NAC 2026 3x3 Finalists Set: Who Made It, Who Missed, and How the Round Unfolded
Park earned the No. 1 seed for tonight’s 3x3 final, while Luke Garrett, Luke Griesser, Matty Hiroto Inaba, and Caleb Chen rounded out the top five.
The 3x3 field at the 2026 North American Championship has been cut to 16 finalists, with Max Park taking the No. 1 seed after a 5.13 average in the third round.
Park finished ahead of Luke Garrett, who placed second with a 5.41 average, and Luke Griesser, who took third with a 5.47. Matty Hiroto Inaba and Caleb Chen rounded out the top five with 5.60 and 5.95 averages.
Solve 1
The round opened with immediate pressure from the top contenders. Inaba started with a smooth 5.37, while Ryan Pilat posted a 4.53, Kyle Santucci started with a 4.72, and Zerui Cheng posted a 4.77. After the first solve, Pilat, Santucci, and Zerui had the early podium positions.
The round was run with all competitors completing solve one before solve two was brought out. Organizers brought out one cube per table at a time, then the other half of the table, giving competitors a quieter setup and more focus during each attempt.
Solve 2
Solve two shifted the leaderboard quickly. Garrett posted a 4.75, while Park answered with a 4.86 after completing F2L and EO around the two-second mark. Through two solves, Caleb Chen, Garrett, and Inaba were positioned around the top of the standings, while Dominic Redisi and Ben Zhao were near the bubble.
Solve 3
Solve three brought one of the round’s biggest momentum swings. Inaba looked visibly frustrated after a 6.17, while Park posted a 4.92 and reacted with a fist bump as he moved into the lead. Griesser added a 5.33 to give himself a strong counting solve and make a major jump.
After three solves, Park led the field, followed by Griesser and Inaba. Redisi and Shaun Mack were inside the advancing group, while Curtis Chai sat just outside the cut.
Solve 4
The fourth solve tightened the top again. Inaba responded calmly with a 5.27, showing little reaction. Park posted a 5.52 despite nearby crowd noise and remained composed. Griesser then delivered one of the biggest solves of the round, a 4.01 personal best single that briefly pushed him into the lead.
Dylan Miller’s 8.52 on solve four put his finals spot at risk, while Christopher Sun fought back into contention after opening with a pair of sevens.
Solve 5
On solve five, Park closed with a 4.94 to secure the No. 1 seed. Garrett followed with a 5.11 to lock up second, while Griesser’s earlier 4.01 helped him hold third. Miller survived the cut and advanced in 14th, while Jack Pfeifer made the final in 13th and celebrated after securing his spot.
Carson Widjaja finished 17th with a 6.87 average, becoming the first competitor outside the final. Dominic Redisi was next out in 18th with a 6.88. Siddharth Reddy also missed the final after entering the event with higher expectations. Brian Johnson, ranked #4 in NA and a popular pick to podium, finished with a 6.99 average, placing #23 and missing finals.
NAC 2026 3x3 Finalists
Max Park - 5.13
Luke Garrett - 5.41
Luke Griesser - 5.47
Matty Hiroto Inaba - 5.60
Caleb Chen - 5.95
Neo Cuares - 6.15
Ben Zhao - 6.30
Jerry Yao - 6.40
Ryan Pilat - 6.49
Kyle Santucci - 6.54
Kavin Prince - 6.55
Shaun Mack - 6.74
Jack Pfeifer - 6.77
Dylan Miller - 6.78
Nolan Wood - 6.79
Daniel Gutierrez - 6.86
Just Missed
Carson Widjaja - 6.87
Dominic Redisi - 6.88
The final is set for later tonight, with Park entering as the top seed and Garrett, Griesser, Inaba, and Chen all close enough to make the title race far from settled.