Araruama Open 2023

27 competitors gathered across 19 rounds of high-intensity play as Araruama Open 2023 got underway on August 19 and 20, 2023. While classic speedcubing brings frantic turning and split-second reactions on the timer, analytical events like Fewest Moves highlight the quieter, cerebral discipline of pen-and-paper analysis. That dual spirit of careful deliberation and explosive speed shaped the entire weekend at Shopping Araruama in Araruama, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Across nine official events, the cubing competition showcased a wide variety of twisting challenges. In the premier 3x3x3 Cube, Gustavo Dias Dullens captured the championship title with a winning average of 9.23 seconds across three rounds, securing a best single time of 8.62. Kaique de Oliveira Neves pushed the pace to claim the runner-up spot with a 9.28 average, while Victor Rampinelli Villar de Medeiros took third place averaging 9.77. The razor-thin margins in the 3x3 results kept the final round tight until the last solve.

Gustavo Dias Dullens also commanded the 4x4x4 Cube, taking first place with an average of 38.77 seconds and a best single of 31.73. Victor Rampinelli Villar de Medeiros followed in second place with an average of 40.14, and Kaique de Oliveira Neves earned third place with a 43.69 mark. The larger puzzle demanded relentless lookahead and steady execution across its two competitive stages.

Kaique de Oliveira Neves compiled an extraordinary series of victories throughout the tournament. In the 2x2x2 Cube, Neves secured top honours with a winning average of 2.60 seconds after delivering a 1.68 single, leading Gustavo Dias Dullens with 3.70 and Cadu Marques with 4.33. Neves repeated that winning form in Pyraminx, taking first place with a 3.85 average and a 2.59 single across two rounds of play.

Neves continued his dominant run in Clock and Square-1 to claim two more event victories. In Clock, Neves averaged 7.76 seconds with a 6.34 single, holding off Mariana Castro at 8.78 and Gustavo Dias Dullens at 11.43. In Square-1, Neves posted a decisive winning average of 21.36 and a 17.12 single, while Jônatas Tavares Andrade took second averaging 22.57 and Gabriel Sargeiro Gomes de Mello completed the podium with a 25.46 average.

Beyond the title fights, Araruama Open 2023 produced massive personal milestones throughout the order. Bernardo Elias Esposito took on five events, achieving a best finish of 6th place in 2x2x2 Cube, trying Square-1 for the first time with a 37.32 single, cutting his 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best down to 16.52 by 35.1 percent, and trimming his Pyraminx best to 10.07. Felipe Elias Bordalo entered seven events, logging a first ever attempt at Megaminx with 4:09.83, a Skewb personal best of 15.79, and a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 28.09, which was 15.6 percent faster than before. Felipe da Mota Alves recorded huge leaps, taking his 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 7.84 by 36.2 percent, his 3x3x3 Cube mark to 26.92 by 23.1 percent, and setting a Pyraminx personal best of 14.51. Paula Castro stepped up across two events, logging a first ever attempt in the 2x2x2 Cube with a time of 25.79.

The progress continued with Pedro Lucas Rocha dos Santos, who tackled eight events, placed 6th in Square-1, lowered his 4x4x4 Cube mark to 55.05 by 12.4 percent, improved his Megaminx single to 3:10.84 by 9.7 percent, and set a 3x3x3 Cube best of 10.04. Everton Nobre Soares contested six events and reduced his 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best to 41.98, an improvement of 19.8 percent. Pedro Henrique Tesch competed in seven disciplines, earned a 4th place finish in 4x4x4 Cube, and recorded his first ever attempt at Skewb in 18.13. Arthur Braum Coelho Freitas entered three events, took 12th in 3x3x3 Cube, improved his main puzzle personal best to 14.91 by 5.4 percent, and registered first attempts at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:04.95 and 2x2x2 Cube in 5.47.

Specialist events also produced thrilling finishes across the weekend schedule. Gabriel Sargeiro Gomes de Mello seized victory in 3x3x3 One-Handed, averaging 19.67 seconds with a best single of 16.30 to edge out Kaique de Oliveira Neves at 20.76 and Victor Rampinelli Villar de Medeiros at 22.62. In Skewb, Mariana Castro captured the championship by averaging 6.09 seconds alongside a 4.69 single, finishing ahead of Henrique Coelho at 6.18 and Neves at 6.43.

The Megaminx contest concluded with Jônatas Tavares Andrade taking the title on a winning average of 54.93 seconds and a best single of 51.36. Gabriel Sargeiro Gomes de Mello followed closely in second place averaging 55.37, while Kaique de Oliveira Neves placed third with an average of 1:03.81. Across all nine events, Brazilian competitors swept all 27 podium positions available during the WCA competition.

From standard Rubik's Cube races to intricate twelve-sided dodecahedrons, the speed cubing festival at Araruama Open 2023 delivered a balanced showcase of preparation, nerve, and execution. As the season rolls forward, the results recorded in Araruama stand as a benchmark for every competitor aiming to shave fractions off their personal records.

A disputa do cubo magico principal terminou decidida por meros centesimos de segundo quando Gustavo Dias Dullens assegurou o topo do podio com media final de 9.23 segundos. O resultado superou por pouco a marca de 9.28 registrada por Kaique de Oliveira Neves, em uma final eletrizante que tambem viu Victor Rampinelli Villar de Medeiros garantir o terceiro lugar com media de 9.77. Ao longo de 19 rodadas disputadas no Shopping Araruama, o evento reuniu 27 competidores em Araruama, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, nos dias 19 e 20 de agosto de 2023.

O Araruama Open 2023 transformou o espaco comercial em um palco de pura evolucao tecnica no speedcubing nacional. Kaique de Oliveira Neves construiu uma campanha dominante em multiplas modalidades, subindo ao topo do podio em quatro categorias distintas. No Cubo 2x2x2, Neves faturou a medalha de ouro com media vitoriosa de 2.60 apos cravar o melhor tempo isolado de 1.68, superando Gustavo Dias Dullens, que ficou com a prata ao registrar 3.70 de media, e Cadu Marques, terceiro colocado com 4.33.

A versatilidade tecnica tambem se refletiu nas modalidades alternativas ao longo do fim de semana. No Pyraminx, Kaique de Oliveira Neves levou o titulo ao fechar a media em 3.85 segundos e obter a melhor tentativa individual em 2.59 entre 18 competidores. No Square-1, Neves conquistou nova vitoria com media de 21.36 e single de 17.12, deixando Jonatas Tavares Andrade em segundo lugar com 22.57 e Gabriel Sargeiro Gomes de Mello em terceiro com 25.46.

No Clock, Kaique de Oliveira Neves manteve o ritmo vitorioso ao cravar media de 7.76 e o melhor single de 6.34. O podio da categoria contou ainda com Mariana Castro na segunda posicao com media de 8.78 e Gustavo Dias Dullens em terceiro com 11.43. Nas resolucoes de Skewb, Mariana Castro garantiu a vitoria com media de 6.09 e single de 4.69, superando a concorrencia acirrada de Henrique Coelho, segundo com 6.18, e de Neves, terceiro com 6.43.

O fim de semana foi palco de importantes estreias oficiais no cenario nacional da WCA competition. Thalys Rodrigues de Souza encarou sua primeira participacao oficial disputando tres modalidades, completando sua primeira tentativa oficial no Cubo 3x3x3 com o tempo de 31.03, alem de marcar 10.05 no Pyraminx e 10.47 no Cubo 2x2x2. Vitor Emanuel Aguiar Duarte tambem fez sua estreia em tres eventos, registrando 9.39 no Cubo 2x2x2, 47.74 no Cubo 3x3x3 e 2:20.92 no 3x3x3 com Uma Mao. Raphael Silva do Nascimento Martiniano registrou seus primeiros tempos oficiais com 8.64 no Cubo 2x2x2 e 31.02 no classico 3x3x3, enquanto Paulo Silas Cerqueira de Andrade completou suas estreias com 8.87 no 2x2x2 e 32.50 no 3x3x3.

A lista de estreantes prosseguiu com Ana Luiza Coutinho de Azevedo, que registrou 9.09 no Cubo 2x2x2 e 40.09 no Cubo 3x3x3 ao longo do torneio. Adriel Goncalves Cardoso da Silva marcou seus primeiros tempos em eventos oficiais completando o Cubo 3x3x3 em 1:11.19 e o Cubo 2x2x2 em 20.86. Bruno da Silva Neves participou de tres categorias, alcancando o sexto lugar no Clock com single de 18.66, alem de marcar 19.19 no Cubo 2x2x2 e 1:31.29 no 3x3x3. Ja o veterano Gabriel Silva dos Santos participou de sete eventos no fim de semana, tendo como melhor resultado a quarta posicao no Skewb.

Nas categorias mais complexas, os quebra-cabecas de maior volume de pecas exigiram foco absoluto dos atletas. O Megaminx coroou Jonatas Tavares Andrade como campeao apos marcar media de 54.93 e melhor tentativa de 51.36, seguido de muito perto por Gabriel Sargeiro Gomes de Mello, que garantiu a prata com media de 55.37, enquanto Kaique de Oliveira Neves fechou o podio com 1:03.81. No Cubo 4x4x4, Gustavo Dias Dullens voltou ao lugar mais alto do podio ao fechar a media vitoriosa em 38.77 e o melhor single do torneio em 31.73, a frente de Victor Rampinelli Villar de Medeiros com 40.14 e Kaique de Oliveira Neves com 43.69.

Para encerrar o quadro de provas tecnicas, Gabriel Sargeiro Gomes de Mello brilhou na final do 3x3x3 com Uma Mao, conquistando o titulo com media de 19.67 e melhor single de 16.30. Kaique de Oliveira Neves ficou com o segundo lugar anotando media de 20.76, enquanto Victor Rampinelli Villar de Medeiros garantiu a terceira colocacao com 22.62. O encerramento do encontro em Araruama reafirmou o alto nivel tecnico dos atletas fluminenses e abriu espaco para uma temporada promissora de novos recordes no cenario brasileiro.

Com todas as vinte e sete posicoes de podio conquistadas por atletas do Brasil, a cubing competition consolidou marcas expressivas e revelou novos talentos nas mesas de montagem. O encontro no Shopping Araruama demonstrou solidez organizacional e grande disciplina competitiva entre os participantes, deixando referencias importantes de evolucao individual para os proximos desafios do calendario esportivo.