sommer-McPhail produced massive gains, dropping their 3x3x3 Cube personal best to 15.03 seconds, a 59.4 percent improvement from 37.03, alongside a 2x2x2 personal best of 4.34 seconds. Emory Neville achieved a 23.38-second personal best in the 3x3x3 Cube, improving by 31.7 percent, while logging a first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube with a 4.41. Carter Androzzi recorded a Clock personal best of 14.46 seconds, cutting 31.5 percent off their prior mark, alongside a first 2x2x2 attempt of 3.35 seconds. Ayush Kadian took on two events and sliced 28.9 percent off their 3x3x3 personal best to hit 37.13 seconds, and completed a first 2x2x2 solve in 11.32 seconds.

The progress continued across multi-event campaigns, as Eleanor Matthews tackled four disciplines, logging a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 12.89 seconds, a 27.1 percent improvement, along with first career attempts in Megaminx at 3:35.76 and Clock at 18.26. Jackson Perry Edens also entered four events, posting a Clock personal best of 10.57 seconds to improve by 26 percent while recording a first 2x2x2 attempt of 5.04 seconds and Megaminx in 1:55.32. Lucas Dam made this their first WCA competition by entering four events, including first attempts in Megaminx at 2:22.07, 2x2x2 at 4.27, and Clock at 22.64. Evan Quigley similarly entered their first official cubing competition, tackling four events and recording initial official marks of 10.73 seconds in 3x3x3, 4.31 in 2x2x2, and 1:58.75 in Megaminx.

The sheer energy in the hall showed how vibrant the speed cubing landscape remains across the region in 2025. From elite sub-six solving in the headline division to newcomers finding their footing across diverse disciplines, Queen City NC 2025 delivered a full day of high-level puzzle solving. Competitors now look ahead to upcoming calendar fixtures, carrying sharp personal records and tournament experience forward into the next season of competitive play.