General

• Competitors will compete stationary throughout the competition using the running judges format as is standard in most of the Great Lakes region. Competitors must not watch other competitors' solves while they are actively competing, even if they have already completed that attempt
• Competitors are responsible for being on time to their group. Competitors who are late or miss their group may not be able to compete
• We may announce groups before all competitors are done solving. Extra attempts will not be given for routine group announcements
• Most competitors will be given judging assignments for their events. Competitors are required to complete their assignments - we cannot run the competition without it! Competitors are welcome to judge and help out for groups they are not assigned
• Only competitors who are actively competing, judges, and official competition volunteers are permitted in the competition area
• We will not be replacing no-show competitors for non-final rounds. Competitors who drop out of final rounds at least 1 hour prior to the final will be replaced using Regulation 9p3
• We are not responsible for lost personal items, including cubes. Please take care to be aware of your belongings
• Notice of Filming and Photography: Please note that filming and photography will take place at the event. By entering the event premises, you acknowledge that you have been informed you may be photographed and recorded for media to be used in any format for any purpose worldwide in perpetuity by MCA and their partners and representatives. Further, by your presence, you grant permission for your likeness and voice to be included therein without compensation, credit, or other consideration. If you do not wish to be photographed, recorded, or appear under these conditions, you should not enter the event premises.

Friday Spectator Restrictions

Friday will hold the “Quiet” events, which require more concentration than typical events. In order to preserve a competitive environment for our competitors, spectator restrictions will be in place on Friday.

• Prior to the start of 6x6, competitors not actively competing must not enter the competition room
• Fewest Moves (10:00-1:30): Many tables will be reserved for Fewest Moves competitors only. Family members of Fewest Moves competitors may remain in the room during this time, but must remain silent and are encouraged to wait outside the room. Competitors not competing in Fewest Moves are not permitted inside the room
• Blindfolded events (1:30-4:50): Access is limited to actively competing competitors. Family members of actively competing competitors may remain inside the competition room, but are strongly encouraged to remain outside. Should they choose to remain inside, they must stay silent and away from the competition area. Spectating these events will not be permitted
• MBLD Scrambling (1:30-2:15): No spectators or competitors permitted

Finals

Our final rounds will crown our Great Lakes Champions. In order to ensure a great and fair experience for competitors as well as spectators, we will run these rounds with some additional policies.

• Finals judging and helping assignments will be limited to our volunteer team
• Results will be entered semi-live during the round. Competitors are not permitted to view these live results until they have completed their attempts (Regulation 2g3a)
• For all events except 5x5, 6x6, 7x7, and Megaminx, all finalists will have scrambles double checked

Stream

We are still working out the details on streaming, and more information will be announced when it is available.

• Designated streamed competitors will be decided based on the psych sheet at the time of registration closing. If a competitor wishes to not be placed at a stream station for non-final rounds, the organization team will send out a form prior to the competition. Competitors in final rounds will be seated by seed and may not opt out of a stream station seating assignment
• Competitors on stream stations should avoid using the official timer for anything other than their official attempts
• By entering the competition venue, competitors give consent to the organization team and stream team to record and stream official solves and other activities at the competition

We recommend staying at the Spark by Hilton Madison Central for this competition. The Spark is connected directly to the Alliant Exhibition Hall by indoor walkway. Midwest Cubing Association guests can stay for a discounted rate of $129 per night for Friday & Saturday nights (subject to availability).

Booking Link

Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) serves Madison and is about a 20-minute drive from the venue. Flight options to MSN can be limited, so we would recommend looking at flights to Chicago O'Hare (ORD) or Milwaukee General Mitchell (MKE). There are regularly scheduled buses between these airports and Madison.

Madison is a great city for a summer visit! When not at the competition, we recommend checking out:
- Henry Vilas Zoo & UW Arboretum on Lake Wingra within 10 minutes of the venue.
- Dane County Farmers' Market (Saturday morning) and the Wisconsin State Capitol Building on Capitol Square, 15 minutes' drive from the venue.
- Several buildings by Frank Lloyd Wright around the city, including Monona Terrace and Unitarian Meeting House.

This is the ninth annual Great Lakes Championship, part of a series of regional championships recognized by CubingUSA. The goal of these competitions is to allow competitors from all over the country to compete for regional titles. The Great Lakes region is comprised of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

While only residents of the Great Lakes states are eligible to win the title of Great Lakes Champion, residents of any state or country are welcome to compete.

Find out more about CubingUSA and Regional Championships

We ask that competitors expecting to have a chance at a Great Lakes Champion title bring proof of residence (current driver's license or school ID, etc.)

More information regarding eligibility can be found here.

CubingUSA Great Lakes Championship 2027 will hold an unofficial event known as States Relay on Saturday night. This event, based on the Rubik’s Nations Cup from Worlds 2017, features teams of three competitors from the same state or region in a 3 cube relay knockout tournament.
In previous years, this event has featured 16 teams in a single elimination bracket. However, this year there will be only 8 teams, each with three cubers solving 3x3 head-to-head, in a single-elimination bracket. Watch the 2019 Rubik's Nations Cup here: Video

Link will be added on May 15th, 2027

Registration Rules

• Registration will not open for the States Relay until May 15th, 2027, the day after the refund deadline has passed.
• On that day until June 3rd, 2027, competitors may register to compete in the States Relay at the link above. Anyone is allowed to sign up from any state, but only the top 3 competitors from each state who signed up and are present on Saturday, June 6th will be eligible to compete.
  • (Competitor Speed will be based off of their official 3x3 average as of June 3rd, 2027)
• Each Great Lakes state (Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin) is guaranteed at least one team. The remaining two spots will be reserved for the Wildcard teams, which will be formed with additional teams from the Great Lakes states or other competitors from regions outside of the Great Lakes states.
  • If there are not enough people from a single state or country to form a team, competitors from separate regions will be grouped together.
• On June 4th, 2027, teams rosters will be emailed to competitors who filled out the states relay form. These teams will be made up of the 3 fastest competitors from each state, along with 2 backup competitors. If any of the main 3 competitors is no longer able to attend the relay or competition, the next backup competitors will take their place.
• On June 5th, team competitors (and backups) from each team must confirm their attendance with the States Relay coordinator to ensure each team has enough people for the tournament. Team members may check in as a group or individually, and backups should check-in in case of an opening. Please check in before noon on Saturday.

Rules for States Relay Competitors

• Follow all previous Registration Rules listed above
• Competitors/Full Teams must be present for the states relay at least 10 minutes prior to the first match to allow for debriefing and questions. If a team has no-shows and there are no backup competitors present to fill vacant spots, they will be disqualified and the opposing team will receive a bye.
• Teams should remain at the competition area for the remainder of their participation of the event. Eliminated competitors/teams may leave or join the audience after their matches have ended.
  • Teams will be able to practice/warm-up during other matches, but must stay in the competition area

Regulations

• The competition format is a simple 8-team seeded knockout tournament.
• Each competitor will solve a single 3x3 cube, one after another. The winner of each set is determined by the fastest total time. In case of a tie, the winning team is determined by the fastest single.
• All competitors must supply their own puzzle
• Standard WCA penalties (e.g. misalignment, timer stops/starts) apply for the solves.
• The competitors will lift their cube covers simultaneously and begin inspection, with the standard 8 and 12 calls being made. Once the 12 second call is made, the competitors must place the cube on the mat and put their hands on their timer, then the judge will begin a countdown. The first timer must be started once the judge says "Go!" The second and third timers must be started only when the previous member has finished their solve and has put back the 2 hands on the timers. Penalty: disqualification of the attempt (DNF).
• The second and third team members may continue inspecting while their teammate(s) are solving the cube, but must do so with their hands remaining on the timer.
• This is an unofficial team event, no results will be stored in the WCA database.

Unofficial Events will be revealed soon, stay tuned!

Cubing USA Great Lakes Championship 2027 will have Fine Designs Inc. as the official merchandiser providing onsite t-shirts and customizations.

Fine Designs will be on site during the competition, and will have several options for t-shirts, sweatshirts, and options for customizations. More details come soon!

This competition will be sponsored by TheCubicle!

They will be providing prizes to our podium finishers and regional champions.

Prizes (gift cards) for this competition are as follows:

Main Event (3x3)

• Great Lakes Champion: $70
• First Place: $50
• Second Place: $35
• Third Place: $20

All Other Events:

• Great Lakes Champion: $20
• First Place: $20
• Second Place: $15
• Third Place: $10

APPLY HERE

We will be recruiting talented volunteers to help make this competition a success! You all will play an integral role in this competition running smoothly and on time. Discord will be used as the primary form of communication prior to and during the competition.

Applications will close on May 15th, 2027 at 11:59 pm CST

Volunteer Requirements:

• We ask that volunteers have attended at least three competitions within the last two years.
• Volunteers must be at least 13 years of age as of May 2027.
• Volunteers must be able to commit to both Saturday and Sunday of the competition (Friday is great but optional), even if they do not make advance rounds.
• Volunteers will have assignments most of the competition when they are not competing. Additionally, volunteers will be expected to reside in a designated volunteer area throughout the competition, to be available to help out when needed.
• Priority will be given to those that have been seen going above expectations helping out at competitions.

Volunteer Benefits

• Free lunch provided on days volunteering
• Registration fee refund after the competition (assuming volunteer requirements and duties are fulfilled)
• Free Volunteer T-shirt

Want to stay connected with the Midwest Cubing community? Join the Midwest Cubing Community Discord Server! Speak with other competitors from around the midwest, keep in touch with fellow competitors, and meet new ones! Find out about competition discussion as it happens in real time, and even announcements for competitions before registration opens!

Click here to be taken directly to the Discord Server!