Eighty Israelis come together to compete in Rubik's Cube event with hundreds spectating

The Shoham Medical Center in Pardes Hanna-Karkur buzzed with activity on July 5 as nearly 80 Rubik's Cube enthusiasts competed, drawing hundreds of onlookers to the Mike’s Cubes 2026 event. The competition saw 20 new faces join the community, with registration filling up rapidly. The World Cube Association and the Speed Cubing Israel Association oversaw the initial sign-ups.

Sponsored by the Steimatzky bookstore chain, the event served as a vibrant hub connecting diverse individuals from across Israeli society. Esti Stone, a co-founder, expressed her delight, stating, “Beyond the competition itself, seeing all the friendships being forged here and the community continuing to grow, this is what warms my heart most of all.”

The competition featured three subsections based on cube size, shape, and whether competitors solved them blindfolded. Ben Baron emerged as a standout performer, securing first place in four categories and ranking in the top five overall. He also set two national records: one for solving a Skewb in 1.33 seconds and another for a blindfolded 4x4x4 cube in just over two minutes.

Yoav Vishne, a computer science student, also performed strongly, reaching the podium in half the categories. He won the 2x2x2 cube category with a time of 0.91 seconds, narrowly missing his personal best. The "pyraminx" category was won by Netanel Pour, who set a national record in the first round with a time of 1.61 seconds.

The annual event was established by Stone in memory of her late husband, Mike Stone, an American-born cuber who shared his passion with his family. He was Israel's oldest competitor before his passing in 2022. With growing interest, the community is already planning the 2026 Israeli Championship in Tel Aviv, anticipating a record turnout.

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Beyond the competition itself, seeing all the friendships being forged here and the community continuing to grow, this is what warms my heart most of all.