Big Time Manila 2023

Inside the halls of Sikat Inc., tables stood ready for an intense day of high-level puzzle solving. The atmosphere was focused as competitors lined up their timers, lubricated their mechanisms, and settled into their inspection routines. A field of 29 competitors gathered in Quezon City, Philippines on October 22, 2023, prepared to tackle an exacting four-event roster spread over ten packed rounds. Though classical Rubik's Cube solvers often hunt for 3x3 results, this specialized cubing competition put the spotlight firmly on the demands of big cubes alongside the mechanical precision of Clock.

From the opening rounds to the final solves, Seung Hyuk Nahm of Korea staged a commanding performance that defined Big Time Manila 2023. Nahm swept every single big cube title on the schedule, asserting total control across the 5x5x5, 6x6x6, and 7x7x7 events. In the 5x5x5 Cube, where 28 competitors battled through three separate rounds, Nahm set an untouchable standard. He logged a best single solve of 34.53 seconds and finished the finals with a winning average of 37.90 seconds, securing the gold medal in dominant fashion.

The 5x5x5 Cube podium behind Nahm saw intense international battles. Anyu Zhang of China took second place with a final average of 49.38 seconds, having secured a personal best single of 52.20 and an earlier average of 55.02. Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc of the Philippines earned third place on the podium with a 54.74 final average, having delivered a blistering 47.37 single and a 48.57 average during the event. Ivan Lew Yi Wen of Malaysia posted a 51.79 single and a 55.17 average, while Dale Palmares recorded a 53.07 single.

Nahm continued his sweep in the 6x6x6 Cube, besting 25 other competitors over three rounds. Delivering a phenomenal best single of 1:13.04, he wrapped up the title with a winning average of 1:15.04. Zhang captured his second silver medal of the day with an average of 1:25.90, while Lew claimed the third-place spot for Malaysia with a mark of 1:29.61. The high-level speed cubing on display highlighted the endurance and lookahead required to manage layers upon layers of intricate pieces under strict tournament conditions.

The 7x7x7 Cube final concluded Nahm's sweep of the large puzzles. Navigating three challenging rounds among 25 entrants, Nahm posted a best single of 1:41.50 and a championship average of 1:51.02. Zhang locked up his third podium finish of the competition by taking second place with an average of 2:06.30, while Palmares represented the home country on the podium in third place with a 2:25.82 mark. Across all three big cube events, Nahm set a pace that left no doubt about his command of the venue.

Away from the top of the podium, several competitors marked significant personal milestones that added tremendous depth to the weekend. Donovon Jose Panganiban entered four events, posting his first ever official attempt in the 6x6x6 Cube with a time of 2:23.26 and his first ever attempt in the 7x7x7 Cube at 4:37.27, alongside a personal best Clock mark of 16.84 that was 49.5 percent faster than his previous best. Dharrween Francisco Villasana entered three events, registering a first ever 6x6x6 Cube attempt of 2:37.88, a first ever 7x7x7 Cube attempt of 4:53.24, and a 5x5x5 Cube personal best of 1:19.07. Angelo Miguel Marzo stepped up to tackle two events, recording a first ever 6x6x6 Cube attempt of 2:36.91.

That same commitment to improvement shone across the rest of the roster. Gina Uy competed in three events, lowering her 6x6x6 Cube personal best to 5:11.31, which was 12.8 percent faster than her prior mark, while also cutting her 5x5x5 Cube best down to 2:12.75, an 8.1 percent improvement. Carlos Joseph Ong took on four events, completing his first ever official Clock attempt in 35.46 seconds, cutting 12.7 percent off his 7x7x7 Cube best with a 4:31.91, and recording a 1:05.48 in 5x5x5 Cube. Kurt Rivera tackled three events and shaved 12.5 percent off his 7x7x7 Cube personal best, lowering it to 5:11.01.

The day also featured the Clock event, bringing a rapid shift in mechanics as 17 competitors solved the two-sided dial puzzle in a single decisive round. Albert Quiñones led the local contingent to a complete podium sweep for the Philippines, winning the event with an average of 6.65 seconds and a best single of 5.89 seconds. Giovanni Sy took second place with a 6.94 average, while Brenton Angelo Lo Wong earned third with an average of 8.33 seconds.

The final medal tallies reflected a truly global and competitive day of speedcubing. The host nation led the count with five total podium finishes, while Korea and China claimed three apiece, and Malaysia earned one. From Nahm's triple-gold sweep to the numerous individual milestones recorded across every bracket, Big Time Manila 2023 proved to be a thoroughly memorable WCA competition for solvers of all styles as they look ahead to the next season.

Niyanig ni Seung Hyuk Nahm ng Korea ang buong bulwagan nang magtala siya ng napakabilis na 37.90 average sa 5x5x5 Cube upang dominahin ang naturang kategorya. Ang pambihirang bilis na ito ang naging sentro ng usapan sa pagbubukas ng paligsahan, bago pa man tuluyang umarangkada ang iba pang kapana-panabik na mga labanan sa buong araw. Sa pagtitipong ito, kitang-kita ang mabilis na pag-angat at husay ng mga kalahok na walang takot sumabak sa mas malalaking uri ng Rubik's Cube.

Ginanap noong October 22, 2023 sa Sikat Inc. sa Quezon City, Philippines, ang Big Time Manila 2023 ay nagdala ng matinding aksyon sa larangan ng speedcubing. May kabuuang 29 na kalahok ang nagharap para sa 4 na opisyal na events na sumaklaw sa 10 rounds ng matinding bakbakan. Bagamat maiksi ang araw ng paligsahan, naging entablado ito upang ipakita ng mga kalahok ang bunga ng kanilang walang humpay na pagsasanay at mabilis na pag-unlad sa bawat pag-ikot ng mga piyesa.

Hindi nagpaawat si Seung Hyuk Nahm sa Big Time Manila 2023 matapos niyang walisin ang tatlong pinakamalalaking kategorya sa torneo. Bukod sa kanyang panalo sa 5x5x5 Cube kung saan nagtala rin siya ng 34.53 best single, pinangunahan din niya ang 6x6x6 Cube bitbit ang 1:15.04 average at 1:13.04 single laban sa 26 na kalahok. Sinelyuhan niya ang kanyang dominasyon sa 7x7x7 Cube sa pamamagitan ng 1:51.02 average at 1:41.50 best single sa gitna ng 25 katunggali sa tatlong rounds.

Mahigpit naman ang naging laban sa podium ng bawat dibisyon laban sa mga internasyonal na manlalaro. Sa 5x5x5 Cube, pumangalawa si Anyu Zhang ng China na may 49.38 average, habang pumangatlo ang pambato ng Pilipinas na si Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc na nagtala ng 54.74. Sa 6x6x6 Cube, muling sumunod si Anyu Zhang na may 1:25.90 bago si Ivan Lew Yi Wen ng Malaysia na may 1:29.61. Sa 7x7x7 Cube, nakuha muli ni Anyu Zhang ang ikalawang puwesto sa oras na 2:06.30 habang si Dale Palmares ng Pilipinas ang pumangatlo sa 2:25.82.

Sa kategoryang Clock na nilahukan ng 17 competitors sa iisang round, nagpakitang-gilas ang mga pambato ng Pilipinas sa pangunguna ni Albert Quiñones na sumungkit ng tagumpay gamit ang 6.65 winning average at 5.89 best single. Sumunod sa kanya si Giovanni Sy na nagrehistro ng 6.94 para sa ikalawang puwesto, samantalang nakuha naman ni Brenton Angelo Lo Wong ang ikatlong puwesto sa kanyang 8.33 average. Ang tagumpay na ito ay nagpatunay sa lalim ng talento ng mga Pilipino sa iba't ibang uri ng mekanikal na puzzle sa loob ng isang cubing competition.

Sa likod ng mga opisyal na talaan ng panalo, kapansin-pansin ang kahanga-hangang pagsisikap ng mga manlalarong patuloy na humahamon sa kanilang sarili. Ipinamalas ni Durben Joun Virtucio ang pinakamalaking paglukso sa kanyang kakayahan matapos maitala ang 2:09.55 personal best sa 6x6x6 Cube na 54.7 porsyentong mas mabilis kaysa sa kanyang dating rekord na 4:46.15, kasabay ng 3:25.32 sa 7x7x7 Cube na 21.9 porsyentong mas mabilis sa dating 4:23.03, at 56.08 sa 5x5x5 Cube mula sa 1:05.86 sa kanyang tatlong sinalihang event. Sumabak naman si Ethan Gabriel R. Lao sa tatlong event kung saan ginawa niya ang kanyang unang subok sa 7x7x7 Cube sa oras na 5:27.69, bukod sa pagtatala ng 2:13.14 personal best sa 6x6x6 Cube na 18.4 porsyentong mas mabilis sa kanyang lumang 2:43.08.

Nagpatuloy ang magagandang kwento sa entablado nang subukan ni Joselle Kim Sublay ang kanyang kauna-unahang attempt sa 7x7x7 Cube sa kanyang dalawang event, kung saan matagumpay siyang nagtala ng 3:30.23. Ipinakita rin ni Francesco Martinez ang matinding husay sa tatlong kategorya matapos magtala ng 1:54.72 sa 6x6x6 Cube na 11 porsyentong mas mabilis kaysa sa dating 2:08.94, at 2:59.05 sa 7x7x7 Cube na 4.5 porsyentong pagbuti mula sa 3:07.51. Samantala, lumahok si Paolo Jose Panganiban sa tatlong laban at nagsumite ng 6:22.72 sa 7x7x7 Cube na 6.4 porsyentong mas mabilis sa dating 6:48.78 kasama ang 3:18.59 sa 6x6x6 Cube, habang si Kyle Capiral ay sumabak sa tatlong kategorya at nakuha ang kanyang pinakamagandang pagtatapos na ika-14 na puwesto sa Clock.

Sa pagtatapos ng Big Time Manila 2023, nakalikom ang Pilipinas ng limang podium finishes habang ang Korea at China ay nag-uwi ng tig-tatlong puwesto, at ang Malaysia ay nagkaroon ng isa. Ang bawat matagumpay na pagtatanghal sa opisyal na WCA competition na ito ay patunay na ang masigasig na dedikasyon at regular na pagsasanay ay patuloy na nagbubunga ng mas matitinding resulta para sa mga manlalaro pagdating ng susunod na panahon ng palakasan.