Algorithms in Antipolo 2023

Sean Patrick Villanueva delivered a commanding 5.72 winning average in the 3x3x3 Cube final, setting an elite standard at Robinsons Antipolo on June 25, 2023. His performance stood out as the defining highlight of the weekend, setting the tone for a packed day of speedcubing in Antipolo City, Philippines. The single-day tournament gathered 93 competitors across seven events and 11 rounds, welcoming both seasoned contenders and fresh faces taking their very first official solves.

Algorithms in Antipolo 2023 brought a vibrant atmosphere to the venue, where the classic Rubik's Cube shared the stage with twisty puzzles of every shape and discipline. For dozens of participants, stepping up to the competition table marked a major milestone in their speed cubing journey. A WCA competition environment tests nerves and focus, transforming solitary practice into high-stakes execution on the tournament floor.

Villanueva doubled his title count by claiming the 3x3x3 One-Handed crown, posting a 9.78 winning average with an event-best 8.46 single. Toby Litiatco secured second place with a 12.90 average, while Psyron Eubert Catral earned third at 14.53. In the traditional 3x3 results, Villanueva was joined on the podium by Litiatco in second place at 6.42 and Brenton Angelo Lo Wong in third with a 7.19 mark.

Away from the top steps of the podium, personal milestones defined the true depth of the tournament. River Misashi Ornido dropped significant time across three events, posting a 5.80 average in 2x2x2 Cube that was 42.2 percent faster than before, alongside a 4.67 Pyraminx average improved by 42.1 percent and a 10.51 Skewb average improved by 27 percent. Maverine Sanchez took on five events, logging a 5.32 Pyraminx average that improved on previous marks by 41.8 percent, a 50.82 in 3x3x3 One-Handed that was 22.8 percent faster, and a 16.61 in 3x3x3 Cube. Joaqui Gerard Isip entered six events, securing an eighth-place finish in Square-1 with a first official attempt of 18.95 while trimming his Pyraminx average by 33.1 percent to 6.79 and his One-Handed mark by 21.7 percent to 19.31. Rein Concepcion made a first attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed with 30.67 and lowered his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 27.8 percent down to 11.24.

Other competitors similarly seized the moment on the main stage. Jak Concepcion tackled six events, achieving an 11th-place finish in 2x2x2 Cube, logging a first career Square-1 attempt of 22.00, and cutting his Pyraminx mark by 17.8 percent to 4.29 while improving his 3x3x3 Cube best by 8.4 percent to 8.13. Teo Castro achieved a 22nd-place finish in 3x3x3 One-Handed with a first official attempt of 21.31, registered a first 2x2x2 Cube attempt of 4.20, and improved his 3x3x3 Cube mark by 14.5 percent to 12.45. Sid Elijah E. Ortega recorded a first official 2x2x2 Cube solve of 7.31 and cut his 3x3x3 Cube time by 23.4 percent to 15.61. Karl Martin Montealto took on six events, marking his day with first official attempts in Square-1 at 1:04.95, Skewb at 10.22, and 3x3x3 One-Handed at 25.87.

Short-format events delivered razor-thin margins throughout the afternoon. In the 2x2x2 Cube final, Isaiah Benedict S. Feria took the top spot with a 1.93 average, edging out Brenton Angelo Lo Wong who finished at 2.31, with Christian Naguio taking third at 2.64. The Pyraminx contest came down to a single hundredth of a second, as Psyron Eubert Catral won with a 3.30 average, just ahead of Nikolai Harvey Sy Zipagan at 3.31 and Stephen Mark V. Mariñas at 3.48.

Side events offered a showcase for varied techniques and specialty methods. In Square-1, Brenton Angelo Lo Wong captured the victory with a 10.86 average, finishing ahead of Psyron Eubert Catral at 11.33 and Jacob Miko Tan at 16.20. The Skewb bracket saw Ivan Keith Cariaga secure the gold with a 4.10 average across two rounds, followed by Javier Ignacio at 5.78 and Karl Abarquez at 5.80.

The mental challenge of 3x3x3 Blindfolded rounded out the schedule, requiring complete memorisation before executing solves in total darkness. Hans Dominic Gamboa claimed first place with a 1:52.13 average, followed by Jacob Miko Tan with a single of 1:24.56 and Sean Patrick Villanueva with 1:29.82. The event provided an impressive display of concentration and spatial mastery for the gathered field.

With 21 podium places earned by competitors representing the Philippines, the cubing competition concluded as a comprehensive celebration of speedcubing skill. Algorithms in Antipolo 2023 delivered intense championship races while simultaneously serving as an encouraging launchpad for dozens of dedicated solvers as they build toward the next season.

Sa ilalim ng matinding konsentrasyon at walang patid na katahimikan sa Robinsons Antipolo, ipinamalas ni Hans Dominic Gamboa ang pambihirang galing upang masungkit ang unang pwesto sa 3x3x3 Blindfolded. Sa kumpas ng memorya at tiwala sa bawat galaw ng daliri, nagtala si Gamboa ng winning average na 1:52.13 kasama ang pinakamabilis na solusyon na 1:08.13. Pumangalawa sa naturang disiplina si Jacob Miko Tan sa bilis na 1:24.56 habang pumuwesto sa ikatlo si Sean Patrick Villanueva na may 1:29.82.

Ang naturang tagumpay sa blindfolded solving ay nagbukas ng isang maaksyong araw para sa Algorithms in Antipolo 2023 na ginanap sa Antipolo City, Philippines noong June 25, 2023. Umabot sa 93 kalahok ang nagtipon sa buong torneo kung saan sumabak sila sa 7 magkakaibang kategorya sa loob ng 11 rounds ng matinding bakbakan. Ang paligsahang ito ay nagbigay-diin sa lalim ng talento sa larangan ng speedcubing sa bansa kung saan 21 podium finish ang nakuha ng mga kinatawan ng Pilipinas.

Bumida rin sa pangunahing entablado si Sean Patrick Villanueva na nagdomina sa pinakaaabangang 3x3x3 Cube matapos magtala ng winning average na 5.72 at best single na 5.20 sa huling round. Tinalo niya sa podium sina Toby Litiatco na nagrehistro ng 6.42 average at Brenton Angelo Lo Wong na pumangatlo sa 7.19. Sa kabuuang 90 na sumali sa tradisyonal na Rubik's Cube, pinatunayan ni Villanueva ang kanyang bilis at husay sa bawat yugto ng paligsahan.

Hindi nagpaawat si Villanueva sa isa pang dibisyon nang angkinin din niya ang kampeonato sa 3x3x3 One-Handed gamit ang pambihirang 9.78 winning average at single na 8.46 laban sa 48 kalahok. Sumunod sa kanya si Toby Litiatco na nakakuha ng 12.90 habang pumangatlo si Psyron Eubert Catral na may 14.53. Ang double victory na ito ay nagpatibay sa estado ni Villanueva bilang isa sa mga nangungunang pangalan sa buong kaganapan.

Sa iba pang mga kaganapan, ipinamalas ni Brenton Angelo Lo Wong ang galing sa Square-1 matapos magwagi sa average na 10.86 at best single na 8.51 laban kina Psyron Eubert Catral na may 11.33 at Jacob Miko Tan na may 16.20. Sa Pyraminx naman, naging dikit ang labanan kung saan nanaig si Psyron Eubert Catral sa bilis na 3.30, bahagyang naungusan si Nikolai Harvey Sy Zipagan na nagtala ng 3.31, habang ikatlo si Stephen Mark V. Mariñas sa 3.48.

Nagpakitang-gilas din si Isaiah Benedict S. Feria sa 2x2x2 Cube sa pamamagitan ng mabilis na 1.93 average upang talunin sina Brenton Angelo Lo Wong na may 2.31 at Christian Naguio na may 2.64. Samantala sa Skewb, napasakamay ni Ivan Keith Cariaga ang gintong pwesto bitbit ang 4.10 winning average, habang pumangalawa si Javier Ignacio sa 5.78 at sumunod si Karl Abarquez sa 5.80 matapos ang dalawang rounds ng kompetisyon.

Sa likod ng mga medalya, nagningning ang mga kalahok na nagtala ng malalaking pag-unlad sa kanilang mga personal best sa cubing competition na ito. Ipinamalas ni Joaquin Ancheta ang pinakamalaking talon nang itarak ang 1:07.62 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed na mas mabilis nang 25.7 porsyento kaysa dati. Sumulong din nang husto si John Michael Calicdan sa 3x3x3 Cube sa oras na 11.27 na 15.3 porsyentong mas matulin, habang nakapagtala rin ng 4.41 sa 2x2x2 Cube. Pinatunayan din ni Nathaniel Villanueva ang gilas sa apat na dibisyon kung saan bumilis ang kanyang Pyraminx nang 11.8 porsyento sa 11.34 at nagtala ng 9.58 sa 3x3x3 Cube. Hindi rin nagpahuli si Bran Misashi Ornido na nagtala ng 5.09 sa Pyraminx, 15.6 porsyentong mas mabilis sa dati niyang marka, bukod pa sa 27.80 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed.

Naging espesyal din ang paligsahan para sa mga sumabak sa kanilang pinakaunang WCA competition. Unang beses sumalang si Shaun Xu sa opisyal na entablado at nagtala ng 6.56 sa 2x2x2 Cube, 15.44 sa Pyraminx, at 18.09 sa 3x3x3 Cube. Ganoon din ang ginawa ni Jedrick James E. Brigola na sumubok sa tatlong kategorya at nagrehistro ng 4.88 sa 2x2x2 Cube, 9.18 sa Pyraminx, at 12.55 sa 3x3x3 Cube. Sumabak din sa tatlong events si Zhian Anthony S. Chen na nagtala ng 6.53 sa 2x2x2 Cube, 17.68 sa 3x3x3 Cube, at 1:01.34 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed, habang si Hugo Lorenzo Arandez Taruc ay nagtapos ng kanyang mga unang opisyal na subok sa 8.64 sa 2x2x2 Cube, 23.31 sa 3x3x3 Cube, at 38.72 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed.

Nagtapos ang buong kaganapan sa Robinsons Antipolo na nag-iwan ng magagandang alaala at bagong marka para sa komunidad sa Antipolo City. Mula sa katahimikan ng blindfolded event hanggang sa mabilisang ikot ng mga daliri sa lahat ng rounds, naging patunay ang araw na ito sa patuloy na pag-angat ng husay ng mga manlalaro sa bansa sa larangan ng bilis at memorya.