Rubik's Irish Championship FMC 2026

A total of 23 competitors gathered at University College Dublin on July 11, 2026, where every move counted toward a strict mean-of-3 result. Unlike standard formats where competitors can drop their worst attempt, the Fewest Moves discipline offers zero margin for error. A single miscalculated insertion, a flawed skeleton, or an overlooked cancellation carries straight into the final tally. At Rubik's Irish Championship FMC 2026, solving the traditional Rubik's Cube was stripped of rapid finger-tricks and turned entirely into an intense battle of analytical efficiency, making every single written turn of the puzzle decisively consequential.

The singular event on the schedule brought international talent and local contenders together in Dublin, Ireland. Speedcubing in the FMC arena demands a rare blend of spatial theory and endurance over extended one-hour solving attempts. In this high-stakes cubing competition, delivering three consistent solutions across the day was the only path to the top of the standings. One stray move in a single attempt could push an otherwise brilliant average far down the leaderboards, raising the tension across every phase of the round.

Nikita Grytsenko of Ukraine captured victory in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, finishing with a stunning winning average of 22.00 moves. Grytsenko set the pace for the entire tournament by executing a phenomenal national record single of 18 moves during the round. That brilliant solution anchored a scorecard that showcased how to navigate the relentless demands of the mean-of-3 format without yielding a single costly mistake across three long hours of meticulous problem solving.

Ireland's own Adam Bermingham delivered an equally remarkable performance on home soil to take second place on the podium. Bermingham also found an extraordinary 18-turn solution, matching Grytsenko for a national record single in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves for Ireland. Backing up that breakthrough with two other efficient attempts, Bermingham concluded the competition with an Irish national record average of 24.00 moves, cementing a historic performance in the domestic record books.

Rounding out the podium places, Fabian Settelen of Switzerland secured third place with a solid 30.00 mean. Settelen maintained composure across all three attempts to hold off a competitive chasing pack. Across the top tier of the results sheet, Ukraine, Ireland, and Switzerland each claimed one podium spot, showing the international reach of this focused WCA competition in the heart of Dublin.

Beyond the podium race, the weekend highlighted significant personal breakthroughs from competitors across the field. Declan Mangan-Lamb delivered one of the day's sharpest improvements, setting a new 3x3x3 Fewest Moves personal best of 29 moves, which was 17.1% faster than his previous best of 35 on his way to 12th place. Oisín Olwill also made substantial headway, cutting down to a personal best of 35 moves, an improvement of 7.9% from 38, to finish in 13th. Meanwhile, Carter Hazley made his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, navigating the format to record a 30-move solution for a 6th place finish.

Other competitors similarly embraced the unique technical challenge of the event for the first time in their careers. Maxime Lardeur tackled his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, securing a 35 to finish 13th, while Iollan Quinn marked his first ever attempt with a 44 to finish 18th. Lee Dearn contested the event to secure 19th place, and Kaeso O'Neill recorded a best finish of 20th. Raymond Joyce also completed his attempt to earn a best finish of 20th, contributing to a vibrant set of 3x3 results in the University College Dublin hall.

Leon Eoín Bailey also made his mark on the rankings by earning 16th place overall. The sheer concentration required in this discipline shows why speed cubing enthusiasts revere the FMC format. With no luxury of throwing out a weak score, every competitor had to confront the mathematical realities of the puzzle directly on paper.

As the single round concluded, Rubik's Irish Championship FMC 2026 proved how demanding and rewarding the search for the shortest route can be. With two national record singles of 18 moves and a new Irish national record average, the competition demonstrated the highest levels of technical efficiency. The day wrapped up as a definitive showcase of analytical skill in Ireland's capital.