UCSD Unofficial Events 2025

Jackson Stempke delivered the defining standard of the meet on October 25, 2025, capturing first place on the main stage with a sharp 7.76 winning average in the 3x3x3 Cube. His final round performance was anchored by an impressive best single of 6.71, setting a rapid baseline that stood untouched through the final round. Stempke handled the pressure with the poise of an experienced hand, outlasting a deep lineup across two tightly contested rounds of classic Rubik's Cube solving.

Held on the campus of UC San Diego, the UCSD Unofficial Events 2025 assembled 89 competitors in San Diego, California, USA for a concentrated schedule of speedcubing. With four total rounds split across two events, the single-day gathering provided an intense battleground for seasoned solvers looking to sharpen their times. The atmosphere throughout the venue highlighted the technical precision required at this level of modern cubing competition.

The 3x3 results proved remarkably competitive behind Stempke, with the top three podium spots decided by slim fractions of a second. Kavin Tangtartharakul claimed the runner-up position with a steady 8.19 average, edging ahead of Yichen Sheng (盛亦辰), who rounded out the podium in third place with an 8.20 mark. With 86 competitors battling through two full rounds of 3x3x3 Cube action, securing a podium spot demanded absolute consistency on every turn.

The 2x2x2 Cube division produced an even closer finish at the summit, where veteran campaigner Joel Kim secured the title with a brisk 2.72 winning average. Kim held off Shane Grogan by a razor-thin margin of two hundredths of a second, as Grogan finished second at 2.74. Ethan Yeh earned the bronze position with a 3.28 average, completing a podium sweep for the host nation out of a field of 73 entrants. Kim also recorded the fastest individual solve of the entire event with a 2.23 single.

Beyond the top steps of the podium, the second tier of the roster produced some of the most remarkable breakthroughs across both events. Aeron Nicolas delivered a stunning drop in the 2x2x2 Cube, recording a personal best of 4.52 that was 57.6% faster than his previous standard, while also improving his 3x3x3 Cube personal best to 28.24, an improvement of 13%. Arumin Sivakumar took on both disciplines and achieved massive gains in each, posting a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 15.71 to shave 54.6% off his prior mark, alongside a 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 6.11, which was 53.4% faster. Lucas Sun took on 2 events and secured a career-best finish of 14th in 2x2x2 Cube on the strength of a 3.33 personal best, outpacing his prior record by 32.9%. Lok Ting Au Yeung also capitalized on the day, logging a first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube of 6.20 and carving out a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 21.91, which was 35.5% faster.

The surge of progression continued across multiple disciplines as newer faces tested their training against the clock. Israel Park entered both events, establishing a first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube with a 4.85 while also clocking a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 14.30, marking a 26.3% improvement. Ely Yehuda Shemer tackled 2 events, producing a first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube of 13.65 and establishing a new 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 24.28, which was 29.7% faster. Oliver Heie advanced his 3x3x3 Cube mark to a 21.48 personal best, an improvement of 25.5%, while Zachary Zhu entered his first WCA competition, recording a first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube of 6.54 and a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Cube of 34.00.

In addition to personal time drops, the fast-turning 2x2x2 Cube event saw several notable marks logged throughout the preliminary and final rounds. Timothy Zhang (张学义) set a single of 4.88 and an average of 7.39, while Sylvester Slavet-Burr posted a 5.31 single and 6.45 average. Brennan Holbrook turned in an 8.01 single with a 9.06 average, and Alex Lloyd notched an 11.64 single alongside a 12.97 average. International entrant Jesús Armando Aguirre Ibarra posted a 3.53 single and a 4.55 average, while Dhruv Sehgal achieved an 8.27 single and 10.69 average. Jason Chang (章維祐) added a 4.17 single and 7.72 average, Spencer D. Hill registered a 15.70 single and 20.99 average, and Levi Duffield recorded a 6.71 single.

The execution shown at UCSD Unofficial Events 2025 demonstrated the high degree of focus that defines modern speed cubing at every level of experience. From the seasoned timing of the champions to the sharp progress logged across the entire tournament roster, the single-day program delivered exceptional competition from start to finish. As the 2025 calendar moves forward, the solvers who found their rhythm in San Diego carry strong momentum into the upcoming circuit.

With all six podium positions claimed by United States competitors across the two events, the tournament offered a comprehensive showcase of domestic talent. Jackson Stempke and Joel Kim established the benchmark for poise under pressure, while dozens of emerging competitors seized the opportunity to establish new milestones. The meeting stands as a testament to the discipline and preparation driving the community forward into the next season of play.