USM Penang Cube 2026

Lim Hung delivered a masterclass across six different events, highlighted by a dominant 6.98-second winning average in the main 3x3x3 Cube to cap off an extraordinary weekend in Penang, Malaysia. Across two packed days from April 11 to April 12, the gathering at the University of Science Malaysia proved that competitive intensity and community camaraderie can thrive together on the official stage. The 2026 tournament brought together 76 competitors across 17 rounds and 12 events, setting a high standard for speed cubing in the region.

Beyond the hunt for medals, this cubing competition served as a vibrant meetup for enthusiasts from across the region. Between tense solving stages, competitors shared algorithmic tricks, tested novel puzzle hardware, and cheered each other on through marathon schedules. Side events like Clock and Megaminx provided dynamic shifts in tempo, ensuring that the venue hummed with excitement across all disciplines throughout the two-day schedule.

The 3x3 results formed the centerpiece of the tournament, with 72 competitors battling through three rounds of the classic Rubik's Cube. Lim Hung secured the top spot on the podium with his sub-seven average and a round-best 5.56 single. Louis Tan Kai Jie took the runner-up position with an average of 8.35 seconds, while Ang Chin Zhen followed closely behind in third place at 8.44 seconds.

Lim Hung also engineered a sweeping run across the larger puzzles and specialty events. He captured gold in the 4x4x4 Cube with a 27.13 average, the 5x5x5 Cube with 41.71, the 6x6x6 Cube with 1:12.94, and the 7x7x7 Cube with 1:50.63. Adding to his extensive collection, he claimed victory in Megaminx with a 44.87 average, finishing ahead of Khoo Zi Yang at 55.97 and Ang Chin Zhen at 1:00.91.

The spotlight across the weekend also shone brightly on personal milestones and breakthroughs across the broader field. Ng Ee Ze tackled seven events, logging a personal best of 3.95 seconds in Pyraminx to go 47.3 percent faster than before, while making first-ever official attempts in the 4x4x4 Cube with a 48.01 single and the 5x5x5 Cube in 1:36.64, alongside a 5th-place finish in 3x3x3 One-Handed. Lok Ann Qin took on 11 events and earned a 7th-place finish in 4x4x4 Cube, chopping 44 percent off a Pyraminx personal best down to 3.47 seconds, lowering Skewb to 4.19 seconds, and cutting 6x6x6 Cube down to 2:54.01. Muhammad Iqbal Haqeem Bin Zul Hissam entered eight events, notched a Skewb personal best of 7.57 seconds that was 32.2 percent faster, improved in 5x5x5 Cube to 1:53.32, and made a first official attempt at Clock with 25.12 seconds. Kang Khai Yik also took on eight events, logging a Skewb personal best of 12.40 seconds, a 22nd-place finish in Clock, and maiden attempts in 4x4x4 Cube at 1:29.25 and 5x5x5 Cube at 4:25.95.

Further down the roster, new ground was broken as solvers expanded their competitive horizons. Ng Eu Meng contested eight events, taking 16th place in Megaminx, improving Pyraminx by 17.1 percent to 9.11 seconds, and recording debut marks in 5x5x5 Cube at 3:06.95 and Megaminx at 2:17.21. Wong Yewei tackled six events, finishing 19th in Megaminx while logging first-ever attempts in 2x2x2 Cube at 6.48 seconds, 4x4x4 Cube at 2:01.71, and 5x5x5 Cube at 3:22.45. Senyu Ninomiya took on four events, achieving 25th in 3x3x3 One-Handed while registering inaugural attempts of 6.15 seconds in 2x2x2 Cube, 16.04 seconds in Pyraminx, and 30.88 seconds in 3x3x3 One-Handed. Somansh Sujay Pillai also completed four events, finishing 35th in 4x4x4 Cube while putting up maiden marks of 8.74 in 2x2x2 Cube, 11.99 in Pyraminx, and 2:10.84 in 4x4x4 Cube.

Specialty short-puzzle events saw thrilling showdowns at USM Penang Cube 2026. Yuki Gao produced a stellar double victory, winning the 2x2x2 Cube with a rapid 1.60 average and capturing Pyraminx with a 3.10 average. Luis Tan Hong Yi delivered a win in Skewb with a 2.91 average, edging the 32-competitor bracket, while Khoo Zi Yang picked up gold in Clock with a 4.22 average.

In the single-handed and memory tests, competitors demonstrated technical precision and control. Louis Tan Kai Jie topped the 3x3x3 One-Handed field with an average of 12.15 seconds, featuring a swift 10.38 single. Tan Wei Kee earned the 3x3x3 Blindfolded title, navigating the puzzle purely from memory to post a winning 35.14 single and lead a podium that included Ricky Yeoh Xing at 44.66 and Tam Shen Hsiung at 1:06.20.

With 31 podium finishes for Malaysian competitors alongside podium representation for Singapore and China, the WCA competition highlighted the regional depth of speedcubing talent. The camaraderie displayed in Penang sets a welcoming standard for competitors preparing for their next season on the speedcubing circuit.

Kejohanan USM Penang Cube 2026 menyaksikan persembahan luar biasa daripada barisan peminat Kiub Rubik tuan rumah apabila peserta Malaysia menyapu bersih kebanyakan kedudukan podium. Berlangsung pada 11 hingga 12 April 2026 di University of Science Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, temasya ini menghimpunkan 76 peserta dari rantau ini. Tumpuan utama terarah kepada Lim Hung yang mempamerkan kehebatan menyeluruh dengan merangkul gelaran juara acara utama kiub 3x3x3 menerusi catatan purata 6.98 saat dan masa tunggal terpantas 5.56 saat.

Penguasaan Lim Hung menjadi tunjang kejayaan kontinjen tempatan sepanjang kejohanan yang menawarkan 12 acara dan 17 pusingan tersebut. Selain acara utama, Lim Hung turut memenangi acara kiub 4x4x4 dengan purata 27.13 saat, kiub 5x5x5 dengan catatan 41.71 saat, kiub 6x6x6 menerusi 1:12.94 serta kiub 7x7x7 dengan masa 1:50.63. Beliau melengkapkan kemenangannya dengan mengungguli Megaminx pada catatan 44.87 saat, sekali gus meletakkan namanya sebagai bintang paling menyerlah sepanjang dua hari saingan sengit berlangsung di Penang, Malaysia.

Kejayaan Malaysia paling ketara dapat dilihat menerusi sapuan bersih podium dalam beberapa kategori utama. Bagi acara kiub 3x3x3, tempat kedua diraih oleh Louis Tan Kai Jie dengan purata 8.35 saat manakala Ang Chin Zhen melengkapkan tempat ketiga dengan 8.44 saat. Bagi kategori kiub 4x4x4, 5x5x5, 6x6x6 dan 7x7x7, susunan podium kekal konsisten dengan Lim Hung di tempat pertama, Ang Chin Zhen di tempat kedua dan Louis Tan Kai Jie di tempat ketiga. Dalam acara Megaminx, Khoo Zi Yang dan Ang Chin Zhen masing-masing mengiringi Lim Hung di tangga kedua dan ketiga.

Persaingan speedcubing ini turut menyaksikan Tan Wei Kee cemerlang dalam acara 3x3x3 Blindfolded selepas mencatat masa tunggal 35.14 saat, mengatasi rakan senegara Ricky Yeoh Xing dan Tam Shen Hsiung untuk menguasai podium sepenuhnya. Acara 3x3x3 One-Handed pula dimenangi oleh Louis Tan Kai Jie dengan catatan purata 12.15 saat. Sementara itu, pemain dari luar negara turut mencuri tumpuan dalam acara terpilih apabila Yuki Gao dari China memenangi kiub 2x2x2 dengan purata 1.60 saat serta Pyraminx dengan 3.10 saat, manakala Luis Tan Hong Yi dari Singapura mengungguli Skewb menerusi purata 2.91 saat.

Di sebalik kejayaan para pemenang di atas pentas utama, kejohanan USM Penang Cube 2026 menjadi medan penting buat peserta yang terus memburu peningkatan peribadi. Muhammad Harith Bin Ahmad Hizad yang menyertai 11 acara mencatat masa 2.58 saat dalam Pyraminx iaitu 41.9 peratus lebih pantas berbanding rekod lamanya di samping menamatkan kiub 7x7x7 di tempat keenam. Foong Zi Tzen merekodkan lonjakan 52.3 peratus dalam Skewb dengan catatan 4.76 saat serta menamatkan saingan 3x3x3 One-Handed di tempat ke-12. Danny Rafique bin Mohd Sabaruddin pula memotong 44 peratus masa kiub 3x3x3 kepada 20.23 saat di samping membuat penampilan pertama bagi kiub 2x2x2 dengan catatan 4.82 saat, manakala Adish Rao Ganesh Raja merekodkan 1:18.33 dalam kiub 4x4x4 iaitu 34.8 peratus lebih pantas dan mencatat 3:16.53 pada percubaan pertamanya dalam kiub 5x5x5.

Beberapa pendatang baharu turut mencuri tumpuan pada penampilan sulung mereka dalam pertandingan WCA ini. Lok Lim An beraksi berani dalam 10 acara berbeza dan mencatat masa 6:47.69 pada percubaan pertamanya dalam 3x3x3 Blindfolded untuk meraih tempat kesembilan. Rishanraj Gaunder menyertai enam kategori dan melengkapkan saingan kiub 2x2x2 pada 3.81 saat dan 3x3x3 One-Handed pada 27.39 saat. Gordon Chai menamatkan saingan 3x3x3 One-Handed pada masa 20.45 saat untuk tempat ke-16, manakala Jen Ik Ng memulakan langkah dengan catatan 22.14 saat dalam kiub 3x3x3 serta menamatkan Megaminx di tempat ke-21.

Satu lagi acara menarik iaitu Clock menyaksikan Khoo Zi Yang muncul juara dengan catatan purata 4.22 saat dan masa tunggal terbaik 3.94 saat. Format pertandingan yang padat memberi peluang kepada setiap peserta menguji kemahiran mereka di pelbagai peringkat, daripada teka-teki pantas seperti Pyraminx dan Skewb sehinggalah kepada cabaran ketahanan mental seperti kiub 7x7x7 dan acara menutup mata.

Secara keseluruhan, pungutan 31 kedudukan podium oleh peserta Malaysia berbanding tiga dari Singapura dan dua dari China membuktikan kekuatan komuniti tempatan. Penganjuran USM Penang Cube 2026 di University of Science Malaysia ini berjaya menyerlahkan bakat-bakat baharu di samping mengukuhkan status jaguh sedia ada, menandakan penutup yang penuh bergaya bagi kalendar speedcubing tahun 2026 di rantau utara tanah air.