UMBC Fall 2025

Zayn Khanani delivered a blistering 1.14 average on the 2x2x2 Cube, punctuated by a 0.79 single, setting the tone for an intense day of solving in Catonsville, Maryland, USA. The University Center played host to UMBC Fall 2025 on October 18, 2025, bringing together 121 competitors across five distinct events. With nine rounds on the schedule, advancing past the opening heats required razor-thin margins and unwavering consistency amid a packed arena.

Navigating the main event was a grueling test of endurance, with 118 competitors lining up for the standard 3x3x3 Cube. Three full rounds whittled the massive roster down to the fastest solvers in the venue. The 3x3 results saw Raihan Sadr take top honors with a 7.04 winning average and a best single of 6.49. Sam Popp secured second place averaging 7.31, while Liam Manwaring rounded out the podium at 7.51 in a championship round where every turn of the classic Rubik's Cube mattered.

The 2x2x2 event featured 104 entrants fighting across two rounds for a spot at the final table. Zayn Khanani led the field with his 1.14 mark, followed closely by Hassan Khanani in second place with an average of 1.55. Makai Guay took third with a 1.85 average. The depth of the field meant that qualifying spots vanished quickly, forcing competitors to execute every solve at maximum pace without error.

Zayn Khanani added a second gold medal on the day by topping the Skewb event, navigating a field of 68 competitors across two rounds to secure a winning average of 2.09 and a 1.21 single. Leland Pak claimed second place with an average of 3.14, and Brad Hoffman finished third at 3.95. The high entrant count across both rounds showed just how crowded the pursuit of a top ranking has become.

Beyond the championship battles, the true spirit of the WCA competition was reflected in the personal milestones achieved across the venue. Roi Christian Kim took on four events and delivered a standout performance in Skewb, setting a personal best of 3.42 that was 62.6 percent faster than his previous mark of 9.15, alongside an improved 1:34.42 Megaminx best. Jason Carlson improved his 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 53.6 percent down to 4.01 and made his first ever attempt at Skewb with a 9.97. Sophie Ma dropped her 2x2x2 Cube best by 51.5 percent to 6.84, while Nathan Fischer cut his Skewb best by 50.5 percent to 6.56 after a prior best of 13.24.

Several competitors embraced the challenge of brand new events at UMBC Fall 2025. Sriram Bhamidipati tackled five events, making his first ever attempt at the 6x6x6 Cube in 3:11.14 while placing 21st, and lowered his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 15.9 percent to 9.56. Satvik Vallabhaneni logged his first ever Megaminx attempt at 4:15.28 and dropped his Skewb personal best by 43.4 percent to 8.15. Amogh Konakanchi entered four events, posting first-time marks in Megaminx at 2:24.16 and Skewb at 10.13, alongside a 38.1 percent drop to 3.73 in 2x2x2. Isaac Bien also debuted in Megaminx with 2:23.45 and Skewb with 11.22, while trimming his 2x2x2 best by 32.2 percent to 3.51.

The longer formats challenged endurance solvers directly in single-round finals. In the 56-competitor Megaminx event, Zakaria Mirre clinched victory with an average of 46.00 and a best single of 40.83. Daniel Goodman captured second place with a 48.34 average, while José Leonardo Chaparro Prieto earned third for Colombia with a 48.96 average, claiming the sole international podium spot of the day against strong domestic competition.

Big-cube speedcubing rounded out the program as 38 competitors took on the 6x6x6 Cube. Fiona Bao captured first place with an impressive winning average of 1:35.76, including a best single solve of 1:31.74. Ibrahim Khanani finished in second place with a 1:46.73 average, followed by Sanzhar Beisembayev in third at 1:52.88.

The intense competition schedule demonstrated the surging popularity of speed cubing in the region throughout 2025. With podium spots spread across multiple top-tier contenders, UMBC Fall 2025 proved how demanding every round has become. Solvers now turn their sights toward the next challenges of the competitive circuit, carrying new personal records forward into future tournament brackets.