{"totalPages":48,"posts":[{"id":14243,"slug":"call-for-applicants-wca-financial-committee-members-march-2026","title":"Call for Applicants - WCA Financial Committee Members (March 2026)","sticky":true,"created_at":"2026-03-27T00:21:48.000Z","url":"/posts/call-for-applicants-wca-financial-committee-members-march-2026","author_name":"Kyle Kayden Renatus","class":"post","body":"Dear WCA community,\n\nThe **WCA Financial Committee (WFC)** is looking for new members, and we’d love to hear from you. You don’t need to be a finance professional - but any knowledge or background in accounting would be advantageous. If you’re curious, reliable, and want to help the WCA run better behind the scenes this might be for you.\n\n**What does the WCA Financial Committee actually do?**\n<!--break-->\nIn simple terms, we help make sure the WCA’s money is handled responsibly and used to support cubing around the world. That includes things like:\n\n* Tracking income and expenses and ensuring it is reconciled and categorized\n* Supporting funding programs (travel, equipment, regional organization support)\n* Helping plan and monitor the WCA’s budget\n* Creating clear financial reports for the community and for regulatory filings\n* Improving financial processes and governance as the WCA grows\n\nYou would not be expected to do all of this — committee members usually focus on a subset of tasks based on their interests, experience, and goals as a volunteer.\n\n**Who is this a good fit for?**\n\n* Volunteers who want to contribute beyond local competitions\n* Students or early-career professionals looking for real non-profit experience\n* Anyone interested in how an international non-profit actually operates\n\nYou’ll work alongside experienced committee members, the WCA COO, and the WCA Treasurer, and we’re happy to support newer volunteers as they learn.\n\nYou must be at least 18 years old and able to communicate clearly in written English. Although not required, any experience in financial operations, bookkeeping, grant program administration, or accounting policy development would be a great skill to bring to the team.\n\n**Time commitment**\nOn average, the commitment is about **3-5 hours per week**, though this can vary depending on the projects you’re involved in.\n\nMost coordination happens asynchronously via email and chat, and we aim to stay reasonably responsive as a team.\n\n**How to apply**\nPlease send a **Word document or PDF** that includes:\n\n* A short personal introduction\n* A summary of your involvement in the cubing community (if any)\n* Your motivation for joining the Finance Committee\n* An overview of any relevant skills or experience (professional or volunteer)\n\n**Email your application to [ehollingdale@worldcubeassociation.org](mailto:ehollingdale@worldcubeassociation.org)** **by 9 May 2026**. You’ll receive a confirmation once we’ve received it, and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.\n\nIf you’re unsure whether you’re a “perfect fit” — apply anyway. We value different backgrounds, perspectives, and levels of experience.\n\nIf you’d like more background, please refer to [WCA Motion 10.2024.6 - WCA Financial Committee](https://documents.worldcubeassociation.org/documents/motions/10.2024.6%20-%20Financial%20Committee.pdf) and [WCA Motion 11.2025.1 - Finances](https://documents.worldcubeassociation.org/documents/motions/11.2025.1%20-%20Finances.pdf). The annual WCA Financial Reports, available on the [WCA Documents](https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/documents) page under \"Finances\", also provide useful background on the committee's operations.\n\nIf you have questions before applying, feel free to reach out. We look forward to hearing from you."},{"id":14244,"slug":"changes-to-wca-head-to-head-format-april-2026","title":"Changes to WCA Head-to-Head Format (April 2026)","sticky":false,"created_at":"2026-04-01T00:00:06.000Z","url":"/posts/changes-to-wca-head-to-head-format-april-2026","author_name":"Kyle Kayden Renatus","class":"post","body":"Dear WCA Community,\n\nOver the past few months, we have hosted several competitions featuring the new Head-to-Head format in the 3x3, 3x3 One-Handed, 3x3 Blindfolded and 4x4 events. Based on extensive feedback received from the community in-person and via livestreams on the [WCA Youtube Channel](https://www.youtube.com/@WorldCubeAssociationOfficial), the following changes have been made:\n\n* The 3x3 Fewest Moves and 3x3 Multi-Blind events have been added to the list of Head-to-Head events.\n* The restriction on competitions not running for longer than 16 hours without a break of at least 9 hours will be removed for competitions featuring the Head-to-Head format.\n* Minor changes regarding the organisation of Head-to-Head competitions.\n\nThe decision to include 3x3 Fewest Moves and 3x3 Multi-Blind was a decision to unite them with the other 3x3-based events as part of this opportunity. This decision was made following consultations with world-class cubers in these events, who agreed with the public feedback that these events being omitted was confusing, and that they would love the opportunity for their main events to be given a spotlight on the international stage.\n\nWe are confident that these changes will substantially improve the experience for both competitors and spectators of a WCA Head-to-Head competition. \n\nFor more information regarding these changes, please read our [public explainer document here](https://drive.google.com/file/d/11deVZ2BePo-zepsLxe3o0LOUKKVN6rJw/view?usp=sharing)."},{"id":14242,"slug":"changes-in-the-board-of-directors-march-2026","title":"Changes in the Board of Directors (March 2026)","sticky":false,"created_at":"2026-03-16T00:02:49.000Z","url":"/posts/changes-in-the-board-of-directors-march-2026","author_name":"Sherry Tao (陶心仪)","class":"post","body":"Dear WCA Community,\n\nWe would like to inform you that effective March 16th 2026, Kerrie Jarman has decided to step down from her position on the WCA Board of Directors.\n\nWe would like to thank Kerrie for her contribution to the organization as a Director, Vice-Chair, and Chair over the last 2 and a half years. She has been a tremendous help to the organization during her term and we wish her the best in her other tasks.\n\nThe remainder of the Board appreciates your patience over the next few months as we consolidate our resources and plan for the future so that we can continue conducting tasks to ensure the operation of our organization."},{"id":14241,"slug":"dan-smith-appointed-chief-operating-officer-of-the-world-cube-association","title":"Dan Smith Appointed Chief Operating Officer of the World Cube Association","sticky":false,"created_at":"2026-03-10T19:55:46.000Z","url":"/posts/dan-smith-appointed-chief-operating-officer-of-the-world-cube-association","author_name":"Kyle Kayden Renatus","class":"post","body":"Dear WCA Community,\n\nThe WCA Board of Directors is excited to announce the appointment of a new Chief Operating Officer, [Dan Smith](https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/persons/2018SMIT42)!\n\n<!-- break -->\n\nDan has been actively involved with the WCA for over four years. He previously served as a member of the Board of Directors, WCA Treasurer, and Senior Member of the Quality Assurance Committee, and currently serves as a member of the Finance Team and a WCA Delegate.\n\nDan’s professional background outside the WCA focuses on operations leadership, team development, process improvement, and delivering complex technical solutions. He has over 15 years of project management experience and has led teams of up to 25 while managing budgets up to $8 million. He holds an MBA from the University of Colorado and a BSc from the University of Maryland University College (now known as University of Maryland Global Campus).\n\nDan has been an active member of the speedcubing community since 2018, having organized and delegated over 50 competitions. In 2023, he joined the WCA Quality Assurance Committee, where he helped maintain educational materials and develop the Delegate training system (LMS).\n\nIn January 2025, Dan was elected to the WCA Board of Directors, where he made an immediate impact. He has worked closely with our sponsors on new initiatives, strengthened relationships between WCA leadership and teams across the organization, and engaged with volunteers at all levels.\n\nAs the WCA continues to grow in size and complexity, Dan understands that the COO role is not about changing the volunteer-driven identity that defines our organization, but about helping shape the WCA for the future.\n\nThe Board believes this role is best filled by someone who understands how the organization works at every level. Having worked closely with our global volunteer community, we believe Dan is the right person to serve as the WCA’s Chief Operating Officer. He stepped down from the Board and assumed his new role effective Thursday, March 5, 2026.\n"},{"id":14240,"slug":"wca-regulations-april-2026-misscramble-changes","title":"WCA Regulations - April 2026 (Misscramble Changes)","sticky":false,"created_at":"2026-03-09T07:00:09.000Z","url":"/posts/wca-regulations-april-2026-misscramble-changes","author_name":"Oliver Hexter","class":"post","body":"Dear WCA Community,\n\nThe WCA Regulations Committee would like to inform you about a new version of the WCA Regulations. This version will be in effect for competitions beginning on, or after, April 1st, 2026. The changes to the Regulations in this version are limited in scope and only affect the handling of incidents in which puzzles were not correctly scrambled (misscrambles). <!-- break -->\n\nIn summary, these changes:\n\n* Remove championship finals from the scope of the firmer Extra/DNS misscramble approach in Regulation 11i1. While scramble integrity remains important, this prioritizes the competitive integrity and spectacle of these rounds.\n* Also remove record/top 50 results in championship finals from this scope, as long as scramble double checking takes place. This avoids potentially unfair scenarios in which championship finals could still be affected, while encouraging measures to support correct scrambles in these contexts.\n* Provide support to ensure results still subject to stricter misscramble requirements (top results not in championship finals) can be checked once they take place, to minimise the chance of later DNS changes, and allowing subsequent round results not to be removed even if a misscramble is found after the competition.\n\nYou can review the wording changes in this [comparison on GitHub](https://github.com/thewca/wca-regulations/compare/official-2026-01-01-deployed...official-2026-04-01), where changes and additions are marked green and removals are marked red.\n\nYou can read a detailed description of changes in this [explainer document](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZjWbycRYNXugro6DbMbqY777llcBDIGE/view). The final changes made remain consistent with the draft changes circulated in February 2026, with no further amendments made."},{"id":14239,"slug":"wca-asian-championship-2026-update-march-2026","title":"WCA Asian Championship 2026 Update (March 2026)","sticky":false,"created_at":"2026-03-04T10:49:15.000Z","url":"/posts/wca-asian-championship-2026-update-march-2026","author_name":"Kerrie Jarman","class":"post","body":"Dear WCA Community,\n\nThe WCA Board and the WCA Major Championship Team (WMCT) wish to provide an important update regarding the 2026 WCA Asian Championship.\n\nAfter an extensive review of the current planning phase, we regret to announce that the championship will no longer be held in Shenyang, China. This decision follows a period of close collaboration between the WCA and local organizers to assess the logistical feasibility of the event.\n\nDuring this assessment, we have concluded that due to a number of factors outside of the WCA’s direct control, it is no longer possible to proceed with a continental-tier event in this location. These factors are complex and span a wide range of issues, from strategic to operational and everywhere in between and it became clear that we would not be able to navigate around these challenges. With the event date quickly approaching, we had to make this difficult decision to ensure our regional partners, and the community as a whole, have sufficient time to adjust their plans. \n\nThe WMCT and the WCA Board are actively exploring other possibilities to enable an Asian Championship to still take place in 2026. We are in direct contact with the Asian Regional Organizations, and will share more specific details with them shortly. We will provide an update to the WCA Community as soon as the selection process is complete.\n\nWe would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the Shenyang organization team for their hard work and dedication through the planning process. We share the community’s disappointment regarding this change and thank you for your continued patience as we work to deliver a high-quality championship experience.\n"},{"id":14238,"slug":"senior-delegate-announcement-europe-february-2026","title":"Senior Delegate Announcement - Europe (February 2026)","sticky":false,"created_at":"2026-02-20T15:13:24.000Z","url":"/posts/senior-delegate-announcement-europe-february-2026","author_name":"Thu Phuong Ngo","class":"post","body":"Dear WCA Community,\n\nWe are happy to announce we have a new Senior Delegate, Karol Zakrzewski, for Europe.\n\nKarol was selected by the WCA Board by voting among them, following Section 4 of our Motion about Senior Delegates.\n\nWe extend our support and best wishes to Karol in fulfilling his new responsibilities. His term as Senior Delegate starts on February 4, 2026.\n\nKarol was the only applicant for the role, and his successful candidacy document can be found [here](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Ld6qdCbFyrDUjuleEP4L27dd-R24uyFM)."},{"id":14237,"slug":"call-for-applicants-head-of-merch-within-the-wca-marketing-team-february-2026","title":"Call for Applicants - Head of Merch within the WCA Marketing Team (February 2026)","sticky":false,"created_at":"2026-02-20T15:01:40.000Z","url":"/posts/call-for-applicants-head-of-merch-within-the-wca-marketing-team-february-2026","author_name":"Thu Phuong Ngo","class":"post","body":"Dear WCA Community,\n\nThe WCA is seeking a volunteer to fill the position of Head of Merch within the WCA Marketing Team. This role focuses on maintaining the WCA’s visual identity through our official merchandise and providing support to community members who purchase from our store.\n<!-- break -->\n\nCandidates are expected to spend at least 4 hours per week on average to fulfill the duties of this role. There is no fixed term limit for this role.\n\n**Key Responsibilities**\n\n* Merchandise Design: Developing new product designs and creative concepts that align with the WCA brand.\n\n* Store Maintenance: Managing the WCA’s storefront, including adding new designs and updating product listings (no physical inventory management is required).\n\n* Customer Support: Responding to community inquiries regarding store orders and product feedback.\n\n* Cross-Team Collaboration: Working with various WCA teams to ensure merchandise supports global initiatives and specific community needs.\n\n**Qualities Expected of Candidates**\n\n* Proficiency in graphic design (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Canva).\n\n* Strong written communication skills in English for customer support.\n\n* Reliability and the ability to work independently.\n\n* A good understanding of the WCA and the cubing community.\n\n* Experience with e-commerce or print-on-demand platforms is a plus.\n\n**Application Process**\n\nThe application period for candidates to submit their candidacy documents is from now until March 12, 2026, 23:59 UTC. Interested candidates can send their applications to the Executive Assistants Team (assistants@worldcubeassociation.org), CC’ing the WCA Board (board@worldcubeassociation.org).\n\nThe candidacy documents must be in PDF format and must include:\n\n1. Personal Introduction: A brief summary of who you are and your background.\n2. Ambitions for the Role: Your goals for the WCA merch store and any initial design ideas.\n3. WCA Experience (Optional): A summary of any past activities or roles held within the WCA. While helpful, prior WCA experience is not a requirement for this role.\n4. Portfolio: Examples of previous design or creative work.\n\nAfter the application period, the WCA Board will interview the most qualified applicants, make a selection by voting, and announce the new Head of Merch.\n\nThanks for your candidacies and support."},{"id":14236,"slug":"integrity-committee-digest-2025-q4","title":"Integrity Committee Digest - 2025 Q4","sticky":false,"created_at":"2026-02-09T17:10:51.000Z","url":"/posts/integrity-committee-digest-2025-q4","author_name":"Zachary Miller","class":"post","body":"Hi WCA Community,\n\nIn the last quarter, the WIC opened **24** cases and closed **19**, both a record number for the Committee. This resulted in **5** bans and **8** warnings, while **6** cases ended with no action. Below, you can find summaries of some notable cases:\n\n* The WCA Integrity Committee was informed of a competitor intentionally stopping the timer prematurely and allegedly positioning himself at solving stations where the display is turned off or where there is no display to avoid being caught. Due to limited availability of footage, it could not be immediately confirmed whether the competitor was performing early stops, but evidence was eventually discovered after monitoring their solves. The competitor was contacted and asked to provide any remarks about the matter. However, the competitor did not admit to any wrongdoing despite the multiple opportunities to do so. The competitor was issued a multi-year ban and the concerned results were disqualified. Despite being the same type of offense as the third case, the ban enacted was more severe due to aggravating circumstances.\n* The WCA Integrity Committee received reports of a competitor who was completing moves on their puzzle during the inspection phase. The competitor admitted to making moves during inspection on some of their official attempts but the WIC believes that the extent of this cheating is further than what was admitted to. The WIC elected to disqualify some of this competitor’s results and enact a short ban.\n* The WCA Integrity Committee received reports of a competitor who had improved at a suspiciously fast pace. The delegates also believed the competitor showed signs of cheating by stopping the timer early with their wrists. Throughout their subsequent competitions, evidence of this competitor cheating was gathered. Affected results were disqualified and this competitor received a short ban.\n* The WCA Integrity Committee received evidence that two competitors had participated in manipulating each others’ scorecards, recording times which were not actually achieved by the competitors. These competitors had multiple competitions worth of results disqualified and were issued a formal warning.\n* The WCA Integrity Committee was informed of a competitor cheating in blindfolded events by peeking under the blindfold. Based on the evidence, the WIC determined that the competitor cheated several times. After an internal deliberation the WIC decided to issue a formal warning and disqualify all their results from blindfolded events.\n\nHere are some other general WIC updates:\n\nZachary Miller (2017MILL04) has become the new Leader of the WCA Integrity Committee. We wish him the best of luck! Also, we are incredibly grateful to Shain Papalotl Longbehn (2020LONG05) for his performance and dedication to his role as leader over the last two years. Thank you so much for your work Shain!\n\nNew members have joined the WCA Integrity Committee:\n\n* Daniel Darcy (2022DARC03)\n* Elian Beguec (2014BEGU01)\n* Finn Trass (2016TRAS01)\n* Jakub Hanuszkiewicz (2014HANU01)\n* Max Kwok U Sam (2018SAMK01)\n* Meng Chon Kuok (2023KUOK01)\n* Pauline Bonnaudet (2009BONN01)\n* Yash Budhiraja (2018BUDH01)\n\nJonas Balsfulland (2012BALS01) recently stepped down from his position as a WIC member. Thank you so much for your work Jonas!\n\nThe WCA Integrity Committee will work closely with the WCA Major Championships Team (WMCT) to assist the organizers of major championships in selecting volunteers.\n\n---\n\nDo you have questions for the WIC? Feel free to send us an [email](integrity@worldcubeassociation.org) any time."},{"id":14235,"slug":"call-for-applicants-wca-regulations-committee-leader-february-2026","title":"Call for Applicants - WCA Regulations Committee Leader (February 2026)","sticky":false,"created_at":"2026-02-06T22:16:46.000Z","url":"/posts/call-for-applicants-wca-regulations-committee-leader-february-2026","author_name":"Kyle Kayden Renatus","class":"post","body":"Dear WCA Community,\n\nThere will be an appointment of a new WCA Regulations Committee (WRC) Leader, as Carter Kucala is stepping down. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Carter for leading the WRC since June 2024.\n<!--break-->\n\nCandidates are expected to fulfill their terms (24 months) and to spend at least 8 hours per week on average to work for the Regulations Committee. The qualities expected of candidates are:\n\n* Strong leadership skills\n* Attention to detail\n* Expert knowledge of Regulations\n* Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.\n* Good judgment and decision-making skills\n* Excellent communication skills\n\nThe application period for candidates to submit their candidacy documents is from now until February 22, 2026, 23:59 UTC. Interested candidates can send the application privately to the Executive Assistants Team ([assistants@worldcubeassociation.org](mailto:assistants@worldcubeassociation.org)), CC’ing the WCA Board ([board@worldcubeassociation.org](mailto:board@worldcubeassociation.org)).\n\nThe candidacy documents must be in PDF format, and must include:\n\n1. Brief personal introduction\n2. Summary of activities done for the WCA\n3. Ambitions as the WRC Leader\n\nCandidates are additionally asked to send a copy of their applications which can be made public at the end of the application period.\n\nThe rights and duties of the WRC can be found in [WCA Motion 10.2025.9](https://documents.worldcubeassociation.org/documents/motions/10.2025.9%20-%20Regulations%20Committee.pdf).\n\nAfter the application period, the WCA Board will interview the most qualified applicants, make a selection by voting, and announce the new Leader, as described in Section 5 of [WCA Motion 10.2025.0](https://documents.worldcubeassociation.org/documents/motions/10.2025.0%20-%20Committees%20and%20Teams.pdf).\n\nThanks for your candidacies and support."}]}