In Episode 11, hosts John Eppley, Zach Ridall, and Manu Singhal break down the fallout and key takeaways from the European Championship 2026. The crew debates whether the symbolic torch of European dominance has officially been passed to Teodor Zajder, dives into the biggest lessons learned from the competition floor, and gazes into the crystal ball to predict who will break the 3x3 single or average world record next.

New episodes release every Wednesday on SpeedcubingTV & Speedcuber’s Digest.

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In Episode 11, hosts John Eppley, Zach Ridall, and Manu Singhal down the fallout and key takeaways from the European Championship 2026. The crew debates whether the symbolic torch of European dominance has officially been passed to Teodor Zajder, dives into the biggest lessons learned from the competition floor, and gazes into the crystal ball to predict who will break the 3x3 single or average world record next.

Watch the episode below.

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In this episode:

• A new era: Analyzing Teodor Zajder’s performance and debating whether the torch has officially been passed

• Euros 2026 debrief: The key takeaways, surprising developments, and standout performances from Arnhem

• Future of the 3x3 WR: Predictions on who will push the limits next and when the next historic barrier will fall

New episodes release every Wednesday on SpeedcubingTV & Speedcuber’s Digest.

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The European Championship delivered four days of titles, records, and final-solve drama, while competitions in Europe and China produced two of the weekend’s biggest milestones: Daniel Rush breaking Africa’s four-second barrier and Bofan Zhang coming within one move of the 3x3 world record.

Welcome back to the Speedcuber’s Digest Weekend Wrap, where we look at the most significant results and storylines from this past weekend.

Poland Takes Control of Euros

Poland finished the 2026 WCA European Championship with 11 of the 17 continental titles and 17 total medals, completing one of the most dominant country performances in continental championship history.

Teodor Zajder closed the championship by winning 3x3 with a 5.46 average, finishing ahead of Italy’s Valerio Locatelli at 5.74 and Tymon Kolasiński at 5.90.

Zajder’s victory completed a major recovery after a difficult start to the competition. He recorded the DNF that eliminated Poland from the Nations Cup Relay on Day 1 and placed only 20th in the opening round of 2x2. He recovered to win the 2x2 title with a 1.01 average before adding the European 3x3 championship on Sunday.

Kolasiński produced the most decorated individual performance of the competition. He won 4x4, 5x5, 6x6, and 7x7, while also taking bronze in 3x3. His 7x7 title came with a 1:41.64 European record mean, and he finished just 0.09 seconds behind his own 4x4 world record during the opening round.

Poland’s success extended well beyond its two biggest stars. Antoni Stojek won an emotional Clock final, Adrian Dębski took 3x3 Blindfolded with a 16.11 personal record on his last solve, Krzysztof Pietrusiak won Fewest Moves after closing with a 19-move solution, and Michał Krasowski upset Square-1 favorite Rasmus Stub Detlefsen.

The psych sheets suggested Poland would control the championship. By Sunday evening, the results had gone even further.

Final-Solve Drama Defines the European Championship

Several of Euros’ most memorable titles were not confirmed until the final attempt.

Stephanie Rose Martin won Megaminx with a 27.51 average after Aidan Grainger received an extra attempt on solve five. A long rescrambling delay placed the entire room’s attention on Grainger, who still had an opportunity to take the title.

Grainger appeared to use the wrong last-layer algorithm during the replacement solve and finished with a 31.04. Martin and the Irish supporters immediately erupted as the result confirmed her first European championship.

The 3x3 Blindfolded podium was also completely reshaped on solve five. Simon Praschl led through the first four attempts with a 17.18, but DNFed his final solve. Jens Haber then recorded a 16.28, Charles Daloz-Baltenberger followed with a 16.47, and Dębski took the title with a 16.11.

All three medalists recorded their best times on the final scramble, dropping Praschl from first to fourth.

Square-1 was decided by an even smaller mistake. Detlefsen stopped his final solve at 5.51, but a two-second penalty changed the time to 7.51. Without the penalty, his projected average would have been approximately 5.57, enough to defeat Krasowski’s 5.63 Polish record by 0.06 seconds.

The championship repeatedly came down to the same lesson: at this level, one move, penalty, or final attempt can separate a title from a missed podium.

Daniel Rush Makes Every Continent Sub-4

Daniel Rush recorded a 3.82 3x3 single during the European Championship, setting a new African record and making Africa the final continent to officially break the four-second barrier.

The result lowered Rush’s previous continental record of 4.82 by exactly one second. No other African competitor has officially recorded a sub-5 single, giving Rush more than a one-second advantage over the rest of the continent.

The 3.82 also moves Rush to approximately 27th in the world for 3x3 single.

Rush had already been producing a strong championship across the larger cubes, reaching the top 10 in several rounds and placing fourth in both the 6x6 and 7x7 finals. His 3.82 gave the weekend a result with significance beyond one competition.

Every WCA continental region has now produced an official sub-4 3x3 single.

Nanchang Shows the Depth of Chinese Speedcubing

While much of the cubing world was focused on Euros, another remarkable field was competing thousands of miles away at Nanchang Summer 2026.

The one-day competition brought together eight Chinese competitors ranked inside the world’s top 12 by 3x3 average. Many of them are 12 years old or younger.

Xuanyi Geng won the final with a 4.28 average, followed by Ruihang Xu at 4.65 and Zhaokun Li at 4.98.

Geng did not set a personal record, but his consistency may have been even more impressive. Across four rounds and 20 official solves, 18 of his times were below five seconds. His straight mean across all 20 solves was 4.388 seconds.

Yi Shen continued one of the fastest rises in recent speedcubing history. After attending his first official competition in January, Shen recorded personal-best averages of 4.58 and 4.51 in consecutive rounds. The results moved him to eighth in the world by average only months into his competitive career.

Yunzhi Lian continued one of the fastest rises in recent speedcubing history. After attending his first official competition in January, Shen recorded personal-best averages of 4.58 and 4.51 in consecutive rounds. The results moved him to eighth in the world by average just six months into his competitive career.

Yufang Du added a 4.36 personal-best average, Yize Dong recorded a 4.60 in the semifinal, Bofan Zhang set a 16.97 Chinese record in 4x4, and Zhen Chen established the national One-Handed single record at 6.47.

Those results would headline almost any competition. In Nanchang, they were spread across an entire field.

Bofan Zhang Comes One Move From the World Record

The weekend’s closest unofficial world record also came in Nanchang.

Bofan Zhang stopped the timer at 2.72 seconds, four hundredths faster than Teodor Zajder’s 2.76 3x3 world record.

Zhang, however, finished with the cube one move away from solved. The mistake resulted in a two-second penalty and an official time of 4.72.

The solve did not count as a world record or personal best. Zhang’s official best remains 3.39, but the attempt showed how vulnerable the current record may be.

He had already completed almost everything required to break it. The difference was one unfinished move.

Zhang later finished seventh in the final with a 5.41 average. That result would have won both the European and North American continental championships held earlier in July. In Nanchang, it was only enough for seventh place.

That comparison may be the clearest illustration of China’s current depth.

Poland showed at Euros what can happen when a country develops multiple world-class competitors and specialists at the same time. China appears to be building something similar on an even larger foundation.

Between Poland’s championship takeover, Rush completing speedcubing’s continental sub-4 map, Geng controlling an exceptionally deep 3x3 field, and Zhang stopping the timer below the world record, the weekend delivered milestones both official and painfully close.

Euros showed which country currently controls Europe. Nanchang offered another look at where the sport may be heading next.

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Roman Zakoulov Wins Euros 2026 Prediction Challenge

The winning ballot scored 65 points with 18 exact podium hits during a championship that mixed dominant favorites with results almost nobody predicted.

Euros 2026 gave predictors two very different kinds of events.

Tymon Kolasiński delivered in the big cubes, winning 4x4, 5x5, 6x6 and 7x7. Teodor Zajder received a majority of the first-place picks in 2x2 and delivered the victory. Antoni Stojek was also the majority pick in Clock and finished first.

Elsewhere, the podiums became much harder to anticipate. Adrian Dębski won 3x3 Blindfolded, Krzysztof Pietrusiak won Fewest Moves, Milan Vincent Andric won Pyraminx, Ryan Eckersley won 4x4 Blindfolded, and Ezra Hirschi won 5x5 Blindfolded. Several of those winners received few or no first-place selections.

When the final scores were calculated, Roman Zakoulov finished on top of the Euros Prediction Challenge with 65 points.

Catherine Jehanno finished only one point behind at 64, while Curren Stewart placed third with 62.

How Roman Won

Each exact podium position was worth three points, while correctly selecting a podium competitor in the wrong position earned one point.

Roman correctly identified 29 of the championship’s 51 podium competitors, including 18 in their exact finishing positions.

The winning ballot perfectly predicted the entire 2x2 podium:

1. Teodor Zajder

2. Emanuel Schelin

3. Aitor Ibáñez Larrea

Roman also hit two exact positions in five other events:

• 4x4

• 5x5

• 6x6

• 7x7

• 5x5 Blindfolded

That combination of a perfect 2x2 podium, reliable big-cube selections and enough points throughout the more unpredictable events was enough to win by one point.

How the Community Did

Using the most common selection for each podium position, while preventing the same competitor from appearing twice in one event, the community consensus ballot scored 51 points with 12 exact hits.

That total would have tied for 39th place on points.

The consensus ballot did not perfectly predict an entire podium, but it hit two exact positions in five events:

• 4x4

• 5x5

• 6x6

• 7x7

• Clock

The most-picked event winners finished first in only six of the 17 events.

Tymon Kolasiński was the safest selection. He received the majority of first-place picks in 4x4, 5x5, 6x6 and 7x7. He won all four events.

Every entrant included Tymon somewhere on their 4x4, 5x5 and 6x6 podiums. All but one included him in 7x7.

Timofei Tarasenko’s absence also affected a large number of ballots. He was a frequent podium selection in 4x4 through 7x7 and Megaminx, but did not appear at Euros. Because his absence was not known before the competition, entrants had no opportunity to adjust their predictions.

Teodor Zajder received the majority first-place picks in 2x2 and delivered the victory. Antoni Stojek was selected to win Clock by the majority and also finished first.

The community was much less successful in 3x3.

Tymon received 86% of the first-place picks, while only 11% of entrants selected Teodor Zajder to win. Teodor took the title with a 5.46 average, followed by Valerio Locatelli and Tymon.

The Predictions Nobody Saw Coming

Fewest Moves was the hardest event to predict.

Entrants averaged just 0.59 points out of nine, and 68% of ballots received no points at all.

Not one entrant picked Krzysztof Pietrusiak to win. Only three included him anywhere on their podium, and all three placed him third. Pietrusiak won with a 20.67 mean.

The 3x3 Blindfolded winner was almost as unexpected.

No entrant selected Adrian Dębski to win. Only one ballot included him anywhere on the podium, placing him second. Dębski finished first ahead of Jens Haber and Charles Daloz-Baltenberger.

Valerio Locatelli’s silver medal in 3x3 was another nearly impossible call. Only one entrant included him anywhere on their podium, and that ballot placed him third.

Milan Vincent Andric received only one first-place pick in Pyraminx. He went on to win the event ahead of Jakub Majchrzak and Alexey Tsvetkov.

Only three entrants picked Ryan Eckersley to win 4x4 Blindfolded.

Not one entrant picked Ezra Hirschi to win 5x5 Blindfolded.

Those were not obscure bronze-medal surprises. Each one won the event.

Bold Predictions That Came True

Several entrants went beyond their podium ballots and correctly called memorable championship results.

Antoni Stojek and Aleksandra Stojek both predicted that Antoni would win Clock.

Zakaria Mirre predicted that Milan Vincent Andric would win Pyraminx. Milan was selected to win by only one entrant, and Zakaria was that entrant.

Archie Goodman predicted that Nicholas Archer would beat Luke Garrett in One-Handed. Archer won the event and set a European average record during the competition.

Michał Denkiewicz predicted that Poland would win at least 10 of the 17 official events. Polish competitors won exactly 10 overall gold medals, in addition to Jakub Majchrzak earning the European Pyraminx title behind American winner Milan Vincent Andric.

Closest Tiebreaker Predictions

Seven different countries won at least one overall event gold medal:

• Poland

• United Kingdom

• Ireland

• United States

• Czech Republic

• Switzerland

• Austria

Twenty-nine entrants predicted exactly seven.

The winning 3x3 average was Teodor Zajder’s 5.46.

Gabriel Fernandes submitted the closest prediction at 5.45, missing by only 0.01 seconds.

The fastest 3x3 single in the final was Tymon Kolasiński’s 4.34. Aleksander Sołonczak predicted exactly 4.34.

The tiebreakers were not needed to determine the overall winner.

Roman Zakoulov finished one point ahead of Catherine Jehanno, completing the closest Prediction Challenge finish yet.

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In Episode 12, Michael Rosenkranz sits down with Glenn Koster, an Appeals Committee member, Delegate, YouTube creator, and dedicated community ambassador. They explore his journey from finding a Rubik's Cube in 1987 to stepping back into the sport during COVID-19, the hidden responsibilities of being a WCA Delegate, and a deep-dive look into how the WCA Appeals Committee ensures integrity, fairness, and procedural accuracy across the global competitive scene.

Watch the edited public version below.

Important Clarification from Glenn regarding the discussion at 52:17: There is a third option of returning the matter to the original committee if new evidence is uncovered during the appeals process (per WCA Motion 16.2025.1 - Disputes, section 6.3.3). While all statements made in the episode remain accurate, Glenn wanted to provide this additional context for full clarity. Viewers can consult the official WCA dispute motion for further details.

Want the full conversation?
Paid members can watch the Extended Subscriber Edition in Exclusive here.

In this episode:

• From robotics to records: Glenn’s path from 1980s puzzle books to rediscovering cubing in 2020

• Behind the scenes of a Delegate: Coaching new organizers, managing weekend travel, and growing the sport

• Inside the WCA Appeals Committee: How disputes are handled, ensuring global fairness, and the rule of law

• Misconceptions & Integrity: Balancing strict written regulations with unique circumstances

• The future of competitive cubing: Executive structure, school growth, and building community across generations

New episodes release every Monday on SpeedcubingTV & Speedcuber’s Digest.

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In Episode 12, Michael Rosenkranz sits down with Glenn Koster, an Appeals Committee member, Delegate, YouTube creator, and dedicated community ambassador. They explore his journey from finding a Rubik’s Cube in 1987 to stepping back into the sport during COVID-19, the hidden responsibilities of being a WCA Delegate, and a deep-dive look into how the WCA Appeals Committee ensures integrity, fairness, and procedural accuracy across the global competitive scene.

Important Clarification from Glenn regarding the discussion at 52:17: There is a third option of returning the matter to the original committee if new evidence is uncovered during the appeals process (per WCA Motion 16.2025.1 - Disputes, section 6.3.3). While all statements made in the episode remain accurate, Glenn wanted to provide this additional context for full clarity. Viewers can consult the official WCA dispute motion for f…

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The result came during the third round, where Rush finished with solves of (3.82), 6.59, (7.02), 6.57, and 6.67. His 6.61 average placed him 28th in the round, leaving him outside the 16-person final despite producing one of the competition’s most historically significant individual solves.

Watch the 3.82 African record below.

Rush’s previous African record was 4.86, recorded at Newcomers Cape Cube-Fest 2025. The 3.82 improves that mark by 1.04 seconds, an unusually large jump for an elite 3x3 record.

It also moves Rush to No. 27 in the world for 3x3 single, placing him between Riley Dexter’s 3.81 and Brenton Angelo Lo Wong’s 3.84.

The gap within Africa is even more striking. Christian Swartz ranks second on the continent with a 5.13, making Rush the only African competitor with an official sub-five single. His new record is 1.31 seconds faster than the next-best result.

The milestone also completes a major benchmark across the sport. Every WCA continental region now has at least one official sub-four 3x3 single, with Africa becoming the final region to cross the barrier.

Rush has gradually lowered Africa’s 3x3 standard while also establishing himself across the larger cube events. His WCA profile now includes African records in every standard cube event from 3x3 through 7x7.

He is also a two-time African 3x3 champion, having won the title at the continental championships in both 2022 and 2024.

The next WCA African Championship takes place September 24-27 in Cape Town, South Africa. Rush is listed as one of the competition’s organizers and will enter the championship with a continental record that has moved Africa into a new era of 3x3 solving.

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The final day of the 2026 WCA European Championship ended with Teodor Zajder becoming the European 3x3 champion and Poland completing one of the most dominant continental championship performances in recent memory.

Zajder recovered from an uneven opening to the competition to win both 2x2 and 3x3. Tymon Kolasiński added another title in 5x5, Adrian Dębski delivered a last-solve victory in 3x3 Blindfolded, and Michał Krasowski upset the community favorite in Square-1.

Poland finished Euros with 11 gold medals and 17 total medals, leading every country by a wide margin.

Teodor Zajder Wins the European 3x3 Championship

Teodor Zajder won 3x3 with a 5.46 average, finishing ahead of Valerio Locatelli and Tymon Kolasiński.

European Championship Podium

🥇 Teodor Zajder (Poland) - 5.46
🥈 Valerio Locatelli (Italy) - 5.74
🥉 Tymon Kolasiński (Poland) - 5.90

Zajder’s final solves were 5.80, 4.82, (4.73), (7.00), and 5.75. His opening three attempts established the lead before the 7.00, briefly giving the remaining contenders an opportunity. Teodor appeared unsatisfied after his 5th solve.

Kolasiński had entered the final as the top seed after recording a 4.92 average in the semifinal. Kim Roger Haraldsen followed with a 5.06 Norwegian record, while Zajder advanced third at 5.08.

That seeding order meant Zajder completed his final before the last pairing of Haraldsen and Kolasiński, putting a 5.46 on the board for the rest of the field to chase.

Kolasiński encountered trouble early in the final, including an apparent cross mistake, and recorded two six-second solves within his first two attempts. A 4.34 on solve four kept the title within reach, but he needed approximately 4.90 or faster on the final attempt to pass Zajder.

His last solve was visibly shaky and ended at 6.56, confirming Zajder as the European champion.

The title completed a major recovery for Zajder. He appeared nervous during the Nations Cup Relay on Day 1 and recorded the DNF that eliminated Poland in the semifinal. His opening 2x2 round was also below expectations, but he recovered to win that event on Saturday before taking the biggest title of the championship on Sunday.

Valerio Locatelli delivered one of the biggest surprises of the championship, recording a 5.74 average to earn silver behind Teodor Zajder. He entered the final as the No. 12 seed and did not appear among the community’s top five podium predictions, which instead centered on Tymon Kolasiński, Zajder, Luke Garrett, Timofei Tarasenko, and Olaf Kuźmiński.

Locatelli responded with one of the cleanest sets of the final, recording (6.45), 6.24, 5.39, (5.25), and 5.59. His consistency separated him from Kolasiński and Garrett in the race for second, prompting a huge celebration from the Italian supporters as the unexpected silver medal became secure.

The road to the final also produced several notable results. Haraldsen’s 5.06 set a Norwegian record and earned the second seed. Daniel Rush recorded a 3.82 African continental record single earlier in the event, while Patrick Ponce and Chris Mills were among the recognizable names who did not survive the final cut.

Zajder entered Euros as the community’s second choice behind Kolasiński. The final reversed that order and gave him his second championship of the weekend, and made Teodor the new face of 3x3 in Europe.

Tymon Kolasiński Completes the Big-Cube Sweep

Kolasiński won 5x5 with a 35.38 average, completing a sweep of the four largest standard cube events at Euros.

Final Podium

🥇 Tymon Kolasiński (Poland) - 35.38
🥈 Richard Delacoste (Switzerland) - 41.82
🥉 Ciarán Beahan (Ireland) - 42.10

Kolasiński’s solves were 35.92, 35.65, (31.54), (38.10), and 34.56. Every one of his attempts was faster than the best solve recorded by either of the other medalists.

The result was the most expected title of the championship. Kolasiński received 97% of the first-place picks in the community prediction challenge, with every ballot placing him somewhere on the podium.

Delacoste finished second despite every solve in his set being slower than the one before it. He opened with a (37.90) before recording 40.32, 41.70, 43.44, and (43.96). The gradual decline did not matter, as his early speed gave him enough room to secure silver.

Beahan’s final began with a major cube pop that resulted in a DNF. He responded with four completed solves, including a 39.19, and recovered to take bronze with a 42.10 average.

Patrick Ponce entered the last solve within reach of the podium. A 43.21 or faster would have moved him ahead of Beahan, but his 47.14 forced a 45.58 to count and left him fourth at 42.89.

Kolasiński leaves Euros with titles in 4x4, 5x5, 6x6, and 7x7. He also lowered the 7x7 European record in both rounds and came within 0.09 seconds of his 4x4 world record during the opening day.

His 3x3 bronze prevented a complete sweep of the standard cube events, but four golds and one bronze still made him the most decorated individual competitor of the championship.

Adrian Dębski Wins 3BLD on the Final Solve

Adrian Dębski won 3x3 Blindfolded with a 16.11 personal-record single, moving into first place on the fifth and final attempt.

European Championship Podium

🥇 Adrian Dębski (Poland) - 16.11
🥈 Jens Haber (Germany) - 16.28
🥉 Charles Daloz-Baltenberger (France) - 16.47

The final remained open until the final sequence of solves.

Simon Praschl led through the first four attempts with a 17.18. His fifth solve ended in a DNF, but that initially appeared survivable until the other leading competitors began improving.

Haber recorded a 16.28 on his final attempt. Daloz-Baltenberger followed with a 16.47, and Dębski completed the comeback with a 16.11.

All three medalists recorded their best result on solve five.

Several other competitors also entered the final scramble with realistic podium opportunities. Iker Carrasco Ruiz finished with a sub-16 attempt that resulted in a DNF, while multiple other leading competitors also failed their last solves.

Dębski’s result continued a remarkable pattern on the European stage. At the previous European Championship, he also secured the title on his final solve, recording a 17.50 personal record. This time, he repeated the finish with an even faster result.

As the 16.11 was confirmed, the Polish team rushed toward Dębski to celebrate another title in what had already become a historic championship for the country.

Praschl dropped from first to fourth despite leading for most of the final.

Michał Krasowski Upsets the Square-1 Favorite

Michał Krasowski won Square-1 with a 5.63 Polish record average, defeating community favorite Rasmus Stub Detlefsen.

Final Podium

🥇 Michał Krasowski (Poland) - 5.63 NR
🥈 Rasmus Stub Detlefsen (Denmark) - 5.88
🥉 Vincent Chan (Netherlands) - 6.05 NR

Krasowski recorded solves of 5.41, (6.79), 6.16, 5.33, and (5.14). His fastest solve came on the final attempt and completed the national record.

Detlefsen entered as the strongest favorite in the community predictions, receiving 83% of the first-place selections. He remained in championship position until the final solve.

His last attempt was originally stopped at 5.51 but received a two-second penalty, making the result 7.51. That forced another slower solve to count and left him with a 5.88 average.

Without the penalty, his average would have been approximately 5.57, enough to defeat Krasowski by 0.06 seconds.

Chan also delivered his fastest solve on the final attempt, recording a 5.18 to secure bronze and a 6.05 Netherlands record average.

The final produced two national records and a title decided directly by a last-solve penalty.

Milan Vincent Andric Wins Pyraminx Overall, Jakub Majchrzak Takes the European Title

Milan Vincent Andric won the Pyraminx competition overall with a 1.40 personal-record average.

Because Andric represents the United States, the European title went to Jakub Majchrzak of Poland.

European Championship Podium

🥇 Jakub Majchrzak (Poland) - 1.75
🥈 Alexey Tsvetkov (Russia) - 1.77
🥉 Aratz Larruzea (Spain) - 1.82

Andric’s solves were (1.12), 1.31, 1.55, (2.18), and 1.34. His final 1.34 completed an extremely consistent set and left him 0.35 seconds ahead of the overall field.

The European championship battle was much closer.

Majchrzak closed with a 1.35, his fastest solve of the round, to finish at 1.75. Tsvetkov entered the final attempt with a chance to take the championship but recorded a 4.14, forcing a 2.21 to count and dropping his average to 1.77.

That left Majchrzak ahead by just 0.02 seconds.

Larruzea, the community’s pre-competition favorite, finished third among eligible European competitors with a 1.82.

Oisín Olwill produced one of the event’s biggest earlier-round results, recording a 1.57 Irish record average to win the semifinal. His final was more difficult, and he finished outside the championship podium.

The result gave Poland another championship title, even though the fastest competitor in the room represented another continent.

Final Euros 2026 Medal Table

The table counts European Championship medals rather than overall competition placements. Andric’s Pyraminx victory is therefore not counted for the United States, with Majchrzak receiving the European gold.

Nations Cup Relay is excluded. FMC awarded two silver medals and no bronze because of the tie for second.

Poland won 11 of the 17 official European Championship titles and earned a medal in every standard cube event.

Kolasiński led the individual medal haul, while Zajder’s final-day victories in 2x2 and 3x3 gave Poland both the opening and closing titles of the championship’s final weekend.

Ireland finished second by total medals with six, led by Stephanie Rose Martin’s Megaminx championship and three big-cube bronze medals from Ciarán Beahan.

Germany finished with five silver medals but no golds. Its championship was defined by repeated runner-up finishes from Sebastian Weyer, Mark Zimmermann, Moritz Lotz, and Jens Haber.

Euros began with Poland’s Nations Cup disappointment and questions about whether the country’s control of the psych sheets would translate under pressure.

Four days later, the answer was clear.

Poland did not simply lead the championship. It controlled it.

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Day 3 of the 2026 WCA European Championship delivered five more champions, several late-round swings, and one of the most tense delays of the competition.

Stephanie Rose Martin won Megaminx after Aidan Grainger entered his final solve with a chance to take the title. Tymon Kolasiński continued his big-cube dominance in 6x6, while Teodor Zajder recovered from an uneven opening day to win 2x2.

Krzysztof Pietrusiak also produced one of the day’s most important final attempts, recording a 19-move solution to move from third provisionally to the European FMC title.

Stephanie Rose Martin Wins a Dramatic Megaminx Final

Stephanie Rose Martin won Megaminx with a 27.51 average, defeating Aidan Grainger and Prabhav Rajaram Nayak in a final that remained undecided until the final solve.

Final Podium

🥇 Stephanie Rose Martin (Ireland) - 27.51
🥈 Aidan Grainger (United Kingdom) - 28.67
🥉 Prabhav Rajaram Nayak (Ireland) - 30.70

Martin recorded solves of (25.28), (30.63), 27.54, 26.02, and 28.98, giving her the lead while Grainger waited for an extra attempt on solve five.

The delay placed additional attention on Grainger. The room remained quiet for several minutes as his cube was solved and rescrambled, while Martin paced nearby and watched the standings.

When the replacement cube finally reached the table, Grainger readied up almost immediately. He took only enough time to turn on his camera and take a deep breath before beginning inspection.

During that final solve, however, he appeared to perform the wrong last-layer algorithm after reaching PLL, undoing the corners and producing a 31.04.

Grainger immediately recognized the mistake and leaned forward in disappointment. Martin and the Irish supporters erupted as the result confirmed her victory.

Martin later credited Luke Griesser for helping with the mental side of her preparation. She also said she did not expect such a large reaction because those around the stage already knew the title had narrowed to her and Grainger.

The victory gives Martin another major result shortly after her 25.93 female world record Megaminx average. This time, the milestone was not a ranking position. It was her first European title.

Teodor Zajder Rebounds to Win 2x2

Teodor Zajder won 2x2 with a 1.01 average, delivering the result the community largely expected despite an uneven start to the championship.

Final Podium

🥇 Teodor Zajder (Poland) - 1.01
🥈 Emanuel Schelin (Sweden) - 1.23
🥉 Aitor Ibáñez Larrea (Spain) - 1.26

Zajder’s final solves were (0.88), 1.02, 1.10, (3.17), and 0.92. Four of the five attempts were 1.10 or faster, giving him a comfortable margin over Schelin.

The win followed a difficult opening day. Zajder appeared nervous during the Nations Cup Relay and recorded the DNF that eliminated favorite Poland in the semifinals. His first round of 2x2 was also less convincing, with a 1.57 average that placed him 20th.

He responded with a 1.07 in Round 2 before improving again in the final.

Zajder entered as the community favorite, receiving 72% of the first-place picks in the Euros Podium Prediction Challenge. The early rounds created some uncertainty, but the final brought him back to the level expected from Europe’s top-ranked 2x2 competitor.

Antonie Paterakis, another leading favorite, did not reach the final. He finished 39th with a 1.76 average and joined the commentary team instead.

For Zajder, the title should provide a major confidence boost before Sunday’s 3x3 rounds, where he enters as one of the leading contenders.

Small Margins Decide Skewb

Vojtěch Grohmann won Skewb with a 1.60 average, finishing ahead of Frank Lindblom and community favorite Ignacy Samselski.

Final Podium

🥇 Vojtěch Grohmann (Czech Republic) - 1.60
🥈 Frank Lindblom (Sweden) - 1.77
🥉 Ignacy Samselski (Poland) - 1.82

Grohmann’s solves were (1.32), 1.76, (3.03), 1.51, and 1.52. Lindblom followed with 1.89, 1.65, (3.64), 1.77, and (1.47).

Both of the top two had only one solve above two seconds.

Samselski had two, recording a 2.20 and a (2.73) alongside faster attempts of 1.80, (1.40), and 1.47. Those small differences were enough to separate first from third in an event where one additional slow solve can change the entire podium.

The community had selected Samselski as the favorite with 68% of the first-place predictions. Grohmann ranked third in the consensus board, but delivered the cleanest set when the title was decided.

Tymon Kolasiński Continues Big-Cube Dominance

Tymon Kolasiński won 6x6 with a 1:09.32 mean, giving Poland another title and continuing his dominant championship across the larger cubes.

Final Podium

🥇 Tymon Kolasiński (Poland) - 1:09.32
🥈 Mark Zimmermann (Germany) - 1:14.26 NR
🥉 Ciarán Beahan (Ireland) - 1:14.82

Kolasiński recorded solves of 1:09.37, 1:08.52, and 1:10.08. All three were faster than any solve produced by the rest of the field.

Mark Zimmermann continued his breakout Euros with a German record mean. After opening with a 1:18.98, he responded with 1:11.63 and 1:12.17 to secure silver and finish just ahead of Beahan.

Daniel Rush placed fourth with a 1:17.09, continuing a championship where he has consistently appeared near the top of the big-cube standings.

Kolasiński’s victory followed his earlier titles in 4x4 and 7x7. The community had selected him as the favorite in every standard cube event from 3x3 through 7x7, and he has so far converted all three completed big-cube finals into gold.

During a late-night analysis stream, Kevin Hays reviewed Kolasiński’s solving alongside Feliks Zemdegs, Đỗ Quang Hưng, and several other top big-cube competitors. Hays noted that even with Kolasiński’s current results, there are still event-specific areas of 6x6 knowledge he can continue developing.

That may be the most concerning part for the rest of the field. Kolasiński is already winning comfortably while still identifying room to improve.

A Final 19 Gives Krzysztof Pietrusiak the FMC Title

Krzysztof Pietrusiak won Fewest Moves with a 20.67 mean after producing a 19-move solution on the third and final attempt.

Final Podium

🥇 Krzysztof Pietrusiak (Poland) - 20.67
🥈 Moritz Lotz (Germany) - 21.00
🥈 Wojciech Rogoziński (Poland) - 21.00

No bronze medal was awarded because Lotz and Rogoziński tied for second.

Pietrusiak entered the final attempt in third place after solutions of 22 and 21 moves. His closing 19 lowered his mean to 20.67 and moved him past the two provisional leaders.

Lotz and Rogoziński also recorded 19s on the final attempt, giving both means of 21.00. They placed ahead of Louis-Marie Ratto, who also finished with a 21.00 mean, because their 19-move best solutions won the tiebreak over Ratto’s three matching 21s.

Radomił Baran, the community’s pre-competition favorite, closed with a 19 but finished fifth at 21.33 after earlier attempts of 23 and 22.

The result completed a major finish for Pietrusiak and gave Poland its sixth official gold medal through the first three days.

Euros 2026 Medal Table Through Day 3

The table below counts official WCA event finals only. Nations Cup Relay is excluded. The shared silver medals in FMC are both counted, with no bronze awarded in that event.

Poland has now won six of the 10 official finals completed through Day 3. Kolasiński alone accounts for three of those gold medals, while Antoni Stojek, Zajder, and Pietrusiak have added the others.

Ireland has the second-most total medals with five, led by Martin’s Megaminx title and three bronze finishes.

Germany has not yet won an event, but its four silver medals are the most of any country. Zimmermann has contributed two of them through 6x6 and 7x7.

Five Major Finals Remain

Sunday will close the championship with five official finals:

• 5x5

• 3x3 Blindfolded

• Pyraminx

• Square-1

• 3x3

Kolasiński enters 5x5 as the strongest favorite on the entire community prediction board, having received 97% of the first-place picks.

The day will then build toward 3x3, where Kolasiński, Zajder, Luke Garrett, Dylan Miller, and the rest of the championship field will compete for the overall victory and European title.

After three days, Poland already controls the medal table. The final day will determine whether that advantage becomes a complete championship takeover or whether the remaining events produce one last reshuffling.

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Bofan Zhang came within one move of breaking the 3x3 single world record.

In a video shared on Bilibili, Zhang stopped the timer at 2.72 seconds, four hundredths faster than Teodor Zajder’s current world record of 2.76. A +2 penalty was applied after he finished one move away from solved, changing the final result to 4.72.

Watch the Near Record Solve Below:
https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1GqKF6zEsP/

The penalty meant the solve did not count as either a world record or a personal best. Zhang’s official best remains 3.39, which ranks 10th in the world. His 4.38 average is also fifth globally.

The video shows how narrow the margin can be at the top of modern 3x3. Without the penalty, Zhang would have lowered the world record by 0.04 seconds. Instead, the solve becomes one of the fastest times ever stopped on a competition timer without entering the official rankings.

Zhang is already established among the world’s fastest 3x3 competitors. He finished third at the 2024 WCA Asian Championship with a 5.41 average.

The 2.72 will not appear in the record books, but the underlying performance offered another sign that the 3x3 single world record remains under serious pressure.

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This is a lost episode, hosts Dylan Miller and Chris Mills recorded this episode prior to episode one, and never released it. Until today!

Watch the full episode below.

New episodes release every Friday on SpeedcubingTV & Speedcuber’s Digest.

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Day 2 of the 2026 WCA European Championship delivered the first official event titles of the competition, with several community favorites immediately converting expectations into championships.

Tymon Kolasiński won both 4x4 and 7x7, Nicholas Archer claimed One-Handed, Antoni Stojek completed an emotional comeback in Clock, and Simon Praschl won Multi-Blind.

International competitors reached every completed final except Clock, but the podiums remained entirely European through the end of Day 2.

Tymon Kolasiński Wins 4x4

Kolasiński won the 4x4 title with a 20.24 average, finishing ahead of Sebastian Weyer’s 20.94 and Twan Dullemond’s 22.53.

Final Podium

🥇 Tymon Kolasiński - 20.24
🥈 Sebastian Weyer - 20.94
🥉 Twan Dullemond - 22.53

Kolasiński’s final solves were 21.40, (18.58), (25.25), 18.30, and 20.75. The average was slower than his near record-level 18.65 from the opening round, but it was enough to win the title by 0.70 seconds.

The community entered Euros overwhelmingly expecting this result. Kolasiński received 88% of the first-place picks in the Speedcuber’s Digest Podium Prediction Challenge and appeared on every submitted 4x4 podium.

The battle for bronze came down to the final attempts. Ciarán Beahan entered solve five with a realistic opportunity to pass Dullemond, needing a 23.07 or faster to move ahead. His 26.20 left him fourth with a 23.02 average.

Luke Garrett’s 27.14 forced his opening 26.75 to count, dropping him to sixth at 24.23. Even with the fastest possible fifth solve, however, his best possible average was 22.82, meaning the podium was already mathematically out of reach.

Dullemond’s third-place finish continued an excellent opening two days after he delivered the decisive solve in the Netherlands’ Nations Cup Relay victory on Thursday.

Two Rounds, Two 7x7 European Records

Kolasiński followed the 4x4 title by winning 7x7 with another European record mean.

His final times were 1:44.09, 1:39.94, and 1:40.90, producing a 1:41.64 mean. The result completed a remarkable championship progression in which he lowered the continental record in both rounds.

Final Podium

🥇 Tymon Kolasiński - 1:41.64 ER
🥈 Mark Zimmermann - 1:48.26
🥉 Ciarán Beahan - 1:51.05

Kolasiński entered Euros with a 1:42.18 European record, lowered it to 1:42.14 in the first round, and finished with the 1:41.64 in the final.

That left him more than six seconds ahead of Mark Zimmermann, who delivered a breakout performance of his own.

Zimmermann recorded a 1:41.89 German record single on his third attempt, securing both the national record single and a 1:48.26 national record mean. The single moved him close to the top 10 globally and arrived when he needed it most to secure silver.

Kate Grahame also recorded a 1:55.19 personal-record mean. This breaks her own Female World Record in the event.

Daniel Rush finished fourth with a 1:54.22 mean, continuing a strong championship across the larger cubes.

Timofei Tarasenko remained absent on Day 2. Tarasenko had been expected to challenge Kolasiński across the big cubes and was among the community’s leading podium selections in 5x5, 6x6, 7x7, and Megaminx.

Nicholas Archer Survives Tense One-Handed Final

Nicholas Archer won 3x3 One-Handed with an 8.76 average, finishing ahead of Ianis Costin Chele and Eden Robinson-Rechavi.

Final Podium

🥇 Nicholas Archer - 8.76
🥈 Ianis Costin Chele - 9.13
🥉 Eden Robinson-Rechavi - 9.34

Archer entered the final after matching his 7.95 European record average during the opening round. The final was slower and visibly more difficult, but his early consistency gave him enough room to survive.

His solves were 8.42, 8.65, (8.22), 9.21, and (10.94). Archer’s hands were visibly shaking before the fifth attempt, and the 10.94 became his worst solve of the set. By then, however, the title was still within reach.

Juliette Sébastien had the clearest late opportunity to take the lead. She entered solve five with a chance to pass Archer, but a 10.45 forced her to count a slower result and dropped her to sixth with a 9.50 average.

Luke Garrett, the current world record holder, and Patrick Ponce, a former world record holder, both suffered costly solves early in the final and never recovered into podium contention.

The podium was nearly a complete Roux sweep, but Chele’s silver prevented Archer and Robinson-Rechavi from producing an all-Roux top three.

The community had viewed One-Handed as the closest title race of Euros. Archer and Garrett each received 42% of the first-place predictions, with Archer ultimately delivering the win.

Antoni Stojek Completes Emotional Clock Comeback

Antoni Stojek won Clock with a 2.77 average, completing one of the most emotional victories of the championship.

Final Podium

🥇 Antoni Stojek - 2.77
🥈 Jack Corr - 3.11
🥉 Caleb Wolf Dunn - 3.26

Stojek’s solves were (2.40), 2.62, (4.16), 2.57, and 3.11. Entering his final attempt, he needed a 3.97 or faster to guarantee the title. He delivered a 3.11 and immediately erupted in celebration.

His father and members of the Polish community celebrated from the crowd as Stojek broke down in tears.

The victory carried added meaning because of what happened at the 2025 World Championship.

Stojek was initially declared the Clock world champion, but a post-round review determined that one of his attempts had been misscrambled. The solve was converted to a DNS, changing his average to 3.12 and moving him from first to third.

Brendyn Dunagan also had an attempt converted to a DNS in the same final, although his second-place position was unaffected. The finalized podium placed Volodymyr Kapustianskyi first.

The incident became one of the most discussed Clock controversies of the past year and has remained part of the broader community conversation surrounding the event.

This time, there was no later reversal.

In his interview, Stojek credited Poland’s speedcubing community for continuing to push and support him. He said the group wants every member to succeed, and that their support has kept him moving forward.

The community had selected Stojek as the clear Clock favorite, giving him 62% of the first-place predictions. He delivered the title that many believed he had already earned on the World Championship stage.

Simon Praschl Wins Multi-Blind

Simon Praschl won 3x3 Multi-Blind with a result of 52 points from 57 cubes in 58:53.

Final Podium

🥇 Simon Praschl - 52/57 in 58:53
🥈 Adrian Dębski - 43/48 in 1:00:00
🥉 Mikołaj Morawski - 39/41 in 57:07

Praschl separated himself clearly from the rest of the field, finishing nine points ahead of Dębski.

The result also overturned one of the community’s stronger predictions. Krzysztof Bober received 64% of the first-place selections and entered as the clear favorite, but both of his attempts included too many missed cubes to contend for the podium.

Bober opened by solving 48 of 61 cubes in 1:00:02. Although he completed more cubes than anyone outside Praschl, the 13 misses reduced the attempt to 35 points. His second attempt was 40/60 in 1:00:02, which produced only 20 points.

His aggressive cube counts gave him championship-winning potential, but they also created much more risk than the attempts from the eventual medalists. Bober finished sixth, while Praschl combined a similarly ambitious total with much greater accuracy to secure the title.

Teodor Zajder Opens 2x2 Below Expectations

Teodor Zajder entered Euros as the top-ranked 2x2 competitor and received 72% of the community’s first-place predictions, but his opening round was more difficult than expected.

Zajder recorded solves of 1.78, 1.12, 1.80, (0.96), and (3.22) for a 1.57 average, placing 20th in the round.

The uneven set followed his Nations Cup Relay DNF on Day 1, where visible nerves helped eliminate favorite Poland in the semifinal.

One difficult opening round does not remove Zajder from contention, but his start contrasts sharply with Alexey Tsvetkov’s round-leading 1.14 and Christian Crea’s 1.23 Italian record.

FMC Enters Final Attempt With a Crowded Title Race

Fewest Moves has completed two of its three attempts, with Louis-Marie Ratto and Oliver Fritz sharing the provisional lead.

Both competitors recorded 21-move solutions on the opening two attempts, giving them 21.00 means entering the final solve.

Krzysztof Pietrusiak sits alone in third at 21.50 after solutions of 22 and 21 moves. Seven competitors are tied behind him at 22.00.

Ratto and Fritz control the title race. Another 21-move solution would give either competitor a 21.00 mean, while a 22 would produce a 21.33.

Pietrusiak would need a 20 on the final attempt to finish with a 21.00 mean. A 21 would give him 21.33, keeping him in strong podium contention but leaving him dependent on the leaders’ results.

Radomił Baran, the community’s pre-competition favorite, sits 15th provisionally with a 22.50 mean after attempts of 23 and 22. He likely needs one of the strongest final solutions in the field to return to title contention. A 19 would give him a 21.33 mean, while a 20 would leave him at 21.67.

Adam Marcellus Kelly and Adrien Neveu, who ranked second and third in the community predictions, are tied at 23.00 after opening with matching 23-move solutions. Both would likely need a sub-20 final attempt and help from the leaders to reach the podium.

With two competitors tied at 21.00 and eight more within one move of the lead, the third attempt will decide nearly everything. Ratto and Fritz hold the advantage, but one exceptional solution could still reshape the entire podium.

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The Euros 2026 Podium Prediction Challenge is closed, and the community has spoken.

These are not results, nor are they our official picks. They are a snapshot of how the community sees each event heading into Euros.

The prediction board reflects the entries as submitted. Timofei Tarasenko appears prominently across several events, but he has missed Day 1, and his status for the remaining days is unknown.

To make the trends easier to follow, we used the same consensus score as our NAC challenge:

• First-place pick = 3 points

• Second-place pick = 2 points

• Third-place pick = 1 point

That gives us a better picture than only looking at first-place votes. Some competitors may not have the most win picks, but still appear consistently across podium ballots.

The Biggest Locks

The clearest lock at Euros is Tymon Kolasiński in 5x5.

Tymon received 97% of the first-place picks. The other 3% placed him second, meaning every single ballot had Tymon on the 5x5 podium.

That dominance extends across the rest of the standard cube events.

Tymon leads the community consensus in 3x3, 4x4, 5x5, 6x6, and 7x7. He appeared on every podium ballot in 4x4, 5x5, and 6x6, and missed only one ballot in 7x7.

Stanley Chapel is the other major lock.

Stanley received 91% of the first-place picks in both 4BLD and 5BLD. Simon Praschl and Ryan Eckersley received strong podium support, but very few respondents expect either to take the title away from Stanley.

Timofei Tarasenko received overwhelming support in Megaminx, with 88% of the first-place picks.

Rasmus Stub Detlefsen rounds out the strongest favorites, taking 83% of the Square-1 win predictions.

The Closest Races

The closest first-place race is 3x3 One-Handed.

Nicholas Archer and Luke Garrett each received 42% of the first-place picks, making One-Handed a true toss-up between them. Nicholas leads the overall consensus score because he appeared on more podium ballots, but almost nothing separates them in the race for gold.

Dhruva Sai Meruva is the clear third name, while Eden Robinson-Rechavi and Andrey Che round out a deeper group of podium contenders.

3BLD also looks wide open compared to the other blindfolded events.

Charles Daloz-Baltenberger leads with 47% of the first-place picks, but Jens Haber is close behind in both gold votes and total consensus score. Stanley Chapel and Simon Praschl also received significant podium support.

Pyraminx has another divided field.

Aratz Larruzea leads with 53% of the first-place picks, followed by Alexey Tsvetkov and Daniel Partridge. Jonathan Plug also received 15 gold predictions, giving the event four competitors with meaningful first-place support.

FMC is similarly difficult to predict. Radomił Baran leads comfortably, but only received 57% of the win picks. Adam Marcellus Kelly and Adrien Neveu are nearly tied for second in the consensus standings.

Event-by-Event Prediction Board

3x3 Cube

Community Favorite: Tymon Kolasiński, 86% first-place

Top Five

1. Tymon Kolasiński

2. Teodor Zajder

3. Luke Garrett

4. Timofei Tarasenko

5. Olaf Kuźmiński

2x2 Cube

Community Favorite: Teodor Zajder, 72% first-place

Top Five

1. Teodor Zajder

2. Antonie Paterakis

3. Emanuel Schelin

4. Tymon Kolasiński

5. Max Tully

4x4 Cube

Community Favorite: Tymon Kolasiński, 88% first-place

Top Five

1. Tymon Kolasiński

2. Sebastian Weyer

3. Timofei Tarasenko

4. Ciarán Beahan

5. Twan Dullemond

5x5 Cube

Community Favorite: Tymon Kolasiński, 97% first-place

Top Five

1. Tymon Kolasiński

2. Timofei Tarasenko

3. Ciarán Beahan

4. Sebastian Weyer

5. Patrick Ponce

6x6 Cube

Community Favorite: Tymon Kolasiński, 68% first-place

Top Five

1. Tymon Kolasiński

2. Timofei Tarasenko

3. Ciarán Beahan

4. Daniel Rush

5. Mark Zimmermann

7x7 Cube

Community Favorite: Tymon Kolasiński, 73% first-place

Top Five

1. Tymon Kolasiński

2. Timofei Tarasenko

3. Ciarán Beahan

4. Mark Zimmermann

5. Kate Grahame

3BLD

Community Favorite: Charles Daloz-Baltenberger, 47% first-place

Top Five

1. Charles Daloz-Baltenberger

2. Jens Haber

3. Stanley Chapel

4. Simon Praschl

5. Ben Baron

FMC

Community Favorite: Radomił Baran, 57% first-place

Top Five

1. Radomił Baran

2. Adam Marcellus Kelly

3. Adrien Neveu

4. Louis-Marie Ratto

5. Moritz Lotz

3x3 One-Handed

Community Favorites: Nicholas Archer and Luke Garrett, 42% first-place each

Top Five

1. Nicholas Archer

2. Luke Garrett

3. Dhruva Sai Meruva

4. Eden Robinson-Rechavi

5. Andrey Che

Clock

Community Favorite: Antoni Stojek, 62% first-place

Top Five

1. Antoni Stojek

2. Eryk Kasperek

3. Caleb Wolf Dunn

4. Danny Morgan

5. Mick Boekema

Megaminx

Community Favorite: Timofei Tarasenko, 88% first-place

Top Five

1. Timofei Tarasenko

2. Stephanie Rose Martin

3. Aidan Grainger

4. Sean Moran

5. Alessandro Calzoni

Pyraminx

Community Favorite: Aratz Larruzea, 53% first-place

Top Five

1. Aratz Larruzea

2. Alexey Tsvetkov

3. Daniel Partridge

4. Jonathan Plug

5. Matouš Keder

Skewb

Community Favorite: Ignacy Samselski, 68% first-place

Top Five

1. Ignacy Samselski

2. Oskar Hanuszkiewicz

3. Vojtěch Grohmann

4. Alex Rosado Saez de Langarica

5. Ariel Benchetrit

Square-1

Community Favorite: Rasmus Stub Detlefsen, 83% first-place

Top Five

1. Rasmus Stub Detlefsen

2. Michał Krasowski

3. Isaac Corker

4. Maksym Wingert

5. Szymon Ciepiela

4BLD

Community Favorite: Stanley Chapel, 91% first-place

Top Five

1. Stanley Chapel

2. Simon Praschl

3. Ryan Eckersley

4. Daniel Wallin

5. Ezra Hirschi

5BLD

Community Favorite: Stanley Chapel, 91% first-place

Top Five

1. Stanley Chapel

2. Ryan Eckersley

3. Ezra Hirschi

4. Simon Praschl

5. Daniel Wallin

MBLD

Community Favorite: Krzysztof Bober, 64% first-place

Top Five

1. Krzysztof Bober

2. Ezra Hirschi

3. Simon Praschl

4. Stanley Chapel

5. Kamil Przybylski

What Stands Out Most

The community is extremely confident in a few competitors:

• Tymon Kolasiński throughout the standard cube events.

• Stanley Chapel in 4BLD and 5BLD.

• Timofei Tarasenko in Megaminx.

• Rasmus Stub Detlefsen in Square-1.

• Teodor Zajder in 2x2.

Tymon is the biggest story on the board. He leads five events and is also ranked fourth in the 2x2 consensus. The community is not simply expecting him to have a strong weekend. It is expecting him to collect titles across nearly every cube size.

With Timofei Tarasenko possibly no longer attending, the big cube podium picture becomes much less predictable. Ciarán Beahan remains one of the community’s most consistent picks across 5x5, 6x6, and 7x7.

The blindfolded events tell two different stories.

Stanley is the overwhelming favorite in 4BLD and 5BLD, but 3BLD is much less certain. Charles Daloz-Baltenberger leads, Jens Haber is firmly in contention, and Stanley remains a major podium threat.

Then there are the true toss-ups.

Nicholas Archer and Luke Garrett received identical first-place support in One-Handed. Pyraminx has four competitors receiving serious win support. FMC has a clear favorite, but very little agreement behind him.

That is what makes these prediction challenges fun.

Some events appear decided before the first solve. Others could completely reshape the leaderboard with one unexpected podium.

The picks are in.

Now Euros gets to show us how much the community actually knew.

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Europe’s biggest championship brings a Polish-heavy 3x3 field, Japan crowns its first national champions since 2019, and Nanchang gathers another world-class Chinese lineup.

Welcome back to the Speedcuber’s Digest Weekend Preview, where we look ahead at the potential storylines going into the weekend.

Rubik’s WCA European Championship 2026

Rubik’s WCA European Championship 2026 takes place July 16-19 in Arnhem, Netherlands, at Sportcentrum Valkenhuizen. With nearly 1,200 registered competitors, it is the clear centerpiece of the weekend.

The biggest 3x3 storyline is Poland’s control of the top of the psych sheet.

Teodor Zajder enters as the top-ranked competitor with a 4.41 average, followed by Tymon Kolasiński at 4.49. Olaf Kuźmiński ranks fourth at 4.95, while Radosław Marcinek is sixth at 5.24.

That gives Poland four of the top six seeds despite accounting for only a small share of Europe’s population. The depth makes Poland the clear country to beat, but it does not guarantee that one competitor will separate from the rest once the championship pressure begins.

Kolasiński enters after one of his strongest recent competitions, where he recorded a 4.49 personal-best 3x3 average and reclaimed both European records in 7x7. Zajder remains the highest-ranked European by average, giving Poland two legitimate favorites at the very top.

Several leading Americans add another layer to the competition. Luke Garrett enters third on the psych sheet with a 4.88 average, while Dylan Miller and Caleb Chen are also ranked inside the top eight.

They cannot become European champions, but they can win the competition overall. The championship format guarantees final spots to the top 14 European competitors, while faster non-European competitors will also advance, creating separate races for the overall win and the continental title.

The championship should also create storylines away from the solving stations. A popular campsite is expected to bring together competitors and creators throughout the weekend. Millisecond hosts Dylan Miller and Chris Mills plan to stay there and may film an episode of the show during the championship.

With Poland controlling much of the ranking sheet, top Americans entering the overall race, and nearly the full European elite in one building, Arnhem should produce the weekend’s deepest championship storylines.

Japan Championship 2026

Japan Championship 2026 takes place July 18-19 in Daito, Osaka, at Daito Citizens Hall. The event marks the return of Japan’s national championship for the first time since 2019.

Matty Hiroto Inaba enters as the clear top seed in 3x3 with a 4.72 average. Inaba also won 3x3 at the last Japan Championship in 2019, recording a 7.80 average while also winning 4x4 and 5x5.

This time, however, Inaba represents the United States. He can win the competition overall, but he cannot become Japanese national champion.

That creates two separate races at the top.

Kantaro Sakamoto and Ao Nogami lead the eligible Japanese field with matching 6.38 averages. Natsuki Rokutan follows at 6.66, with Shu Ogawa, Junnosuke Takahashi, and Masaki Nishimura also entering below seven seconds.

Inaba’s presence gives the field an international favorite, but the national title could be decided several positions behind the overall winner.

The competition will also apply a nationality quota in final rounds, guaranteeing that at least half of the finalists represent Japan. That should prevent international competitors from crowding eligible Japanese contenders out of the championship race.

After a seven-year absence, Japan Championship is more than another national event. It is the first opportunity for a new generation of Japanese competitors to claim full national titles since 2019.

Nanchang Summer 2026

Nanchang Summer 2026 takes place July 18 in Nanchang, Jiangxi, China, at the Echarm Hotel. The one-day competition has a 180-competitor limit.

The 3x3 field is one of the deepest assembled anywhere this weekend.

Xuanyi Geng enters with a 3.71 average, followed by Zhaokun Li at 4.34, Yufang Du at 4.36, and Bofan Zhang at 4.38. Yi Shen, Qixian Cao, Yize Dong, and Ruihang Xu give the competition eight competitors with averages under 4.80.

The result is a field where even reaching the final may require a world-class performance.

Geng remains the central name to watch. His 3.71 was previously the 3x3 average world record, and nearly every appearance gives him another realistic opportunity to challenge the current benchmark.

The depth behind him may be just as important. Li, Du, and Zhang all enter within 0.04 seconds of one another, while Shen, Cao, and Dong are capable of moving significantly within the global rankings with one strong round.

With so many competitors already clustered near the top of the world, Nanchang has a genuine chance to reshape the top 100 and produce another unusually fast Chinese final.

Between the scale of Euros, the long-awaited return of Japan Championship, and another record-ready Chinese 3x3 field, this weekend brings three very different versions of elite speedcubing.

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The opening day of the 2026 WCA European Championship delivered an immediate mix of record-level solving, narrow misses, and one of the loudest celebrations of the competition so far.

Tymon Kolasiński led the individual results with another major big-cube performance, while Nicholas Archer matched his European One-Handed record. The Netherlands closed the day by defeating Germany in the Nations Cup Relay after favorite Poland was eliminated in the semifinal.

Tymon Kolasiński Nearly Breaks His 4x4 World Record

Kolasiński opened 4x4 with an 18.65 average, finishing just 0.09 seconds behind his own 18.56 world record.

His solves were (20.30), (17.85), 18.32, 18.18, and 19.46. All five were below 20.31 seconds, giving him an unusually consistent set even without a new record.

Several competitors said Kolasiński encountered OLL parity on his fifth solve, which may have prevented the world record. That detail has not been independently confirmed, but the 19.46 was still fast enough to complete the third-best 4x4 average in history, all being held by Tymon.

Kolasiński remains the only competitor with an official sub-18.60 average, with Max Park ranked second globally at 18.74.

Kolasiński Lowers His 7x7 European Record

Kolasiński added a continental record in the first round of 7x7, recording a 1:42.14 mean from solves of 1:40.80, 1:42.38, and 1:43.24.

The result improved his previous European record of 1:42.18 by 0.04 seconds. He had set that mark less than a week earlier at NxN in Jura 2026, where he also reclaimed the European single with a 1:34.32.

Unlike that earlier performance, Thursday’s mean did not rely on one standout solve. All three attempts were within 2.44 seconds of one another, giving Kolasiński one of the most consistent elite 7x7 means on record.

Nicholas Archer Matches His One-Handed European Record

Nicholas Archer recorded a 7.95 One-Handed average in the first round, exactly matching his existing European record.

Archer’s solves were (9.60), 8.00, 8.09, (7.11), and 7.76.

The result also matches the 7.95 he recorded at Manchester February 2025, which had briefly stood as the world record and remains the third-fastest official One-Handed average.

Eden Robinson-Rechavi finished second in the round with an 8.32, while Igor Gładysz followed at 8.83.

Timofei Tarasenko Misses Day 1 of Euros Due to Alleged Visa Issues

One major name was absent from the opening day.

Timofei Tarasenko was unable to attend the championship’s opening day because of alleged visa issues. His absence is a significant loss for a field where he was expected to contend across the big cubes and Megaminx.

Tarasenko entered the championship as one of Europe’s strongest multi-event competitors and had recently traded 7x7 continental records with Kolasiński.

He has only missed Day 1 so far, and the reported visa issue has not been officially confirmed. There is still a chance he could arrive later in the competition, although at this point it appears unlikely. The exact reason his visa was allegedly not secured has not been publicly confirmed, and it would be inappropriate to speculate about his individual case. Russian citizens currently face a more restrictive process for entering the Netherlands and generally require a Schengen visa. Dutch government guidance limits the categories under which applications can be made from Russia, while broader European rules have also tightened visa access for Russian citizens.

Netherlands Wins the Nations Cup Relay

The Netherlands won the Nations Cup Relay, an unofficial team event featuring three competitors representing each country.

Poland entered as one of the favorites but was eliminated in the semifinals after Teodor Zajder recorded a DNF. In a relay format, the failed solve left Poland unable to recover and opened the door for the Netherlands to reach the final.

The Netherlands faced Germany for the title and won by less than a second, 21.18 to 21.75.

The decisive moment came from Twan Dullemond, who used ZBLL to close the relay and secure the Dutch victory. Dullemond immediately leapt over his chair in celebration as the home crowd erupted.

Viewers quickly began calling the moment “Dutch Luke Garrett,” referencing Garrett’s viral reaction after his One-Handed world record average, when his celebration sent him slipping over his chair.

It gave the opening day a fitting finish. The individual events produced elite consistency and record pressure, but the loudest moment belonged to the host nation and a relay decided by a clutch final solve.

With Kolasiński already within hundredths of two major benchmarks and Archer matching his continental record, Euros began at the pace expected from one of the deepest championships of the year.

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In Episode 10, hosts John Eppley, Zach Ridall, and Manu Singhal gear up for the European Championship, bringing you their most anticipated storylines, the dark horses to watch out for, and some scorching-hot takes on who might miss the 3x3 finals entirely. Plus, the crew takes a deep dive into Luke Garrett’s competitive edge, debating why he currently possesses one of the absolute best mindsets in speedcubing and making a bold prediction: Luke Garrett will win Euros.

New episodes release every Wednesday on SpeedcubingTV & Speedcuber’s Digest.

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In Episode 10, hosts John Eppley, Zach Ridall, and Manu Singhal gear up for the European Championship, bringing you their most anticipated storylines, the dark horses to watch out for, and some scorching-hot takes on who might miss the 3x3 finals entirely. Plus, the crew takes a deep dive into Luke Garrett’s competitive edge, debating why he currently possesses one of the absolute best mindsets in speedcubing and making a bold prediction: Luke Garrett will win Euros.

Watch the episode below.

Paid members can also watch the extended cut with bonus discussion.
Watch the extended subscriber edition here.

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Paid members help support independent speedcubing media, including podcasts, interviews, event coverage, editorials, and future exclusive content on Speedcuber’s Digest.

In this episode:

• Looking ahead: the biggest storylines and matchups we are most excited to see at Euros

• Dark horses on the rise: which under-the-radar competitors are primed to shake up the standings?

• Unfiltered hot takes?: bold predictions on which top-tier favorites might shockingly miss the 3x3 final cuts

• Mindset of a champion: analyzing Luke Garrett’s mental game and why it might carry him to a European title

New episodes release every Wednesday on SpeedcubingTV & Speedcuber’s Digest.

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Feliks Zemdegs extended his Australian Nationals legacy, Lachlan Gibson lowered the Clock world record, and Crimson Arradaza experienced one of the weekend’s most unusual record reversals.

Welcome back to the Speedcuber’s Digest Weekend Wrap, where we look at the most significant results and storylines from this past weekend.

Feliks Zemdegs - 10th Australian 3x3 Title

Feliks Zemdegs won 3x3 at Australian Nationals 2026 with a 6.48 average, edging David Epstein by just 0.01 seconds. Riley Dexter completed the podium with a 6.90.

Zemdegs’ final solves were 6.23, (5.93), (7.05), 6.93, and 6.29. Epstein recorded 6.00, (7.46), 6.88, (4.92), and 6.59, but Zemdegs’ steadier counting solves were enough to win by a hundredth.

The title was Zemdegs’ 10th Australian championship in 3x3. He first won in 2011 and followed with titles in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2025, and 2026.

The result followed a remarkably fast second round in which Caden Liu and Toby Seufert each recorded 5.92 averages, while Phoenix Patterson and Epstein finished with matching 5.97s. Zemdegs advanced in seventh with a 6.56 before finding a way to win the final.

Lachlan Gibson - 2.14 Clock Average World Record

Lachlan Gibson recorded a 2.14 Clock average at GAN New Zealand Nationals 2026, lowering Brendyn Dunagan’s previous world record of 2.24.

Gibson’s first-round solves were 2.10, (2.07), 2.22, 2.09, and (2.33). He already held the Clock world record single at 1.53 and now owns both official world records in the event.

The result carries extra weight following the WCA’s decision to retire Clock after the 2027 World Championship. While the event’s official future is now limited, its top competitors continue to push the records forward.

Crimson Arradaza - Asian Record Celebration Reversed

Crimson Arradaza appeared to set a 7.76 Asian record average in 3x3 One-Handed at GAN Philippine Championship 2026, only for the result to be withdrawn after two misscrambles were discovered.

The record had already been announced onstage and shared publicly before Arradaza was asked to complete two replacement attempts. According to his video description, the third attempt had been incorrectly scrambled and the fifth was affected by a judging error.

The replacement attempts changed the average to 8.05. Although the Asian record and world No. 2 ranking were lost, the revised result still set a Philippine national record, ranked fifth in the world, and helped Arradaza win the national One-Handed title.

The result followed Arradaza’s unofficial 5.33 One-Handed single earlier this year, continuing his rapid rise among the world’s fastest OH competitors.

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In Episode 11, Michael Rosenkranz interviews Chris Mills. They discuss his incredible career milestone of holding 15 national records, what it has been like transitioning his competitive career from the UK to New Zealand, his personal drive to break his current record-breaking drought, and how he balances life as a cubing coach and commentator with co-hosting The Millisecond Show alongside Dylan Miller.

In this episode:

• The record book: reflecting on a career that has captured 15 national records

• Global transitions: growing up and competing in the UK circuit versus stepping onto the scene in New Zealand

• Chasing the spark: handling the mental pressure of a record-breaking drought and fighting to get back on top

• Beyond the timer: giving back to the community through coaching, providing event commentary, and hitting the mic for The Millisecond Show

New episodes release every Monday on Speedcubi…

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In Episode 11, Michael Rosenkranz interviews Chris Mills. They discuss his incredible career milestone of holding 15 national records, what it has been like transitioning his competitive career from the UK to New Zealand, his personal drive to break his current record-breaking drought, and how he balances life as a cubing coach and commentator with co-hosting The Millisecond Show alongside Dylan Miller.

Watch the edited public version below.

Want the full conversation?
Paid members can watch the Extended Subscriber Edition in Exclusive here.

In this episode:

• The record book: reflecting on a career that has captured 15 national records

• Global transitions: growing up and competing in the UK circuit versus stepping onto the scene in New Zealand

• Chasing the spark: handling the mental pressure of a record-breaking drought and fighting to get back on top

• Beyond the timer: giving back to the community through coaching, providing event commentary, and hitting the mic for The Millisecond Show

New episodes release every Monday on SpeedcubingTV & Speedcuber’s Digest.

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