Beginner's SampaLuck 2024

A blistering 5.99 second winning average in the 3x3x3 Cube by Sean Patrick Villanueva set the benchmark at the Kapatiran-Kaunlaran Foundation in the City of Manila, Philippines. The single-day tournament on April 9, 2024, brought together 44 competitors for a fast-paced schedule featuring five distinct events across 11 rounds. While experienced speedcubers delivered world-class performances, the gathering stood out for welcoming a heavy wave of fresh talent into the local scene. Many participants embraced their early steps in tournament play, bringing energy and determination to every station.

The 3x3 results formed the centerpiece of the program, where 43 entrants tested their skills on the classic Rubik's Cube. Sean Patrick Villanueva captured the title with his sub-six-second mark, supported by a blazing best single solve of 5.02 seconds across three grueling rounds. Toby Litiatco secured second place on the podium with a disciplined 6.27 second average, while Brenton Angelo Lo Wong earned third place with a 6.74 average. The contest showcased the depth of Philippine solving, providing top-tier benchmarks for the many newcomers watching from the staging area.

Brenton Angelo Lo Wong mounted an exceptional campaign throughout the day, taking home two individual titles across larger and smaller puzzles. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Lo Wong dominated the field of 31 competitors, posting a winning average of 27.16 seconds alongside a single solve of 25.49 seconds. Maverick Sua finished in second place with an average of 33.58 seconds, while Mark Aeron Santos took third in 33.99 seconds. Lo Wong added a second victory in the 2x2x2 Cube final, posting a winning average of 2.35 seconds to hold off Toby Litiatco, who recorded a 2.80 average, and Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes, who averaged 3.10 seconds.

Sean Patrick Villanueva also doubled his gold medal haul by excelling in the 3x3x3 One-Handed event. Over two rounds featuring 30 competitors, Villanueva registered a winning average of 9.56 seconds and a best single of 7.31 seconds. Maverick Sua claimed another podium spot by taking second place with an 11.50 second average, while Toby Litiatco rounded out the top three with an average of 12.94 seconds. The demanding one-handed event tested fingertrick dexterity, offering a dramatic contrast to the two-handed puzzle battles held earlier in the afternoon.

Beyond the championship podiums, the heart of the cubing competition lived in the massive individual breakthroughs achieved across the scorecards. Joseph Capistrano registered an impressive leap in the Pyraminx, dropping his personal best to 6.86 seconds, which was 37.2 percent faster than his previous standard, while also establishing a 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 5.64 seconds across three entered events. James A. Acana delivered a 34.8 percent upgrade to his 2x2x2 Cube mark with a new personal best of 2.66 seconds. Arnelio Manaca Mola from Mozambique took on five events and posted three personal bests, cutting his 3x3x3 One-Handed time by 33.9 percent to 43.01 seconds, his 3x3x3 Cube to 16.32 seconds, and his Pyraminx to 5.73 seconds en route to a 12th-place finish. David Joseph Candelaria entered three events, cutting his 2x2x2 Cube mark by 27 percent to 3.90 seconds, dropping his 3x3x3 Cube best by 15.7 percent to 12.65 seconds, and making a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 29.13 seconds.

That same drive defined several competitors who tackled entirely new puzzles for the first time in official play. Zachary Calina shaved 25.4 percent off his Pyraminx time to hit 6.79 seconds and trimmed 12.8 percent from his 3x3x3 One-Handed best down to 39.84 seconds across four events. Aidan Laconico took on a massive five-event slate at Beginner's SampaLuck 2024, recording a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed of 29.87 seconds, a first ever attempt at Pyraminx of 13.38 seconds, and a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube of 1:11.44. Benedict Secillano Gicanal logged official debuts in two events, submitting a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube of 1:01.98 and a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed of 19.00 seconds. Seanfranz Dela Cruz rounded out the milestone performances across two events by completing a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 42.72 seconds.

The Pyraminx provided one of the tightest podium races of the entire tournament, with 22 entrants battling across two competitive rounds. Nikolai Harvey Sy Zipagan emerged victorious with a winning average of 3.18 seconds, aided by a best single solve of 2.28 seconds. Jansen Alvarez followed closely in second place with an average of 3.23 seconds, just ahead of Karl Matthew Angeles, who took third place with a 3.31 second average. The razor-thin margins underscored the precision required on the tetrahedral puzzle, keeping the gallery engaged until the final solve was confirmed.

With 15 total podium places swept by competitors representing the Philippines, the tournament concluded as a celebration of both elite speed cubing and grassroots growth. Beginner's SampaLuck 2024 demonstrated how a well-structured WCA competition can nurture the next generation of solvers alongside established champions. As the day ended at the Kapatiran-Kaunlaran Foundation, dozens of competitors left Manila with lower personal records, fresh event registrations, and valuable experience to carry forward into the rest of the 2024 season.

Nagtala si Sean Patrick Villanueva ng pambihirang 5.99 average kasama ang pinakamabilis na single solve na 5.02 upang angkinin ang unang puwesto sa 3x3x3 Cube sa City of Manila, Philippines. Ang torneo na ginanap sa Kapatiran-Kaunlaran Foundation noong Abril 9, 2024, ay nagpakita ng matinding labanan sa bawat round kung saan ang bawat galaw at kalkulasyon ay may malaking epekto sa pangkalahatang marka. Sa kabuuan, 44 na kalahok ang nagtagisan sa limang magkakaibang kategorya sa loob ng 11 rounds sa opisyal na WCA competition na ito.

Sa naturang main event, kinumpleto ng mga Pilipinong manlalaro ang podium matapos makuha ni Toby Litiatco ang ikalawang puwesto sa average na 6.27. Sumunod naman sa ikatlong puwesto si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong na nagtala ng 6.74 average mula sa kabuuang 43 kalahok na sumabak sa tatlong rounds. Ang bawat bahagi ng speedcubing torneo ay naging pagsubok sa bilis ng kamay at talas ng isip, kung saan walang puwang ang anumang maliit na pagkakamali sa ibabaw ng timer.

Hindi nagpaawat si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong nang dominahin niya ang 4x4x4 Cube laban sa 31 kalahok sa pamamagitan ng 27.16 winning average at 25.49 best single. Pumangalawa sa naturang larangan si Maverick Sua na may 33.58 average, habang pumangatlo naman si Mark Aeron Santos na nagsumite ng 33.99 average. Ipinamalas ng mga manlalaro ang kanilang galing sa mas malalaking puzzle na nangangailangan ng mas komplikadong proseso ng pagbuo bago marating ang huling yugto ng solve.

Nagpatuloy ang tagumpay ni Brenton Angelo Lo Wong sa 2x2x2 Cube matapos niyang magtala ng 2.35 average at mabilis na 1.53 single solve laban sa 29 na kalahok. Nasungkit ni Toby Litiatco ang ikalawang puwesto sa kategoryang ito bitbit ang 2.80 average, habang si Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes ang pumangatlo na may 3.10 average. Maraming manlalaro ang nagtala ng mahuhusay na solves sa mabilisang kategoryang ito sa buong paligsahan.

Sa larangan naman ng 3x3x3 One-Handed, muling nangibabaw si Sean Patrick Villanueva nang makuha ang panalo sa pamamagitan ng 9.56 winning average at 7.31 best single mula sa 30 na kalahok. Pumangalawa si Maverick Sua na nagrehistro ng 11.50 average, habang nakuha ni Toby Litiatco ang ikatlong puwesto sa kanyang 12.94 average. Sa Pyraminx, nakamit ni Nikolai Harvey Sy Zipagan ang tagumpay laban sa 22 kalahok sa kanyang 3.18 average, sinundan nina Jansen Alvarez na may 3.23 at Karl Matthew Angeles na nagtala ng 3.31.

Sa likod ng mga opisyal na talaan ng tagumpay, marami ring mga kalahok ang nagpakita ng malaking pag-unlad sa kanilang mga sariling kakayahan. Pinangunahan ito ni Gem Bryan Sison na nagtala ng 42.88 personal best sa 4x4x4 Cube na mas mabilis nang 15.7 porsyento kumpara sa kanyang dating 50.88. Malaki rin ang ibinawas ni Joakim Hendrich Victorino sa 4x4x4 Cube nang maabot ang 49.45 na 11.8 porsyentong mas mabilis sa dati niyang 56.08, habang si Neo Vittorio Dalacat ay nagtala ng 12.10 sa 3x3x3 Cube na 11.3 porsyentong mas mabilis sa dating 13.64. Ipinamalas din ni Gabriel Adrian Cruz ang kanyang husay nang lumahok sa tatlong dibisyon, kabilang ang 12th place finish sa 3x3x3 Cube at ang kanyang unang subok sa Pyraminx na nagbunga ng 6.93.

Mainit ding tinanggap ng komunidad ang mga bagong manlalaro na sumabak sa kanilang pinakaunang opisyal na cubing competition. Sumabak si Jhazmine Lacsamana sa limang kategorya sa kanyang debut, kabilang ang kanyang unang subok sa Pyraminx na 8.93, 2x2x2 Cube na 4.56, at 3x3x3 One-Handed na 22.66. Si Nichole Aleeneo R. Mendoza ay nagtala ng kanyang unang opisyal na marka sa tatlong kategorya tulad ng 12.47 sa Pyraminx, 32.26 sa 3x3x3 Cube, at 4.26 sa 2x2x2 Cube. Ganoon din ang ginawa nina Samuel Piamonte na sumubok sa 2x2x2 Cube sa 4.26, 4x4x4 Cube sa 1:41.67, at 3x3x3 Cube sa 18.14, at Flynn Bacani Maquinay na nagtala ng 1:26.56 sa 4x4x4 Cube, 17.97 sa 3x3x3 Cube, at 45.93 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed.

Lahat ng 15 podium finishes sa buong paligsahan ay napunta sa mga kinatawan ng Pilipinas sa limang magkakaibang puzzle events. Mula sa pinakamaliit na rotations hanggang sa mga komplikadong Rubiks Cube algorithms, naging patunay ang Beginner's SampaLuck 2024 sa mataas na antas ng dedikasyon at kahusayan ng mga kalahok. Nagtapos ang araw na may dalang mga bagong personal na tala at mga natapos na pagsubok para sa bawat manlalaro sa lungsod ng Maynila ngayong 2024 bago sumapit ang susunod na panahon ng kumpetisyon.