Altavista Side Events 2023

A blistering 2.08-second Pyraminx winning average by Argentina's Gael Augusto Lapeyre headlined an action-packed gathering at Grupo Altavista Lab and Trend in Montevideo, Uruguay. The single-day tournament on February 19, 2023, offered a dedicated stage for non-traditional disciplines. Altavista Side Events 2023 drew a field of 22 competitors who tackled 15 rounds across eight distinct puzzles, spanning everything from quick-fire turning challenges to intricate memory feats. While seasoned contenders battled across the tables, the atmosphere was defined by the large presence of competitors taking their very first strides on the official circuit.

For many in attendance, this cubing competition served as an entry point into specialized events beyond the standard Rubik's Cube. The lineup gave emerging talent an immediate chance to measure themselves in an official WCA competition environment. With 15 podium positions earned by competitors from Uruguay, eight by Argentina, and one by Venezuela, the single-day showcase highlighted the growing regional depth across South American speedcubing. The brisk schedule kept the venue humming from morning rounds through to the evening finals across all categories.

Lapeyre emerged as the standout performer of the day, securing five event titles. In addition to his Pyraminx victory, he captured first place in the 2x2x2 Cube with a 2.18 winning average, holding off Uruguay's Bruno Lezama who finished second at 2.82 and Manuel Malvárez in third at 3.11. Lapeyre also paced the Clock field with an impressive 5.05 winning mark, followed by Víctor Gálvez at 7.23 and Sebastiano Benato at 9.07. His mastery of specialized events continued in Square-1, where his 9.23 winning average bested Lezama's 11.40 and Venezuela's Xabier Monsalve at 15.29.

The 3x3x3 One-Handed event also fell to Lapeyre, who locked down the title with a 12.10 winning average. Manuel Malvárez placed second in the single-handed test with a 13.68 average, while Bruno Lezama secured the third podium step at 14.37. While standard 3x3 results were not part of this side-event program, the one-handed division proved just as demanding for the 13 entrants. Speed cubing requires immense fingertip control when solving single-handed, and Lapeyre delivered smooth execution across both rounds to take his fifth gold medal.

Uruguay's Bruno Lezama carved out major victories of his own throughout the competition. Lezama topped the Skewb final with a 3.74 average to edge out Malvárez at 4.77 and Lapeyre at 5.75. In the grueling 3x3x3 Multi-Blind, which requires memorising multiple cubes before solving them without sight, Lezama achieved a remarkable winning single of 9 out of 12 cubes in 56 minutes and 21 seconds. Christian Goñi finished second in the multi-blind event by solving 2 out of 4 cubes in 14 minutes and 15 seconds.

In the Megaminx event, Brian Hambeck delivered a standout performance for the host country, taking first place with a 41.36 winning average and a round-best single of 38.99. Lapeyre followed closely behind in second place with a 44.76 average, while Lezama added another podium to his ledger by taking third with a 51.97. Across the board, Altavista Side Events 2023 offered a balanced battleground where local Uruguayan standouts shared the top spots with top-tier international talent.

Behind the medal ceremonies, personal milestones were reached across every round as competitors pushed their limits. Nicolás Villalba made the single biggest speed leap of the day, slicing 52.5 percent off his 2x2x2 Cube personal best to finish at 4.85 seconds. Felipe Santamaría Ruiz dropped his Pyraminx personal best by 46.2 percent down to 10.58 seconds, while Mateo Damian Coitinho Gabarain shaved 45.4 percent from his Clock best to hit 13.12 seconds across six entered disciplines. Mateo Blois Escobar enjoyed major progress across six events as well, cutting 41.1 percent from his Skewb mark to record a 6.41 personal best.

The day was equally memorable for those tackling events for the very first time. Julián Goldszein completed his first WCA competition, recording a 6.19 in his opening attempt at the 2x2x2 Cube. Luca Fontana took on seven separate events, securing a best finish of sixth in Megaminx while logging first-ever attempts in Clock at 10.95 and Square-1 at 46.37. Sofía Rojo took on four events, setting debut marks in Clock at 25.60, Skewb at 9.91, and Pyraminx at 15.29, while Lucca Gatti made his debut in Skewb with a 17.30 single.

The single-day meet closed with celebratory marks and memories across the entire 22-person roster. Altavista Side Events 2023 successfully showcased the skill, versatility, and emerging talent thriving across Montevideo and the broader South American speedcubing landscape, setting an exciting baseline for the competitive year ahead.