Turning the Rubik's Cube world on its head, a student from the University of Cincinnati snagged the top honor at the Rubik's WCA World Championship 2025 with astonishing dexterity. Sujan Feist, studying computer science, proved that taking breaks from rigorous academia with some "speedcubing" can lead to record-breaking results.
Amid the cubing elite gathered in Seattle earlier this month, Feist rendered the competition speechless with a 2x2 cube solve at an average speed of just 1.17 seconds. The twisty puzzle, seemingly simple with its two-layered structure, consists of over 3.6 million permutations. According to the University of Cincinnati's announcement, Feist's lightning-fast fingers dashed past all previous records in the category.
Far from a calculated strike for the title, Feist's approach to the championship was lighthearted. "It wasn't that stressful for me leading up to the world championships," he told the University of Cincinnati. "I was practicing a lot, but when I got to the competition I just had fun with everyone." This relaxed outlook perhaps contributed to his stunning success in a field often marked by intense pressure and high stakes.
The triumph marks an impressive comeback story. Feist left the cubing scene in his youth only to rediscover his passion for it as a teenager. He picked up a cube on a whim after years of disconnection, inadvertently reigniting the skill that would eventually propel him to victory. "I completely forgot how to solve a cube. I ended up picking one up for fun just to see if I could solve it again, and just like that I was back into it," Feist recounted, according to the University of Cincinnati.
Community spirit also plays a significant role in Feist's cubing journey. Praising the camaraderie of the competition, Feist said through UC News, "It was great seeing all the people there, and they inspired me to become the best that I can be in cubing." Despite his competitive success, his focus remained on the shared experience rather than aiming for the podium. Feist's story is a testament to the blend of skill, enjoyment, and community support being integral to excelling in the world of competitive speedcubing.
