Wellington Autumn 2026

51 competitors gathered at the Wellington Bridge Club on May 23, 2026, bringing speedcubing energy to Wellington, New Zealand. The one-day cubing competition featured 6 events and 14 fast-paced rounds, but the camaraderie off the competition stage proved just as prominent as the official results. Between scheduled heats, solvers traded puzzle hardware, reviewed scramble sequences, and shared techniques across varying disciplines. The gathering represented the collaborative spirit that defines speed cubing, pairing intense head-to-head competition with an open, supportive atmosphere where newcomers and veterans mingled freely throughout the venue.

The premier event delivered top-tier 3x3 results across three intense rounds. Jack McDougall captured first place in the 3x3x3 Cube with a winning average of 7.43 seconds, also posting the weekend's best single solve of 5.86 seconds on the classic Rubik's Cube. Elyas Eyou claimed the silver medal with an 8.16 average, while Vincent Da Col secured third step on the podium at 8.89. The classic puzzle served as the centrepiece of the tournament, drawing all 51 entrants into the mix before narrowing down the field through multiple elimination stages.

Dylan Himmelfarb produced a remarkable double-victory performance across the shorter formats. In the 2x2x2 Cube final, Himmelfarb took the title with an exceptional average of 1.30 seconds and a best single solve of 1.09 seconds across three rounds of play. Levi Hetherington followed in second place with a 1.54 average, while Jack McDougall earned third place at 1.62. Himmelfarb repeated his winning form in the Pyraminx event, claiming gold with a 2.52 average over two rounds, narrowly edging out Elyas Eyou at 2.68 and McDougall at 2.88.

The longer formats and specialty challenges brought their own drama to the Wellington Autumn 2026 schedule. Elyas Eyou conquered the 4x4x4 Cube, taking first place with an average of 29.93 seconds and a top single of 26.93 seconds. Jack McDougall placed second with a 35.21 average, and Vincent Da Col secured third at 38.74. In the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, Harrison Marsden triumphed with an average of 15.41 seconds, holding off Dylan Himmelfarb at 15.76 and Eyou at 17.07 across two rounds.

Blindfolded solving added a test of pure memorisation and precision to the schedule. James Macdiarmid captured the 3x3x3 Blindfolded title by logging a single solve of 22.02 seconds, overcoming a DNF average to take the win. Jack McDougall added another podium to his ledger by taking second place with a 23.16 mark, while Jack Maddigan locked up the bronze medal with a time of 29.48 seconds. Across all six events on the timetable, competitors from New Zealand swept all 18 available podium positions during the tournament.

Behind the podium battles, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones in their personal development. Yu Tze Lim slashed their 2x2x2 Cube personal best down to 9.06 seconds, marking a 52.2 percent improvement over their previous mark, while also recording a first ever official attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed with a 1:43.74. Arwynn Subharat entered five events and improved their 3x3x3 Cube best to 12.80 seconds, an improvement of 36.8 percent, while completing first-time runs in both the 4x4x4 Cube and 3x3x3 One-Handed. Viraaj Ambiti made major strides by cutting their 3x3x3 Cube best to 11.07 seconds, 33.2 percent faster than before, alongside personal bests in both 2x2x2 and 4x4x4.

The progress continued through the ranks as newer solvers tackled fresh challenges at the WCA competition. Sebastian Cowlishaw Merz dropped their 2x2x2 Cube best to 5.04 seconds, an improvement of 31.7 percent. Terence Brown recorded an impressive 3x3x3 Blindfolded personal best of 2:19.96, trimming 27.8 percent off their prior time to finish 8th. Marnix Clarke posted a Pyraminx personal best of 8.44 seconds, a 27.1 percent drop, while taking on the 4x4x4 Cube for the first time. Samuel Meyer tackled five events in their first official tournament, logging a 22.55 single on 3x3x3, while Parker Lee completed four events in their competition debut, highlighted by an 8.04 Pyraminx mark.

As the final solves concluded at Wellington Autumn 2026, the event highlighted the vibrant health of the regional community. With 51 solvers pushing their limits and sharing their passion across 14 rounds, the day was defined by personal milestones, supportive exchanges, and skilled execution across every bracket. The tournament showed that whether chasing sub-eight averages or completing a first official puzzle solve, the local speedcubing scene remains united by a shared dedication to the craft.