Worlds Prep in Palisades 2025

Alexei Sinyavin turned the 7x7x7 Cube event into a masterclass, claiming the title with a commanding winning average of 2:32.47 and a best single of 2:30.08. That result anchored a weekend where the grueling big cubes demanded both mental focus and physical endurance from the competitors. The World Cube Association gathered 103 speedcubers at the Palisades Center in West Nyack, New York, USA, from June 20 to June 22. With 17 events spanning 23 rounds, this WCA competition tested every aspect of competitive speedcubing, drawing participants eager to hone their skills in a rigorous multi-day format during the 2025 season.

The physical toll of the larger puzzles was on full display as Sinyavin swept the major big cube categories. Alongside his 7x7x7 triumph, he secured the 6x6x6 Cube title with a 1:43.99 average and a 1:35.33 single. He also claimed victory in the 5x5x5 Cube, clocking an impressive 49.49 average and a 46.30 best single. These events, requiring sustained concentration and complex lookahead strategies, highlight the sheer stamina required in modern speed cubing. Sinyavin further demonstrated his versatility by winning the Megaminx event with a 32.46 average, proving that his endurance extends across varied puzzle geometries.

While the big cubes tested endurance, the classic 3x3x3 Cube delivered blistering speed. Aaron Jake Wong took the premier title with a winning average of 7.20 seconds, backed by a stellar 5.71 best single. In a closely contested field of 94 competitors over three rounds, Wong edged out Parker Trager, who averaged 7.27, and Sinyavin, who took third with a 7.45. These 3x3 results underscored the high caliber of the field at Worlds Prep in Palisades 2025. Trager did not leave empty-handed, claiming the 3x3x3 One-Handed title with an 11.00 average and a Pyraminx victory at 1.70.

Away from the main stage, the weekend was defined by remarkable personal breakthroughs. Tyler Del Deo tackled 11 events, landing a 27th place best finish in the 7x7x7 Cube while completing his first ever attempt in the event at 6:41.89. He also shattered his Skewb personal best, clocking a 4.43 single that was 58.9 percent faster than his previous mark. Timothy Fountain saw similar leaps, taking on nine events and completing a first ever attempt at the 5x5x5 Cube in 2:56.99, while slicing 40.8 percent off his Skewb personal best to hit 5.16. Sarah Gooler recorded her first ever attempt at the 6x6x6 Cube with a 7:27.09 and improved her 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 26.2 percent to 4.79.

The personal achievements continued across the floor. Leon Elihu completed his first ever attempt at the 5x5x5 Cube in 2:22.20 and the 6x6x6 Cube in 5:28.07, while improving his 4x4x4 Cube personal best by a massive 43.4 percent to 1:25.42. Christopher Ginin navigated eight events, achieving a 22th place best finish in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves and making his first ever attempt at Square-1 in 1:03.73. Rolando Xavier Lopez Jr. completed a first ever attempt at Clock in 13.86. Leonardo J. Llanos secured a 45th place best finish in Megaminx while making his first ever attempt at the 2x2x2 Cube in 4.53. Lucas Chen logged a first ever attempt at Megaminx in 2:37.59 and improved his Square-1 best by 31.7 percent to 26.71.

The 2x2x2 Cube event saw a flurry of record-setting performances, making it a highlight of the weekend. Steven Wintringham, Bofan Shang, Aaron Jake Wong, Angelo Terpening, Cameron Lee, Timothy Fountain, Sarah Gooler, Mohamad Gebai, Patrick Chen, and Lucas Chen all registered new national records for singles and averages in the event. Quinn Maloney ultimately won the 2x2x2 Cube with a 1.15 average and a 1.02 single, while also securing the Skewb title with a 2.97 average. The sheer volume of record-breaking solves in the 2x2x2 Cube demonstrated the incredible optimization competitors bring to the smallest Rubik's Cube.

Blindfolded solving added another layer of complexity to the competition. Chris Chi won the 3x3x3 Blindfolded event with a 1:00.37 average and a 48.53 best single, demonstrating the precise memorization required. Rowe Hessler dominated the multiple blindfolded formats, winning 3x3x3 Multi-Blind by successfully solving 43 out of 50 cubes in 58:49. Hessler also took the titles in the 4x4x4 Blindfolded with a 3:02.27 single and the 5x5x5 Blindfolded with a 4:57.62 single, events where the mental map of the puzzle must be held for extended periods. In the 3x3x3 Fewest Moves event, Daniel Karnaukh triumphed with a 23.67 average and a 23-move best single.

The depth of the competition extended to specialized events like Square-1 and Clock. Ayden Dincher won Square-1 with a 7.36 average and a 6.38 single, narrowly beating Daniel Karnaukh's 7.38 average. Eryk Kasperek took the Clock title with a 3.12 average and a 2.24 best single. Carson Widjaja won the 4x4x4 Cube with a 25.78 average. Across the board, from the sprawling big cubes to the rapid-fire short events, every cubing competition tests a unique blend of preparation, nerve, and execution. The competitors who gathered in West Nyack this year left behind a ledger of times that sets a high bar for the remainder of the season.