Big Cubata 2023

Marcos Ferreira Semolini produced a stunning 34.36 single solve during the blindfolded rounds, establishing the defining performance of an intense day of specialized memory challenges. Held on March 18, 2023, the event gathered dedicated memory solvers to test their limits without visual feedback. The single-day tournament focused entirely on blindfolded variations, requiring competitors to spend time memorizing puzzle configurations before donning a blindfold to execute the solution strictly from memory. The standard Rubik's Cube proved to be a platform for sheer speed, while larger cubes tested extreme mental endurance.

Hosted in Cubatão, São Paulo, Brazil, the gathering took place at ASSAVVE - Associação Amigos do Vale Verde. The specialized cubing competition brought together 8 competitors across 4 rounds of action in 3 distinct blindfolded events. Speedcubing in these categories strips away the continuous visual adjustments of typical speed events, replacing them with rigorous algorithms and deep memorization schemes. Competitors must trust their preparation completely, knowing that a single misplaced turn cannot be seen or corrected during the solve.

Unlike rapid-fire events where physical turning rate dominates the table, memory-intensive solving resembles analytical disciplines like Fewest Moves, where deliberate planning and algorithmic precision take priority over raw reflex. The quiet tension of memory analysis requires intense concentration, as participants study puzzle states before blocking their vision completely. At Big Cubata 2023, that mental calculation translated into rapid turn executions once the blindfolds descended, creating high stakes on every attempt across the schedule.

The 3x3x3 Blindfolded contest featured all 8 entrants across two competitive rounds. Marcos Ferreira Semolini captured the title in the final round with a winning single of 36.40, having already recorded a 34.36 single and a 36.13 average earlier in the competition. Guilherme Santana secured second place with a final round single of 2:15.06, following a 1:38.27 single and a 1:59.63 average in the opening round. Renan da Cunha Santos earned third place with a time of 2:41.52, after posting a 2:02.16 single and 2:15.31 average in the prior stage.

Further down the 3x3 results in the preliminary round, several other Brazilian solvers recorded complete attempts. Matheus Casassa registered a single of 2:34.68 before posting a 3:03.48 in the final, while Sávio Alves Cabelo Pereira logged a 3:13.81 single. Robinson Semolini completed a full average of 4:20.79 with a best single of 4:08.85. Solvers Igor Amaral Correa and Luana Tonki also took to the stations to contest the opening round of the classic blindfolded event.

Stepping up to the 4x4x4 Blindfolded event, the difficulty scaled dramatically due to the increased piece count and the necessity of tracking center pieces and parity errors entirely in the mind. Six competitors lined up for the single-round contest. Marcos Ferreira Semolini again took top honors, locking in a winning time of 3:40.38 to claim the victory. Guilherme Santana took second place on the podium with a successful completion of 13:35.00, demonstrating remarkable patience and accuracy over a grueling solve.

The remaining four participants in the 4x4x4 Blindfolded division — Robinson Semolini, Renan da Cunha Santos, Matheus Casassa, and Sávio Alves Cabelo Pereira — were unable to log a successful time, resulting in uncompleted attempts. The high failure rate illustrated the formidable challenge of tracking dozens of moving parts under tournament conditions. That level of difficulty highlighted the precision displayed by the podium finishers, who avoided catastrophic memory slips throughout their extended solutions.

The challenge peaked in the 5x5x5 Blindfolded event, an ordeal that only four competitors attempted. Marcos Ferreira Semolini completed his triple crown at Big Cubata 2023 by taking first place with a single of 6:57.37. Guilherme Santana demonstrated steady focus to secure second place with a time of 29:02.00. Sávio Alves Cabelo Pereira and Renan da Cunha Santos also took on the massive puzzle but did not record a successful completion on their attempts.

By the close of the competition, Brazilian competitors had claimed all 13 podium places across the three events. Every single title belonged to Semolini, whose execution in the blind categories set the standard for the day. For the community of speed cubing enthusiasts in São Paulo, the one-day WCA competition showcased the analytical depth, discipline, and endurance that define the most demanding puzzle-solving disciplines.

A resolucao de um cubo magico de cinco camadas sem enxergar exige uma combinacao rara de memorizacao rigorosa e execucao tatil precisa. No Big Cubata 2023, realizado em 18 de marco de 2023 na ASSAVVE - Associacao Amigos do Vale Verde, Marcos Ferreira Semolini cravou a melhor marca individual do 5x5x5 Blindfolded com o tempo de 6:57.37. Esse desempenho estabeleceu o padrao mais alto em um torneio totalmente focado nas modalidades as cegas.

O encontro em Cubatao, Sao Paulo, Brazil, reuniu oito competidores dedicados a tres das disciplinas mais complexas do universo do speedcubing. Ao todo, a programacao contou com quatro rodadas distribuidas entre o 3x3x3 Blindfolded, o 4x4x4 Blindfolded e o 5x5x5 Blindfolded. A competicao de cubo magico atraiu especialistas focados em quebra-cabecas de grande porte e memorizacao avancada em um ambiente de pura concentracao.

No evento principal do dia, o 5x5x5 Blindfolded teve quatro participantes enfrentando a complexidade das pecas centrais e arestas extras. Marcos Ferreira Semolini garantiu a primeira colocacao com a marca de 6:57.37, enquanto Guilherme Santana assegurou o segundo lugar no podio ao registrar o tempo de 29:02.00. Os competidores Savio Alves Cabelo Pereira e Renan da Cunha Santos fecharam a classificacao da prova com resultados DNF.

A disputa do 4x4x4 Blindfolded reuniu seis participantes na mesma jornada tecnica. Marcos Ferreira Semolini voltou a liderar a tabela ao alcancar a marca vitoriosa de 3:40.38 em sua tentativa individual. Guilherme Santana conquistou a segunda colocacao completando o cubo em 13:35.00. Os demais atletas na disputa, Robinson Semolini, Renan da Cunha Santos, Matheus Casassa e Savio Alves Cabelo Pereira, concluiram o evento com DNF nas suas solucoes.

Com oito participantes inscritos, o 3x3x3 Blindfolded foi a modalidade com maior numero de competidores e a unica com duas rodadas no cronograma. Na primeira fase, Marcos Ferreira Semolini assinalou 34.36 na melhor tentativa e media de 36.13, enquanto Guilherme Santana obteve 1:38.27 com media de 1:59.63. Renan da Cunha Santos tambem avancou com a marca de 2:02.16 e media de 2:15.31.

Ainda na rodada inicial do 3x3x3 Blindfolded, Matheus Casassa marcou 2:34.68, Savio Alves Cabelo Pereira anotou 3:13.81 e Robinson Semolini completou sua resolucao em 4:08.85 com media de 4:20.79. Os atletas Igor Amaral Correa e Luana Tonki registraram DNF em suas tentativas individuais e medias, encerrando sua participacao nessa fase classificatoria da competicao WCA.

Na final do 3x3x3 Blindfolded, Marcos Ferreira Semolini assegurou a vitoria com a marca de 36.40, embora tenha ficado com media DNF na somatoria da rodada. Guilherme Santana alcancou a segunda posicao ao registrar o tempo de 2:15.06, enquanto Renan da Cunha Santos completou o podio em terceiro lugar com a marca de 2:41.52. Matheus Casassa tambem disputou a finalissima e marcou 3:03.48.

Ao final das quatro rodadas disputadas no Big Cubata 2023, todos os 13 lugares de podio distribuidos pertenceram a atletas do Brasil. Marcos Ferreira Semolini encerrou o dia com tres primeiros lugares, enquanto Guilherme Santana colecionou tres segundas colocacoes nos eventos de olhos vendados. O encontro em Cubatao celebrou a dedicacao exclusiva aos quebra-cabecas as cegas no calendario esportivo de 2023.