Shhicago V 2026

Twenty-eight point zero eight seconds was all the time Thomas Reinke needed to solve a puzzle completely sightless and claim the 3x3x3 Blindfolded title. That single solve set the tone for a weekend defined by deep concentration and mental endurance. Held over May 29 to May 30, 2026, Shhicago V 2026 brought 23 competitors to the Technological Institute at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, USA. Across 15 rounds of competition, solvers tackled eight official events, with the demanding blindfolded disciplines anchoring the schedule and drawing focus to the quietest, most intense corners of the arena.

Solving puzzles blindfolded requires total memorisation of piece positions, complex orientation systems, and absolute spatial recall before the blindfold even descends. Thomas Reinke delivered a dominant masterclass across the memory events throughout Shhicago V 2026. Beyond his lightning-fast 28.08 single in the three-round 3x3x3 Blindfolded contest, Reinke captured the 3x3x3 Multi-Blind title by successfully resolving 26 out of 31 cubes in 52:49. He also took first place in 5x5x5 Blindfolded with an 8:30.82 single, securing a remarkable sweep across three distinct blind categories.

The blindfolded events proved fiercely contested behind the top spot on the podium. János Csontos was a consistent force across the board, securing second place in 3x3x3 Blindfolded with a 1:08.70 single, second in 3x3x3 Multi-Blind with a superb 19 out of 20 in 51:01, and second in 5x5x5 Blindfolded with a 13:24.00 single. In 4x4x4 Blindfolded, Brayden Thompson navigated the complex parity algorithms to seize victory with a winning single of 3:17.15, ahead of Reinke in second at 3:38.80 and Csontos in third at 6:41.37.

Beyond the blindfold challenges, traditional speedcubing events delivered fast-paced finals. In 4x4x4 Cube, Ganghui Lin claimed victory with a winning average of 27.66 seconds, highlighted by the round's best single of 21.82. Max Walaszek took second place with a 30.09 average, while Sebastian Carrillo finished third with 33.45. Walaszek then secured a title of his own in Megaminx, winning the twelve-sided puzzle event with an average of 50.15 seconds, followed by Reed W. Richardson in second with 54.86 and Carrillo in third with 57.33.

The 7x7x7 Cube contest went to Carter Thomas, who managed massive piece counts to win with an average of 2:08.39, including a best single of 1:58.84. Max Walaszek placed second in 2:11.21, and Brayden Thompson took third in 2:50.44. In Clock, Sebastian Carrillo captured first place with an average of 4.75 seconds, edging out Reed W. Richardson at 4.90 and Carter Thomas at 4.97 in a very narrow podium race. While general spectators often look for standard 3x3 results, the specialty formats at this cubing competition offered a full showcase of technical skill.

Across the tables, several competitors produced massive breakthroughs that the main podium sheets never fully capture. Sofia Kang entered five events and recorded a 3x3x3 Blindfolded personal best of 2:31.09, which was 49.9 percent faster than her previous mark, while also logging a 4x4x4 Cube personal best of 1:25.91 and a first ever attempt at 7x7x7 Cube with 9:29.10. Toby Cuna took on seven events and achieved a 4x4x4 Blindfolded personal best of 16:59.00, improving by 40.1 percent, alongside a 3x3x3 Blindfolded personal best of 2:18.83 that was 39.7 percent faster, and a multi-blind personal best of 5 out of 5 in 34:33. Ryan Jesse Mitchell took on eight events, logging a 3x3x3 Blindfolded personal best of 1:44.53 to improve by 32.2 percent, a Megaminx personal best of 3:01.32 that was 19.9 percent faster, and a first ever attempt at 7x7x7 Cube in 7:47.83.

The momentum continued as Joshua Paulus-Rosenow tackled eight events, posting a 3x3x3 Blindfolded personal best of 1:45.40 to cut 28.6 percent, a 4x4x4 Cube personal best of 54.90, and a first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Blindfolded in 81:26.00 to finish fourth. Jackson Evan Hoey delivered a Megaminx personal best of 1:42.19, an improvement of 17.3 percent, alongside a first ever attempt at Clock with a 7.29 result to earn seventh place. Zach Paulson recorded a Clock personal best of 11.85, while also tackling first ever attempts at 7x7x7 Cube in 12:15.00 and 3x3x3 Blindfolded in 5:36.88. Juliet Soley attempted 3x3x3 Multi-Blind for the first time, solving 2 out of 3 in 16:32, and improved her 7x7x7 Cube personal best to 8:11.26. Jeana Kim-Bolt made their first WCA competition appearance, taking on Clock for a first ever attempt of 37.74.

When the final round concluded, Shhicago V 2026 stood as an exceptional demonstration of Rubik's Cube mastery and speed cubing versatility in Evanston. Across 22 podium finishes for the United States, alongside podium honors for China and Brazil, the event rewarded preparation, stamina, and mental discipline. As the 2026 season marches forward, the competitors who navigated this demanding WCA competition leave with newly minted personal records and proven form across every format.