Waihopai Winter 2025

James Dyer delivered the standout extended solve of the weekend at the Invercargill City Library, capturing the 4x4x4 Cube crown with a winning average of 36.02 seconds and a best single of 32.83. The complex multi-layered puzzle demanded sharp spatial reasoning and unrelenting stamina across multiple rounds, setting a high standard for endurance solving in the southern region. That authoritative performance headlined an action-packed schedule as Waihopai Winter 2025 brought nine dedicated solvers together on July 5 and July 6 for two days of rigorous head-to-head competition.

The 2025 speedcubing fixture featured 15 rounds across eight distinct disciplines, giving every competitor ample time on the official mats in Invercargill, New Zealand. While higher-order challenges like the four-layer puzzle tested patience and stamina, the event schedule ranged from swift face-turners to complex twisty polyhedra. Across the board, New Zealand competitors locked down 17 podium finishes, while visiting Australian contenders secured six, creating tight contests from the opening heats straight through to Sunday afternoon.

Daniel Fraser put together a remarkably dominant campaign throughout the weekend, topping the standings across three separate events. In the classic Rubik's Cube division, Fraser took the title with a tournament-best 9.83 average in the final round, having already turned in a single of 9.35. Beau Brittain-Modesto of Australia pushed hard to secure second place with an average of 10.75, while Oscar Childs claimed the third spot on the podium at 12.01, cementing strong 3x3 results at the top of the bracket.

Fraser also demonstrated immense versatility on both miniature and complex geometry. In the 2x2x2 Cube final, he captured victory with an average of 2.59 seconds alongside a fast single of 2.25, leading Brittain-Modesto who took second in 3.12 and Dyer who followed in 3.45. Fraser extended his winning form into the twelve-sided Megaminx, navigating the lengthy solve sequences to post a winning average of 1:05.41 and a top single of 1:00.11, finishing ahead of Dyer at 1:06.93 and Brittain-Modesto at 1:23.87.

Beyond the title fights, the weekend offered plenty of personal milestones that showed the true depth of the field. Luis Varias took on seven events and recorded meaningful personal improvements, shaving 8 percent off his standard 3x3x3 Cube best with a new mark of 12.89 seconds down from 14.01, while also improving his Pyraminx single to 5.77 seconds for a 4.6 percent drop. Varias also completed his first official attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 1:14.61 and reached fifth place in Pyraminx. Naman Shastri likewise tackled seven events, logging first-time official attempts in Pyraminx at 5.28, Megaminx at 2:29.20, and Skewb at 11.29, alongside a personal-best fourth-place finish in Pyraminx.

That spirit of taking on new challenges was equally evident among other competitors across the two days of competition. Jade Glass stepped onto the official floor for the very first time at a WCA competition, entering three separate events and logging debut marks of 35.26 seconds on the 3x3x3 Cube, 22.57 on Pyraminx, and 4:58.20 on the Megaminx. Meanwhile, Mehul Pankaj Girhotra balanced a busy program across seven events, earning a weekend-best sixth-place finish in Skewb while posting consistent rounds across the board.

Specialised formats delivered several tense finishes across the remaining brackets. In the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, James Dyer claimed his second victory of the competition by recording an average of 20.50 seconds with a best single of 19.02, narrowly edging Daniel Fraser who finished runner-up at 20.78. Beau Brittain-Modesto completed the one-handed podium in third place with a 26.79 average, adding to Australia's haul in the speed cubing ranks.

The sprint puzzles produced intense turn rates and rapid-fire rounds. Beau Brittain-Modesto earned top honours in Pyraminx with a sharp 3.27 average and a 1.98 single, leading Fraser at 4.50 and Gabe Smith at 5.56. Smith bounced back in Skewb, taking first place with a 4.08 average over Fraser's 4.39. Smith also mastered the memory and execution requirements of 3x3x3 Blindfolded, posting a successful single of 2:30.98 to win the solo blind solving contest.

With eight separate disciplines completed over two days of play, Waihopai Winter 2025 delivered a thorough test of endurance, technique, and consistency. From the extended physical demands of larger multi-layer cubes to the rapid tempo of sprint events, the gathering showcased the strength of local speedcubing talent in the deep south. Solvers now turn their attention toward training routines and future regional meets on the upcoming competitive calendar.