Marc Tol sets Dutch 6x6 and 7x7 records in Rotterdam

A field of just 48 competitors still produced the weekend’s biggest big-cube headlines in Rotterdam, where Marc Tol set Dutch records in both 6x6 and 7x7 at Rotterdam Big 'n Brain 2026. The one-day meet at De Nieuwe Branding turned its compact size into an asset, with finals for 6x6, 3x3 blindfolded, 7x7, 5x5, Megaminx and Square-1 packed into a tight schedule.

Held June 13, 2026 at Grote Zaal A, Isaac Hubertstraat 153, 3034 CS Rotterdam, the competition carried a €17 entry fee and was capped at 50 competitors. Registration opened on Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 11:00 AM PDT and closed on Monday, June 8, 2026 at 11:00 AM PDT. Heleen van der Ree, Sebastiano Tronto, Speedcubing Nederland and Vincent Chan organized the meet, while Gijs Peletier, Marc Dullemond, Ron van Bruchem and Sebastiano Tronto served as WCA delegates.

Tol’s 6x6 run produced a 1:19.24 single and a 1:30.72 average, and his 7x7 result was just as sharp, with a 2:11.51 single and a 2:23.60 average. He had already signaled that level in the first round of 7x7, where he led with a 2:21.25 average before improving again in the final. In a meet this small, those are the kinds of marks that change the tone of the entire competition.

The rest of the podiums reinforced the same specialist-heavy feel. Vincent Chan won Square-1 with a 6.88 average and a 6.58 single, edging Yerkin Assylbek and Per Noordstrand. Robin Teune took 5x5 with a 49.08 average, while Ivo Stoutjesdijk won 3x3 blindfolded with a 21.19 single and also claimed Megaminx with a 40.85 average.

The registrations list showed a seasoned crowd, with 0 first-timers, 50 returners and representation from 10 regions, even as the event page listed 48 competitors. That mix helps explain why Rotterdam produced national-record speed without a championship-scale field. For Dutch cubers, it was a reminder that a dense club meet can still deliver the kind of big-cube breakthrough that usually defines a much larger stage.