50 Years of Cubing in the Philippines 2024

Inside Robinsons Novaliches, the persistent rhythmic clatter of plastic layers turning in unison filled the air as 80 competitors gathered for a full slate of action. Tables were packed with timers, mats, and an array of puzzles ranging from intricate multi-layered challenges to lightning-fast side events. The gathering in Quezon City, Philippines brought together a determined roster ready to push their mental stamina and mechanical execution across 13 intense rounds. The atmosphere throughout the venue captured the genuine spirit of speedcubing, balancing high-stakes technical mastery with rapid-fire puzzle solving.

Tackling stamina-heavy puzzles always demands exceptional focus, as complex layers and extended solve sequences test a solver physical consistency and concentration. The marathon nature of complex events requires competitors to sustain high turning rates without succumbing to fatigue or small handling errors. Managing rotation flow, piece identification, and precise fingertricks over dozens of moves separates the strongest contenders on the circuit. That endurance mindset set the tone for the entire tournament, reminding everyone present that solving under pressure is as much a test of mental fortitude as raw finger dexterity.

The 50 Years of Cubing in the Philippines 2024 was staged on October 6, 2024, delivering a packed single-day program across eight official events. As a sanctioned WCA competition, the event drew a skilled contingent of 80 participants aiming to establish benchmarks and reach podiums. Every podium position across all events went to competitors representing the Philippines, completing a clean 24-for-24 sweep on home soil. The gathering marked a major celebration of speed cubing in the region during the 2024 season.

In the classic Rubik's Cube category, Brenton Angelo Lo Wong delivered a stellar display across three rounds to take the championship. Wong recorded a winning average of 6.17 seconds in the final, bolstered by a scorching single of 5.19 seconds to lead the field of 78 competitors. Carl Ashley Cortes secured second place with an average of 8.41 seconds, while Dylan Yosef O. Valenzuela claimed third on an 8.48 average. The 3x3 results served as the centerpiece of a hard-fought day of solving.

Turning to the under-the-radar performers whose breakthroughs define the depth of the field, Matthew R. Reyes delivered a dramatic leap forward by cutting his 2x2x2 Cube mark to 2.42 seconds, a 62.6 percent improvement over his previous best, while also lowering his 3x3x3 Cube best to 11.85 seconds. Areej P. Elsayed Ibrahim took on two events and sliced his 2x2x2 Cube best down to 4.36 seconds, which was 51.3 percent faster, alongside a 32.8 percent improvement in the 3x3x3 Cube at 22.68 seconds. Johann Wesley R. Martin tackled four events, making his first official attempts in 3x3x3 One-Handed with 52.59 seconds and Skewb with 12.37 seconds, while chopping his 3x3x3 Cube mark by 48.8 percent down to 18.12 seconds and placing 29th in Skewb. Liam B. Rashid took on two disciplines, cutting his 2x2x2 Cube record by 39.3 percent to 7.89 seconds and his 3x3x3 Cube time by 14.2 percent to 23.20 seconds.

The progression continued through the efforts of several other determined competitors across diverse events. Zion Wyatt Rentillo Catalan tackled a demanding slate of seven events, finishing 13th in Square-1, shaving his Megaminx mark by 30.9 percent down to 2:41.60, his Skewb time by 29.2 percent to 12.24 seconds, and his 2x2x2 Cube mark to 3.75 seconds. Gina Uy took on five separate events, registering her first official Skewb attempt with a mark of 7.23 seconds to place 23rd, alongside a 15.8 percent personal best in 2x2x2 Cube at 3.20 seconds. Juan Carlos Bautista completed his first official 2x2x2 Cube attempt in 5.60 seconds while trimming his 3x3x3 Cube mark by 12.5 percent to 12.50 seconds. Rein Jerry Dela Cruz logged his first official 3x3x3 One-Handed solve with 20.53 seconds and improved his 3x3x3 Cube mark by 10.3 percent down to 8.93 seconds.

The 2x2x2 Cube event saw Isaiah Benedict S. Feria claim victory with a final winning average of 2.48 seconds and a single of 1.82 seconds over two rounds featuring 60 competitors. Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes finished runner-up on a 2.73 average, with Brenton Angelo Lo Wong in third at 2.89 seconds. In 3x3x3 One-Handed, Karl Matthew Angeles topped the 58-person field with a 12.95 average, while Wong took second at 13.88 and Kat Gonzalez captured third with 15.13 seconds. On the Megaminx layout, Enika Aubrey Maninang averaged 42.14 seconds to claim first place ahead of Jacob Miko Tan at 56.45 seconds and Louie Jay Quibote at 59.04 seconds.

Short-format and specialty disciplines wrapped up the action at the 50 Years of Cubing in the Philippines 2024. Karl Abarquez won Skewb with a 3.61 average, beating Javier Ignacio at 3.87 and Ivan Keith Cariaga at 3.97. In Clock, Zoei Principe prevailed with a 4.36 average over Abarquez at 4.80 and Yuji Yoshida at 5.54. Psyron Eubert Catral won Square-1 in 12.01 seconds, besting Tan at 15.06 and Yoshida at 16.38. Blindfolded solving, requiring precise memorisation before donning the blindfold, saw Miguel Iñigo O. Valenzuela take first with a best single of 1:01.82, joined on the podium by Tan at 1:42.32 and Yoshida at 1:17.49 to conclude an extraordinary cubing competition.

Labing-isang kalahok ang sumabak sa matinding pagsubok ng memorya at bilis sa 3x3x3 Blindfolded event nang magtipon ang 80 na manlalaro para sa 50 Years of Cubing in the Philippines 2024. Ginanap sa Robinsons Novaliches sa Quezon City, Philippines noong October 6, 2024, ipinamalas sa paligsahan ang kakaibang disiplina na kailangan sa paglutas ng puzzle nang nakapiring. Sa kategoryang ito kung saan bawat galaw ay nakasalalay sa naunang pagsasaulo, si Miguel Iñigo O. Valenzuela ang nanguna matapos magtala ng pinakamabilis na solusyon sa oras na 1:01.82. Pumangalawa si Jacob Miko Tan (陈在元) na may 1:42.32 habang pumangatlo si Yuji Yoshida sa pamamagitan ng kanyang 1:17.49 single sa iisang round ng naturang labanan.

Hindi nagpahuli ang pangunahing 3x3x3 Cube event kung saan 78 na kalahok ang nagtunggali sa loob ng tatlong rounds ng speedcubing. Si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong ang umangkin ng unang puwesto matapos magrehistro ng winning average na 6.17 kasama ang pinakamabilis na solusyon sa buong paligsahan na 5.19 single. Sinundan siya sa podium nina Carl Ashley Cortes na nagtala ng 8.41 average para sa ikalawang puwesto at Dylan Yosef O. Valenzuela na nakakuha ng ikatlong puwesto sa kanyang 8.48 average.

Sa 2x2x2 Cube na umakit ng 60 na manlalaro sa dalawang rounds, si Isaiah Benedict S. Feria ang naging kampeon hawak ang 2.48 winning average at 1.82 best single. Pumangalawa sa naturang kategorya si Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes na nagtala ng 2.73 average, habang si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong ay muling umakyat sa podium sa ikatlong puwesto na may 2.89 average.

Ipinamalas din ang husay sa isang kamay sa 3x3x3 One-Handed event kung saan 58 na kalahok ang naglaban sa dalawang rounds. Si Karl Matthew Angeles ang nagwagi tangan ang 12.95 winning average at 11.51 single. Pumangalawa sa podium si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong na may 13.88 average, habang pumangatlo naman si Kat Gonzalez sa kanyang 15.13 average.

Sa iba pang kategorya ng puzzle sa 50 Years of Cubing in the Philippines 2024, nagtagumpay si Karl Abarquez sa Skewb matapos magtala ng 3.61 winning average laban sa 32 na kalahok, kasunod sina Javier Ignacio na may 3.87 at Ivan Keith Cariaga na may 3.97. Sa Clock event, si Zoei Principe ang nagkampeon sa 25 na kalahok sa kanyang 4.36 average, habang pumangalawa si Karl Abarquez sa 4.80 at pumangatlo si Yuji Yoshida sa 5.54. Sa Megaminx, nanguna si Enika Aubrey Maninang na nagrehistro ng 42.14 winning average sa 18 na manlalaro, kasunod sina Jacob Miko Tan (陈在元) na may 56.45 at Louie Jay Quibote na may 59.04. Sa Square-1 naman, si Psyron Eubert Catral ang nangibabaw sa 14 na kalahok sa oras na 12.01, habang pumangalawa si Jacob Miko Tan (陈在元) sa 15.06 at pumangatlo si Yuji Yoshida sa 16.38.

Sa likod ng mga labanan para sa podium, marami ring kapansin-pansing pag-unlad at mga bagong karanasan ang naitala sa mismong kompetisyon. Si Juan Miguel C. Manalo, na sumabak sa 8 kategorya at tumapos sa ika-7 puwesto sa 3x3x3 Blindfolded, ay nagtala ng malalaking personal best kabilang ang 4.81 sa Skewb na 41.6 porsyentong mas mabilis kaysa sa kanyang dating 8.24, 19.22 sa Square-1 na 39.7 porsyentong bawas sa 31.86, at 10.11 sa Clock mula sa 10.85. Si Justin Louis D. Olivan, na nagtapos sa ika-32 puwesto sa Skewb sa tatlong kategoryang sinalihan, ay nagtala ng personal best na 16.60 na 35 porsyentong mas mabilis sa dating 25.52. Si Prince Kristoff M. Pizon ay pumasok sa anim na dibisyon kung saan siya nagtala ng ika-14 na puwesto sa Clock, unang opisyal na subok sa Megaminx sa oras na 1:41.99, at bagong personal best na 3.14 sa 2x2x2 Cube na 9.8 porsyentong mas mabilis sa dating 3.48. Samantala, si Steve Godoy ay nagtala ng ika-11 puwesto sa 3x3x3 Cube hawak ang bagong personal best na 9.28 mula 9.60, kasabay ng kanyang pinakaunang subok sa 3x3x3 One-Handed sa oras na 36.22.

Naging mahalagang araw din ang kompetisyon para sa apat na manlalarong sumabak sa kanilang pinakaunang WCA competition. Si Elijah Flora Morales ay sumali sa tatlong kategorya at nagtala ng 2.31 sa 2x2x2 Cube, 27.49 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed, at 14.78 sa 3x3x3 Cube sa kanyang mga unang opisyal na solve. Si Ranlee O. Trinidad ay sumabak din sa tatlong kategorya kung saan nagtala siya ng unang subok na 4:17.90 sa Megaminx, 17.99 sa 3x3x3 Cube, at 6.63 sa 2x2x2 Cube. Si Aerone D. Aquino ay nagrehistro ng mga unang opisyal na marka sa 3x3x3 Cube sa 20.66, 2x2x2 Cube sa 3.40, at 3x3x3 One-Handed sa 57.57 sa tatlong kategoryang sinalihan. Gayundin, si Matthew Cloud B. Buendia ay nagsimula ng kanyang talaan sa dalawang event sa pamamagitan ng 27.13 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed at 13.72 sa 3x3x3 Cube.

Sa kabuuan ng 13 rounds sa walong kategorya, naging matagumpay ang cubing competition na ito para sa lahat ng mga manlalaro mula sa Pilipinas na sumakop sa lahat ng 24 na podium spots. Mula sa bilis ng kamay sa karaniwang Rubik's Cube hanggang sa matinding konsentrasyon sa blindfolded solving, naging makabuluhan ang 50 Years of Cubing in the Philippines 2024 sa pagpapakita ng talento at determinasyon ng mga kalahok bago ang mga susunod na torneo sa bansa.