Introduction
Top speedcubers rely on high performance 3×3 speed cubes, each tuned to match their individual turning style. A speedcuber's primary competition cube is called their main cube, the one they've broken in, customized, and used across thousands of solves.
So, what cubes do WCA champions use? There is no single answer. Different competitors choose different cubes based on speed, stability, control, and personal feel. What matters is finding a setup that works for the solver.
In this article, we take a closer look at what cubes professional speedcubers use, featuring top finishers from NAC and the European Championship, along with their exact main cube models, center travel, tension, and magnet settings. Whether you're researching what cube world champions use or looking for your next competition speed cube, these are the setups chosen by the competitors themselves.
What Makes a Good Speed Cube for Competition?
Not every 3×3 is built for competition. A good competition speed cube needs to deliver consistent performance under pressure, from high speed turns to long practice sessions. So what should you look for in a competition ready speed cube?
Speed
A good speed cube should turn quickly with minimal resistance. Technologies such as magnetic levitation and advanced spring systems can create a smoother and faster turning experience by reducing friction and unwanted resistance within the mechanism. However, raw speed without control can lead to overshooting. That is why the fastest cube is not always the best choice for every speedcuber.
Stability
At high turning speeds, a cube needs to remain stable and predictable. Pieces should stay aligned, corners should avoid twisting, and the cube should resist locking up during fast solves. This balance between speed and control is essential for a competition ready speed cube, especially when every fraction of a second matters.
Customization
Top speedcubers rarely rely on completely stock settings. A professional speed cube can offer adjustable tension, center travel, magnet strength, and edge magnet configuration, allowing each solver to create a setup that matches their preferences. Two speedcubers can use the same model and still have completely different turning feels.
This is why the settings shared later in this article are important. Center travel, tension levels, magnet rod colors, and edge magnet configurations reflect the individual setups chosen by each competitor.
Personal Preference
There is no single cube that is perfect for every speedcuber. Turning style, hand size, solving method, and personal preference all influence which setup feels best. The best speed cube for competition is not necessarily the fastest or most expensive one. It is the cube that gives you the right balance of speed, control, stability, and feel.
What Cubes Do the Top NA Speedcubers Use?
Now to the main question: what cube do WCA champions use? Here are the main cubes and exact settings of three top North American speedcubers. Each setup shows how professional speedcubers can customize the same platform to match their individual preferences.
Matty Hiroto Inaba
Matty Hiroto Inaba is the 2022 NAC champion and 2026 NAC runner up, with a 5.70 average in the 2026 NAC final. Representing the United States, Matty has remained one of North America's leading speedcubers across multiple NAC appearances.
Main Cube: GAN16 MagLev MAX
Settings:
- Center Travel: 3
- Tension: 8
- Edge Piece Magnet Rod: White
Matty uses a relatively balanced setup with moderate center travel and medium tension. The white magnet rods provide a softer magnetic feel, creating a smooth and controlled turning experience. His setup highlights how a professional speed cube can be fine tuned to achieve a specific balance between speed and control.
Brennen Lin
Brennen Lin is a top North American speedcuber who has competed at NAC 2022 and NAC 2026. He also finished runner up at Waterloo Spring 2026 with a 6.46 average.
Main Cube: GAN16 MagLev
Settings:
- Center Travel: 2
- Tension: 12
- Magnet Strength: Strong, using the green rod for corners
- Edge Piece Magnets: Default
Brennen's setup takes a different approach from Matty's. Lower center travel and higher tension create a more controlled and stable feel, while strong corner magnets provide additional magnetic feedback during fast turns. His settings demonstrate how the same competition speed cube can be tuned for a noticeably different turning experience.
Max Siauw
Max Siauw is one of North America's fastest speedcubers, with a 3.70 single and 5.49 average on his WCA profile. He also finished runner up at the 2024 CubingUSA Western Championship.
Main Cube: GAN16 MagLev MAX UV Coated
Settings:
- Center Travel: 3
- Tension: 8
- Magnet Rods: White
- Magnet Strength: Default
Max's setup is very similar to Matty's, with the same center travel, tension, and white magnet rods. The UV coated version offers a different surface feel while maintaining the same core setup. Their similar configurations show how top speedcubers can arrive at comparable setups while still choosing the version and feel that works best for them.
What Cubes Do the Top European Speedcubers Use?
The European Championship has produced some of the most exciting 3×3 finishes in recent years. Here are the main cubes and exact settings of three of Europe's top speedcubers, showing how different competition setups can be customized to match individual preferences.
Tymon Kolasiński
Tymon Kolasiński won the 2024 European Championship with a 5.92 average in the 3×3 final. Representing Poland, he is one of Europe's most accomplished speedcubers, with multiple European Championship titles and world records across different events.
Main Cube: GAN16
Settings:
- Center Travel: 4
- Tension: 7
- Magnet Strength: Not applicable because this setup uses a spring system instead of MagLev
- Magnet Rods: Green, corners only
- Edge Magnets: None, using the 8 magnet core system
Tymon's setup is one of the most distinctive in this article. While many top speedcubers choose a MagLev setup, he uses a spring based GAN 16 with no edge magnets. His configuration relies on the 8 magnet core system and traditional spring tension rather than magnetic levitation. This setup demonstrates that there is no single formula for choosing a competition speed cube. Different speedcubers can achieve a competition ready feel through very different hardware configurations.
Teodor Zajder
Teodor Zajder won the 2026 European Championship with a 5.46 average and holds the 3×3 single world record of 2.76 seconds. Representing Poland, he has established himself as one of Europe's leading professional speedcubers.
Main Cube: GAN V100 MagLev
Settings:
- Center Travel: 2
- Tension: 10
- Magnet Strength: White
- dge Piece Magnet Rod: None
Teodor uses a more compact and controlled setup on the GAN V100, with lower center travel and higher tension. The white magnet rods provide a softer magnetic feel, while the lack of edge magnet rods keeps his configuration focused on the core magnetic system. His setup demonstrates how a professional speed cube can be customized for a precise and consistent turning experience at the highest level of competition.
Timofei Tarasenko
Timofei Tarasenko finished runner up at the 2024 European Championship with a 5.95 average in the 3×3 final. Representing Russia, he has consistently ranked among Europe's fastest speedcubers, with multiple podium finishes at the European Championship level.
Main Cube: GAN16
Settings:
- Center Travel: 5
- Tension: 2
- Magnet Strength: White
Timofei's setup has the highest center travel and lowest tension among the speedcubers featured in this article. With center travel set to 5 and tension at 2, his configuration is tuned for a more open and free turning feel. The white magnet rods provide a softer magnetic response, complementing the relatively loose setup.
Compared with the tighter configurations used by some of the other competitors, Timofei's setup shows just how much a competition speed cube can be customized. The same cube platform can deliver a very different turning experience depending on center travel, tension, and magnet settings.
What Can We Learn From the Cubes Top Speedcubers Choose?
Looking across all six setups, some clear patterns emerge. Their choices show that there is no single formula for finding the right speed cube for competition.
Top Speedcubers Don't Just Look for Speed
Every speedcuber in this article uses a different configuration, but none of them rely on raw speed alone. Matty and Max use moderate tension with white magnet rods. Brennen chooses higher tension with strong corner magnets. Tymon uses a spring based setup without MagLev or edge magnets. Despite these differences, their setups all focus on balancing speed, stability, control, and customization.
The best speed cube for competition is not necessarily the cube that turns the fastest. It is the one that gives the speedcuber enough control to turn quickly and consistently when every fraction of a second matters.
The Best Speed Cube Depends on Your Turning Style
This is why even top speedcubers can choose very different settings on their main cubes. A high tension setup may feel more controlled for one solver, while another may prefer more travel and a softer turning feel. Tymon's spring based configuration also shows that a MagLev system is not the only way to achieve a competition ready setup.
A competition speed cube performs at its best when it is tuned to match the speedcuber's individual turning style, including how quickly they turn, how they use finger tricks, and how much magnetic feedback they prefer.
Competition Experience Matters
The settings used by top speedcubers are the result of personal testing and competition experience. When a competitor chooses a specific cube and configuration for high level competition, that setup reflects what works best for their solving style and performance needs.
If you're looking for a competition ready speed cube, the setups used by top speedcubers can be a useful starting point. Whether you're just starting out or already competing, understanding these patterns can help you find the right cube for your style.
How to Choose the Right Speed Cube for You
Now that you've seen what top speedcubers use, the next question is simple: which speed cube is right for you? The answer depends on your experience, turning style, and how much customization you want from your cube.
For Beginners
If you're just starting out, focus on stability, corner cutting, and ease of use. A beginner friendly speed cube should be forgiving when your turns are not perfectly aligned and should give you a consistent solving experience. You don't need the fastest or most customizable cube available. What matters most is finding a cube that feels comfortable in your hands and helps you build confidence and muscle memory.
Look for a speed cube with good performance straight out of the box, so you can focus on improving your solves instead of spending time fine tuning your settings.
For Intermediate Speedcubers
As you become more consistent and start pushing your solve times lower, speed, magnetic feel, and adjustability become more important. An intermediate speedcube should give you enough customization to experiment with different tensions, center travel settings, and magnet strengths.
This is also the stage when many speedcubers start developing a stronger preference for how their cube feels. You may find that you prefer stronger or weaker magnets, more or less tension, or a faster or more controlled turning experience. Testing different settings can help you discover what works best for your solving style.
For Advanced Speedcubers
At an advanced level, the focus shifts toward turning style and fine tuning. You may already know exactly how you want your cube to feel, making adjustability an important part of choosing the best speed cube for your needs.
Features such as adjustable center travel, different magnet rod options, edge magnet configurations, and different core systems can help advanced speedcubers create a more personalized setup. Tymon's spring based GAN 16, Brennen's high tension GAN 16 MagLev, and Teodor's GAN V100 setup show just how different the ideal configuration can be from one speedcuber to another.
