Big in Luanda 2024

A blistering 34.91 single and a 42.06 average in the 4x4x4 Cube set new Angolan national records as Roger Nataniel Issassa dos Santos took center stage in Luanda, Angola. Held on August 17, 2024, at Escola Camilo Castelo Branco, Jardim de Rosas, Camama 1, Big in Luanda 2024 welcomed 13 competitors to the tables. Across five distinct events and five hard-fought single rounds, the single-day gathering focused heavily on the larger mechanical puzzles, delivering a compelling showcase of speedcubing skill from the opening scramble to the final solve of the afternoon.

The morning schedule opened with the 4x4x4 Cube, drawing the largest field of the day with all 13 competitors registered. In this primary event, Roger Nataniel Issassa dos Santos commanded the round, capturing gold with his record-setting 42.06 average. André Firmino Tchivango earned second place with an average of 53.38, having posted a top single of 43.99. Daniel Ginina Vunge rounded out the podium in third position, posting an average of 55.82 along with a best single of 48.82, in a round where every participant pushed the limits of Rubik's Cube variants.

Midday brought the five-layered challenge of the 5x5x5 Cube, where nine competitors vied for supremacy over five rounds of turns. Roger Nataniel Issassa dos Santos maintained his dominance at the venue, taking his second title of the cubing competition with a winning average of 1:29.25 and an event-best single of 1:15.52. Ariclenes Ebenézer Dias Manuel secured the silver medal with an average of 2:10.09, while Kiary Roque Russo stepped onto the podium in third place after registering a 2:24.89 average.

Action then shifted to the twelve-sided Megaminx, testing dexterity on a non-cubic puzzle. Kiary Roque Russo surged to the top of the standings among seven contenders, claiming the gold medal with an impressive 2:15.17 average and a best single time of 1:50.90. Daniel Ginina Vunge collected his second podium of the weekend by taking second place with a 2:42.33 average, while Roger Nataniel Issassa dos Santos added bronze to his medal collection with an average of 3:09.26.

While the podium battles captured the spotlight, several under-the-radar competitors delivered exceptional performances across the schedule. Carlos Junior de Carvalho Correia produced one of the day's biggest leaps, recording a 4x4x4 Cube personal best single of 56.34, which was 49.2 percent faster than his previous mark of 1:50.92, on his way to a seventh-place finish. Hilton Adolfo Cardoso Batalha took on three events, securing fourth in 4x4x4 Cube with a personal best single of 49.62, representing a 12.8 percent improvement, while also logging his first official attempts in both Megaminx at 5:13.65 and 5x5x5 Cube at 2:42.74.

Belarmino Eusébio Chalale entered four separate events, finishing fourth in Megaminx with a debut time of 2:58.01, while also improving his 5x5x5 Cube best to 2:52.60 by 9.8 percent and lowering his 4x4x4 Cube mark to 1:09.17 by 8.2 percent. Victor Emanuel Muanguvo Domingos earned ninth in 4x4x4 Cube with a personal best of 1:23.17, shaving 12.7 percent off his past record. Rafael Ricardo Zalisher tackled his first official WCA competition, taking eleventh in 4x4x4 Cube with an initial mark of 1:33.74, while Mikael Akili Cipriano da Silva placed twelfth with a debut single of 1:38.92 and Aline Nsukami Dompetelo Nsalambi finished thirteenth with her first registered solve of 1:38.94.

Late afternoon brought the most grueling puzzles to the competition floor, starting with the 6x6x6 Cube. Kiary Roque Russo collected his second victory of the day among five competitors, winning with an average of 5:13.75 and a fast single of 4:50.37. Vivaldo Cristóvão Roque placed second with a 7:33.20 average, while Ariclenes Ebenézer Dias Manuel earned third place with a single of 4:41.13, demonstrating the demanding endurance required in big-cube speed cubing events.

The competitive day concluded with the massive 7x7x7 Cube, where Roger Nataniel Issassa dos Santos sealed his third championship of the meet. Navigating the dense layers with precision, he posted an unmatched winning average of 5:32.40 and a standout single of 5:14.65. Ariclenes Ebenézer Dias Manuel secured second place with an 8:49.68 average, followed by Kiary Roque Russo in third with a 10:56.00 result, ensuring all 15 podium places across the event went to Angolan competitors.

As the timers were packed away, Big in Luanda 2024 left a distinct impression on the regional speedcubing landscape. While typical events often center around standard 3x3 results, this specialized tournament allowed Angola's big-cube specialists and emerging talent to shine on their home stage. The memorable performances from Issassa dos Santos and Russo, alongside a slate of personal breakthroughs across the board, set a strong benchmark as the community looks forward to the next season.