Winnipeg Fall Afternoon 2025

The tables inside the Riverview Community Centre were filled with turning plastic, ticking timers, and concentrated focus on August 30, 2025. Competitors gathered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, for an intense day of solving that tested diverse skills across three distinct events. From the corner-turning geometry of Skewb to the intricate layer management of the larger 4x4x4 Cube, the gathering brought together 37 participants navigating four full rounds of action across the afternoon schedule.

The diverse lineup provided a showcase for technical versatility throughout the cubing competition. Solving the traditional Rubik's Cube demands pure speed and standard algorithmic execution, whereas the larger 4x4x4 Cube introduces parity errors and edge-pairing phases that require sustained focus. Meanwhile, the Skewb shifts the axis of rotation entirely, demanding deep spatial adaptability. This combination of disciplines gave the 2025 program a balanced spread of short-burst sprint solving and layered mechanical endurance.

Headlining the 3x3 results, Keith Wierckx took first place in the 3x3x3 Cube after two hard-fought rounds. Representing Canada, Wierckx posted a winning average of 10.65 seconds to secure the title against a field of 37 entrants. Karl Sebastien Haw of the Philippines pushed the battle right to the wire, earning second place with a close 10.71 average, while Mia Willow Pahl of Canada secured third on the podium with an 11.63 average. The fastest single time of the event belonged to Wierckx at 9.35 seconds.

The 4x4x4 Cube brought 24 solvers to the stations for a direct, single-round final. Keith Wierckx completed a double victory by winning the event with a mark of 41.50 seconds on average, alongside the day's best single of 39.06 seconds. Mia Willow Pahl delivered another podium finish for Canada by taking second place with an average of 43.62 seconds. Karl Sebastien Haw followed closely behind in third position, registering a 45.92 average to cap off a strong showing across the big cube discipline.

In the Skewb event, Karl Sebastien Haw turned the tables to claim the top step of the podium among 26 competitors. Haw secured victory with an impressive 4.07 average, backed by the best single solve of the event at 3.56 seconds. Mia Willow Pahl picked up another silver placement for Canada with an average of 6.14 seconds, while Keith Wierckx completed the podium sweep in third place with a 6.66 average. Across all three events, Canada claimed six podium positions, while the Philippines earned three.

Beyond the top steps of the podium, Winnipeg Fall Afternoon 2025 served up remarkable breakthroughs and significant milestones for competitors throughout the field. Rowan Salyn delivered an exceptional performance in Skewb, taking 7th place while recording a personal best single of 3.00 seconds, which was 54.5 percent faster than their previous best mark of 6.59. Kesar Bargujar made huge strides in the 3x3x3 Cube, posting a personal best of 17.76 seconds to improve by 48.7 percent over their earlier 34.61 benchmark. Ben Gibson entered two events and achieved a personal best of 13.71 seconds in the 3x3x3 Cube, improving by 44.7 percent, alongside making a first ever official attempt at Skewb with a 5.36 single.

The progress continued across the roster with major milestones from dedicated solvers. Myles Wilcox entered three disciplines, claiming 5th place in the 4x4x4 Cube with a personal best single of 43.34 seconds, improving by 40.1 percent, and dropping their 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 36.3 percent to 8.70 seconds. Jayden Berard took on three events, logging a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:44.06 and improving their Skewb personal best by 40 percent down to 8.33. Tarik Bara secured 12th in the 4x4x4 Cube while cutting their personal best by 38.5 percent to 56.11 seconds. Landon Dyck made their first ever attempts at both Skewb with a 6.69 single and 4x4x4 Cube in 45.77, finishing 7th in the 3x3x3 Cube. Matteo Florendo made their first WCA competition appearance, taking on three events with first ever marks of 13.50 on 3x3x3 Cube, 1:24.98 on 4x4x4 Cube, and 10.77 on Skewb.

The afternoon highlighted the thriving local community for speed cubing in the region, bringing seasoned performers and emerging talent under one roof. With competitors tackling everything from quick corner-turning rotations to multi-layered puzzles, the meet captured the full breadth of the hobby. As another WCA competition drew to a close in Manitoba, the collection of new personal milestones and well-matched podium finishes left a definitive mark on the regional circuit.