Ambato Open 2024

39 competitors gathered at Quality UP - Matriz Ambato Preuniversitario on September 14, 2024, bringing high-stakes focus to the tables in Ambato, Ecuador. Speedcubing demands intense cognitive discipline, particularly when solvers rely entirely on memorisation and spatial execution without visual feedback. Across 12 rounds and seven varied disciplines, the single-day gathering tested mental stamina from the early morning stages right through to the evening finals.

The Ambato Open 2024 showcased an extensive range of events, challenging participants across multiple puzzle formats and twisty mechanisms. From the traditional Rubik's Cube to specialized challenges like Megaminx and 3x3x3 One-Handed, competitors had to transition seamlessly between diverse solving techniques. Speed cubing in this environment rewarded those who could maintain composure under intense time constraints across every discipline.

David Arzamastsev delivered a dominant overall performance throughout the weekend, securing victories in four separate events. In the main event, the 3x3x3 Cube, he earned the top spot with a winning average of 10.60 seconds after three intense rounds of competition, complemented by the best single time of 9.73. Emilio Andre Garzón Labre secured second place with an average of 11.83, while Josué Ordóñez rounded out the podium in third with a mark of 12.45 in the 3x3 results.

Arzamastsev continued his remarkable run in the Pyraminx final, capturing first place with a 4.23 winning average and a 3.99 single to outpace Alex Loor at 7.50 and Juan Andrés Reyes Espinoza at 7.79. In 3x3x3 One-Handed, Arzamastsev claimed the gold with a 19.23 average and a standout single of 13.51, finishing ahead of Loor at 20.44 and Ordóñez at 21.01. His fourth title came in Megaminx, where he produced a winning average of 1:20.95 and a best single of 1:11.40, edging past Ordóñez at 1:23.12 and Loor at 1:40.71.

Away from the top steps of the podium, several solvers achieved major milestones that defined the depth of this WCA competition. Martin Fernando Gallegos entered five events and improved his 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 8.20 seconds, which was 48.1 percent faster than his prior record, alongside a maiden 1:59.50 single in 3x3x3 One-Handed and a career-best eighth-place Megaminx result. José David Barriga Barrera dropped his 2x2x2 Cube best by 47.8 percent down to 5.25 seconds, while tackling his first official attempts in the 3x3x3 Cube with 26.92 and the 4x4x4 Cube with 1:59.80. Matias Quilumba entered five disciplines, cutting 42.6 percent off his 2x2x2 Cube mark with a 2.75 single and making his official Skewb debut with an 8.59 single. Alvaro Steven Sánchez Pico completed his first 4x4x4 Cube attempt in 56.56 seconds to take ninth place, while lowering his 3x3x3 Cube personal best to 10.50 seconds, a 36.3 percent improvement.

The breakthrough performances continued with José Nicolás Yánez Ortiz, who improved his Pyraminx personal best by 42.3 percent to 7.37 seconds and contested four separate events. Abril Cabezas Moreno took on five events, posting her first official attempts in the 4x4x4 Cube with 1:22.15, 3x3x3 One-Handed with 1:11.10, and Pyraminx with 8.25 seconds on her way to a ninth-place finish. Luis David Herrera Moncada logged a personal best of 3.51 in the 2x2x2 Cube, a 23.2 percent improvement, and completed his first Pyraminx attempt in 7.51 seconds. Making his first appearance at an official tournament, Juber Israel Cunuhay Pilatasig contested five events, recording initial marks of 9.69 in the 2x2x2 Cube, 10.78 in Pyraminx, and 2:02.12 in Megaminx to secure a sixth-place finish.

The 2x2x2 Cube event saw explosive speed across two rounds, culminating in a victory for Raúl Gómez with a 2.40 average and a 1.77 best single. Ordóñez followed closely behind with a 3.64 average for second, while Arzamastsev secured third place at 3.73. Gómez also registered notable marks of 1.97 single and 2.18 average during the earlier stages of the event. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Ariel Vacacela earned the title with a 45.10 average, narrowly defeating Ordóñez who recorded 45.88, while Arzamastsev placed third with 50.74.

In the Skewb event, Alex Loor claimed the championship title with an average of 4.71 seconds and a fast single of 3.60. David Miranda took second place with a 6.32 average, and Arzamastsev claimed third place with a 6.66 average. In the final medal count for this cubing competition, Ecuador led the field with 14 podium placements across the day, while Russia accumulated seven podium finishes through Arzamastsev.

With fast times across seven distinct events, the Ambato Open 2024 highlighted the vibrant talent present across the local and regional cubing scene. Competitors demonstrated remarkable preparation and rapid execution throughout a demanding single-day schedule. As the competitive year moves forward, the results established in Ambato set a high standard of precision for upcoming tournaments.