St. Louishh 2025

Inside Trinity Church Kirkwood, the competition floor remained remarkably quiet as tables were arranged not for speed sprints, but for intense concentration and deliberate calculation. Blindfolds, pens, and paper pads were laid out across the venue as competitors prepared for a full day of demanding events. The gathering at St. Louishh 2025 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA brought together an intimate roster of 14 solvers on May 16, 2025, each ready to tackle some of the most mentally taxing disciplines in the sport.

While the total participant count was small, the energy in the room was driven largely by competitors taking their very first steps into these demanding formats or trying entirely new events. Any official cubing competition offers a stage for newcomers, but seeing fresh solvers step up immediately to memory-heavy disciplines gave this single-day fixture a distinct atmosphere. The sense of initiation was unmistakable as newcomers sat alongside seasoned veterans, navigating their earliest attempts under the clock.

The blindfolded events proved to be the centerpiece of the schedule, demanding absolute accuracy alongside swift turning. In the 3x3x3 Blindfolded category, Simon Chanin delivered an exceptional performance to capture the title. Chanin posted a winning average of 1:31.19, bolstered by a best single solve of 1:24.25 across the 13 competitors in the field. Aaron Soley secured the second step on the podium with a mark of 1:42.21, while Charles Cavanaugh took third place with a single of 1:44.44.

Chanin extended his command of memory-based solving into the 3x3x3 Multi-Blind event, navigating nine cubes in total. With complete precision, Chanin earned victory by successfully completing all 9 out of 9 puzzles in a time of 50:27. Henry Rusten followed closely behind to claim the runner-up position, recording a strong tally of 9 out of 10 cubes in 53:52. Evan Brown locked down the third spot on the podium after resolving 5 out of 6 cubes within 29:14.

When the larger puzzles were brought out for blindfolded execution, Aaron Soley took charge of the leaderboard. In the 4x4x4 Blindfolded event, Soley secured first place with a single time of 6:55.59, leading Simon Chanin who finished second in 11:26.00 and Edward Vakula who took third in 22:51.00. Soley doubled his gold tally in 5x5x5 Blindfolded, recording a winning single of 22:04.00 to finish ahead of Chanin, who finished in 23:19.00, while Cavanaugh and Brown were credited with shared third-place finishes.

Away from the blindfolds, the 3x3x3 Fewest Moves discipline required deep analytical scrutiny as solvers searched for optimal paths to solve the Rubik's Cube within a strict one-hour limit. Evan Brown dominated the event, producing a winning single of 22 moves and a stellar winning average of 22.67 moves across three attempts. Lucas Stambaugh captured second place with an average of 36.00, while Silas Williamson finished third with an average of 42.00, completing an all-United States podium lineup for the contest.

Beyond the top podium steps, the heart of the weekend lay in individual milestones and fresh challenges taken on by the rest of the roster. Trenton Cuzick stood out by improving his 3x3x3 Fewest Moves personal best down to 39 moves from an earlier 47, making his new best 17 percent faster, alongside taking 4th place in 3x3x3 Blindfolded. Erik Duncan made an impressive debut in his first WCA competition, taking on two events, delivering a first ever attempt of 2:54.43 in 3x3x3 Blindfolded, and finishing 5th in 3x3x3 Multi-Blind. Tommy Behnke entered a single event and secured a best finish of 6th place on his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with a solid 33.

The list of dedicated personal efforts continued throughout the lower tables of the venue. Gordon Thomas White III tackled two events, earning a 7th place best finish in 3x3x3 Blindfolded and registering his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with a mark of 47. Decha Enkvetchakul focused entirely on 3x3x3 Blindfolded, claiming 7th place in the final standings. Zixuan Tan took on two events during the weekend, highlighted by a strong 4th-place finish in 4x4x4 Blindfolded.

The overall gathering highlighted the wide range of problem-solving that modern speed cubing offers beyond traditional speed rounds. From calculating move efficiencies to executing complex multi-cube memorization, every participant contributed to a competitive yet collaborative environment. With five events completed across five rounds, the 3x3 results and specialized marks demonstrated the dedication required to excel in non-traditional formats within the regional community.

As the tables were packed away at Trinity Church Kirkwood, the day concluded as a thorough test of discipline, focus, and endurance for everyone who attended St. Louishh 2025. Whether stepping up to the competitive table for the first time or battling through extended blindfolded attempts, the solvers left their mark on the 2025 speedcubing calendar and set a high standard of analytical skill for upcoming meets.