Waterloo Winter 2025

Matthew Lee delivered a masterclass in ergonomics and efficiency at RIM Park, locking down the 3x3x3 One-Handed title with an 11.09 winning average and a crisp 10.43 single. The single-handed discipline demands an entirely different relationship with the standard Rubik's Cube, substituting two-handed turning speed for table manipulation, wrist torque, and specialized finger tricks. Lee proved unbeatable across two intense rounds, holding off a competitive field of 85 solvers to take the top step of the podium in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada on January 25, 2025.

The one-handed contest formed a major highlight of Waterloo Winter 2025, where Canada secured the top two spots and three podium places overall in the event. Alan Jia took second place with a 12.91 average, while Jeriel James Thomas finished third with a 13.02 mark. The event highlighted the precision that modern speedcubing demands, where even the slightest misaligned turn or lockup with one hand can cost crucial seconds against a world-class field.

Across the broader weekend, 157 competitors gathered at the venue to contest five separate events over 10 scheduled rounds. The standard 3x3 results brought exceptional drama across three stages of racing featuring 155 solvers. Morgan Yeh captured the premier title with a winning average of 6.62 and a best single of 6.10, narrowly outpacing Lee, who secured the runner-up spot with an average of 7.07, and Thomas, who claimed third at 7.62.

The 3x3x3 Cube contest also saw a series of fast marks achieved throughout the bracket, demonstrating the exceptional depth of talent at this cubing competition. Lee turned in a blazing 5.57 single and a 6.52 average, while Thomas clocked a 6.56 single alongside a 7.13 average. Burno Li Chak Kwan recorded a 6.55 single and a 7.19 average, as Yeh posted a 6.62 single and a 7.35 average during his campaign.

Behind the top of the standings, several competitors made massive personal strides across the tournament schedule. Samuel Yanover achieved a personal best of 3.40 in Skewb, improving by 56.5 percent, and set a Pyraminx personal best of 3.89, which was 20.1 percent faster, alongside taking on his first ever Megaminx attempt at 1:23.51 to finish 20th. Syed Idris Gilani slashed his 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best down to 32.87, representing a 52.8 percent improvement, while making his first ever Pyraminx run at 8.43 and Skewb attempt at 21.71. Aristo Marius Jansan posted an 8.05 Pyraminx personal best, an improvement of 46.5 percent, while logging his first official marks in Skewb at 11.60 and One-Handed at 58.31. Arhaan Virdi registered a 6.59 Skewb personal best, cutting 44.3 percent off his previous record, in addition to maiden attempts in Pyraminx with 7.18 and One-Handed with 53.81.

Other solvers similarly capitalized on their heats to record breakthrough marks. Andrew Pokornik dropped his 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best to 36.72, a 42 percent leap, while logging debut attempts in Skewb at 10.02 and Megaminx at 3:09.87. Wesley Zhang logged his first official attempts in Skewb at 6.45 and One-Handed at 28.82, pairing those with a Pyraminx personal best of 6.42, which was 33.7 percent faster. Greyson Gould took 19th in Megaminx while achieving a personal best of 1:28.67, an 18.1 percent improvement, and tried Skewb for the first time at 8.01. Santiago Quesada tackled Skewb for the first time with a 10.83 and posted a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 27.05, which was 17.8 percent quicker than before.

In the specialty categories, Burno Li Chak Kwan of Hong Kong claimed the Megaminx victory in a single 50-person round, averaging 34.61 with a single of 32.81. Lee collected another podium finish by taking second place in 42.97, while Andrew Mao rounded out the top three with an average of 53.37. Mao found his own golden moment earlier in the Pyraminx final, navigating the 106-competitor field to win with a 1.60 average and a 1.30 single, edging India's Darshan Bhavanasi at 1.67 and Canada's Jessica Ying at 2.70.

The Skewb bracket wrapped up with Nicholas Patterson securing top honours among 89 participants, posting a 2.86 winning average and a 2.59 single. Max Murphy took second place with a 3.11 average, followed by Emery McFeeter of the USA in third at 4.87. Canadian competitors claimed 12 podium spots throughout the day, with Hong Kong, India, and the United States earning one apiece.

The high-tempo action at RIM Park highlighted the versatility demanded across modern speed cubing, from the one-handed dexterity of Matthew Lee to Morgan Yeh's commanding 3x3 victory. As the 2025 WCA competition calendar gains momentum, the performances across all five events set a competitive standard for the rest of the season.