Rubik's Irish Championship 2025

Enda Loftus delivered the standout performance of the weekend by solving 21 out of 21 puzzles blindfolded in 56 minutes and 41 seconds during the 3x3x3 Multi-Blind event. That flawless memory display set the tone for an expansive weekend of speedcubing at the SETU Arena, where 206 competitors gathered for the Rubik's Irish Championship 2025. Held in Waterford, Ireland from August 15 to August 17, the schedule demonstrated the full spectrum of modern twisty puzzles across 16 different disciplines and 36 rounds of competition.

The range of challenges tested every imaginable skill set, moving from the microscopic precision of the 2x2x2 Cube to massive big cubes and blindfolded marathons. Competitors navigated shifting mechanical formats, changing grips, and completely different solving strategies as they transitioned between classic twisty puzzles and speciality mechanisms. With so many diverse categories compressed into three intense days of action in 2025, versatility proved to be the ultimate asset for anyone seeking top honours on the national stage.

In the flagship 3x3x3 Cube, CJ Furey claimed victory after four demanding rounds with a winning average of 7.03 seconds and a best single time of 6.03 seconds. The traditional Rubik's Cube brought together a field of 201 competitors, making it the most heavily contested event on the schedule. The final 3x3 results capped off an exciting sequence of rounds that kept the venue focused on the classic puzzle before the wider program unfolded across alternative events.

Ciarán Beahan staged an extraordinary sweep across the big cubes, collecting victories in four separate events. Beahan won the 4x4x4 Cube with a 23.32 average ahead of Daniel Rush and Danny Morgan, then captured the 5x5x5 Cube title in 40.45 seconds over Cillian Hainbach and Rush. Continuing his dominance on larger hardware, Beahan secured the 6x6x6 Cube with a 1:19.81 average and the 7x7x7 Cube with a 1:52.45 average, establishing unprecedented command across all multi-layered events at this cubing competition.

Beyond standard puzzles, specialised categories brought unique mechanical challenges to the tables. Onome Brownly-Otiede took first place in 3x3x3 One-Handed with an 11.61 average, besting CJ Furey and Ciarán Beahan on an all-Irish podium. Danny Morgan claimed the Clock title with a 3.12 average, finishing just ahead of Jack Corr and Jimi Naysmith. In Megaminx, Aidan Grainger topped the 115-competitor field with a 29.01 average, while Taj Bressert earned the Skewb title averaging 2.36 seconds and Enda Loftus added a Pyraminx victory with an average of 2.56 seconds.

Beneath the top podium spots, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones across wide programmes at the Rubik's Irish Championship 2025. Luca Hennessy took on 11 events, logging a first ever attempt at 6x6x6 Cube in 5:02.39, while dropping his Clock personal best by 78.3 percent to 9.16 seconds and his Pyraminx personal best by 52.9 percent to 3.27 seconds. Evan McDermott also contested 11 events, recording a first Square-1 attempt of 46.59 seconds, a Pyraminx personal best of 5.09 seconds that was 54 percent faster, and a Megaminx personal best of 1:58.52. Venice Chia Hang Yuie made first attempts in Pyraminx with 20.02 and 2x2x2 Cube with 11.44, alongside a Clock personal best of 20.68 seconds, 47.9 percent faster than before. Teo Andrade Kelly achieved a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 9.59 seconds, improving by 44.4 percent, while registering first attempts in Clock at 13.94 seconds and 5x5x5 Cube at 2:16.90.

The depth of participation continued with Chloe O'Loughlin tackling 13 events, recording first ever attempts in the 7x7x7 Cube at 7:37.73, the 6x6x6 Cube at 4:11.44, and Megaminx at 2:35.59. Sean Conlon entered 11 events, posting initial competition marks of 12.08 in Skewb, 2:33.15 in the 4x4x4 Cube, and 35.89 in 3x3x3 One-Handed. Tom Rice embraced 10 events, logging first attempts in the 6x6x6 Cube at 6:27.96, Megaminx at 3:48.79, and 3x3x3 One-Handed at 1:10.11. Eddie Dunne also tackled 10 disciplines, marking debut times of 12.46 in Clock, 43.57 in 3x3x3 One-Handed, and 1:26.69 in Square-1, reflecting the energetic spirit that defined this WCA competition.

The blindfolded categories demanded extreme concentration and technical execution. Ryan Eckersley captured the 4x4x4 Blindfolded event with a single time of 1:28.39, finishing ahead of Michael Ngan and Colm McCarthy, and added a 5x5x5 Blindfolded victory with a 2:53.25 single. Ben Stokes won 3x3x3 Blindfolded with a 17.54 single over Eckersley and McCarthy. Meanwhile, sprint formats produced blistering times, with Harry Allen winning the 190-competitor 2x2x2 Cube event in a 1.42 average and Rían Burke securing Square-1 with an 8.21 average.

The gathering reflected the robust international appeal and domestic strength of the speed cubing scene, as Ireland collected 24 podium placements alongside 16 for the United Kingdom, four for South Africa, three for Hong Kong, and one for the Netherlands. Across every discipline, from fast sprints to intricate multi-cube challenges, the Rubik's Irish Championship 2025 highlighted the immense breadth of the sport before the competitive circuit turns toward the rest of the season.