Bohol Speedcubing Open 2023

The shopping floor at BQ Mall in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines became an arena of turning plastic, tapping timers, and rapid calculations on December 28, 2023. A field of 32 competitors gathered for a full slate of 10 rounds across seven events, bringing intense focus to the tables as timers started and personal marks tumbled. From seasoned contenders to brand-new faces, the gathering showcased the steady development taking place across regional speed cubing communities.

Across the day, individual milestones defined the rhythm of the Bohol Speedcubing Open 2023. Solvers pushed through multiple rounds of classic Rubik's Cube solving, side events, and complex specialties, turning preparation into quantifiable progress. The atmosphere inside the mall reflected both the technical discipline required for high-speed solving and the collective drive of competitors aiming to lower their official bests before the competitive calendar rolled over into 2024.

Leo Borromeo delivered a commanding performance across multiple formats, highlighted by a dominant sweep in the 3x3x3 Cube. Borromeo recorded a winning average of 7.02 and a best single of 6.09 across three rounds, leading the field in the main event. Aiyana Cassandra C. Dinolang took second place with an 8.76 average, while Kirby Jay Caragan secured third place on the podium with a 9.53 average as 32 competitors battled through the bracket to settle the final 3x3 results.

Borromeo extended his reach across other headline categories, taking top honours in the 4x4x4 Cube and the 3x3x3 One-Handed event. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Borromeo topped 17 competitors with a winning average of 24.44 and a single of 22.50, finishing ahead of Jose Polorhenzo Aquino with 33.73 and Brian Acuña with 37.87. In 3x3x3 One-Handed, Borromeo posted a 12.60 average, besting Aquino with 15.06 and Dinolang with 17.43 to collect his third gold of the tournament.

Beneath the top podium spots, personal progression was the true headline story of the weekend, as demonstrated by solvers carving massive chunks off their career standards. Elan Zion G. Samonte delivered a standout performance by dropping his 3x3x3 Cube personal best from 21.99 to 16.25, an improvement of 26.1 percent, alongside making his first ever attempts at 4x4x4 Cube with 1:42.93 and 2x2x2 Cube with 5.61. Audrianna Yashika Ang made a significant leap in 3x3x3 One-Handed, setting a personal best of 36.91 by taking 14.4 percent off her previous mark of 43.13 across her three events. Ryan Retutal set a new 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 8.80 on his way to a 5th-place finish across four events. Lucas Solon navigated three events and secured a 7th-place finish in 3x3x3 One-Handed.

That same surge of progress carried through new event entries and deep multi-event schedules. Chrisgel G. Tubianosa tackled all seven events on the schedule, earning a best finish of 5th place in 3x3x3 Blindfolded. Kharielle Meigh P. Hubahib took on four events, highlighted by a first ever attempt at Pyraminx of 11.18 to place 15th. Lord Nicholson M. Odtohan stepped up for his first WCA competition by entering six events, claiming 10th in 2x2x2 Cube and posting initial official marks of 6.85 in Pyraminx, 12.60 in 3x3x3 Cube, and 12.98 in Skewb. Fellow debutant Bien Dranreb Gablines also completed six events at his first official cubing competition, placing 5th in 3x3x3 One-Handed with an opening mark of 17.37, while adding initial attempts of 3.33 in 2x2x2 Cube and 5.42 in Pyraminx.

The 2x2x2 Cube was tightly contested, coming down to mere hundredths of a second among 26 solvers. Kristian Gil Caragan claimed the victory with a 3.40 average, narrowly edging out Brian Acuña, who finished runner-up at 3.45. Christian Mari Yu rounded out the podium in third place with a 4.21 average. The rapid pace of the event allowed competitors to push their efficiency to the absolute limit in a single packed round of action.

Kristian Gil Caragan added a second victory in 3x3x3 Blindfolded, where solving without sight requires extensive memorisation before turning begins. Caragan recorded a winning single of 47.84 among five entrants. Brian Acuña followed in second place with a single of 50.60, while Jose Polorhenzo Aquino secured third with a time of 2:05.71, completing a demanding test of memory and spatial awareness.

Side events offered further variety, with Mars Daniel Kudemus winning Pyraminx on a 3.25 average ahead of Jose Polorhenzo Aquino with 4.27 and Brian Acuña with 5.51. In Skewb, Kirby Jay Caragan finished first with a 3.29 average, followed by Aquino in second at 4.66 and Savion Romeo Matula in third at 5.68. With all 21 podium places claimed by solvers from the Philippines, the Bohol Speedcubing Open 2023 concluded as an emphatic showcase of regional speedcubing talent and individual development.

Puno ng pananabik at sigla ang BQ Mall sa pagsasama-sama ng mga manlalaro para sa isang matinding paligsahan ng bilis at diskarte sa paglutas ng puzzle. Nagtipon ang mga kalahok mula sa ibat ibang dako upang subukin ang kanilang galing sa ibabaw ng mga opisyal na solving mat. Sa bawat pag-ikot ng mga layer at pagbagsak ng timer, ramdam ang bigat ng labanan sa pagitan ng mga kinatawan ng kani-kanilang mga lokal na komunidad. Ang paligsahang Bohol Speedcubing Open 2023 na ginanap noong December 28, 2023 ay nagbukas ng entablado para sa matinding tagisan.

Naging sentro ng aksyon ang Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines kung saan tatlumpu't dalawang kalahok ang sumabak sa pitong opisyal na kategorya na binubuo ng sampung rounds. Umani ng malaking pansin ang klasikong Rubik's Cube kung saan nagpang-abot ang mga nangungunang speedcuber sa rehiyon. Sa kategoryang 3x3x3 Cube, nagpakitang-gilas si Leo Borromeo matapos magtala ng winning average na 7.02 at pinakamabilis na best single na 6.09 upang angkinin ang unang puwesto. Sumunod sa kanya si Aiyana Cassandra C. Dinolang na may average na 8.76 para sa ikalawang puwesto, habang nakuha naman ni Kirby Jay Caragan ang ikatlong puwesto sa bilis na 9.53.

Hindi nagpahuli si Leo Borromeo sa iba pang mga dibisyon matapos niyang dominahin ang dalawa pang kategorya sa nasabing cubing competition. Sa 4x4x4 Cube, nasungkit niya muli ang gintong posisyon tangan ang winning average na 24.44 at best single na 22.50 laban kina Jose Polorhenzo Aquino na nagtala ng 33.73 at Brian Acuña na nagrehistro ng 37.87. Ipinagpatuloy din ni Borromeo ang kanyang pamamayagpag sa 3x3x3 One-Handed kung saan nairehistro niya ang winning average na 12.60 at best single na 10.53, habang pumangalawa si Jose Polorhenzo Aquino sa bilis na 15.06 at pumangatlo si Aiyana Cassandra C. Dinolang sa oras na 17.43.

Uminit din ang tensyon sa iba pang mga puzzle kung saan nagpamalas ng husay ang magkapatid na Caragan para sa kanilang mga pambato. Pinangunahan ni Kristian Gil Caragan ang 2x2x2 Cube matapos magtala ng winning average na 3.40 at best single na 2.71 laban kay Brian Acuña na pumangalawa sa average na 3.45 at Christian Mari Yu na pumangatlo sa 4.21. Sa larangan naman ng Skewb, nagwagi si Kirby Jay Caragan na nagtala ng winning average na 3.29 at best single na 2.10 upang talunin si Jose Polorhenzo Aquino na may 4.66 at Savion Romeo Matula na nagrehistro ng 5.68.

Sa mas komplikadong mga labanan, ipinamalas ni Kristian Gil Caragan ang kanyang galing sa memorya matapos manalo sa 3x3x3 Blindfolded gamit ang winning best single na 47.84, habang pumangalawa si Brian Acuña sa bilis na 50.60 at sumunod si Jose Polorhenzo Aquino na may 2:05.71. Samantala, pinatunayan ni Mars Daniel Kudemus ang kanyang bilis sa Pyraminx matapos maiuwi ang unang puwesto sa winning average na 3.25 at best single na 2.23. Tinalo niya sa podium sina Jose Polorhenzo Aquino na pumangalawa sa average na 4.27 at Brian Acuña na pumangatlo sa 5.51.

Bukod sa mga pamilyar na pangalan sa podium, nagbigay-kulay din sa Bohol Speedcubing Open 2023 ang mga baguhang manlalaro na sumabak sa kanilang pinakaunang WCA competition. Si Efren John Paul Reyes Celocia ay sumabak sa limang events at nagtala ng 10th place finish sa Skewb, kasabay ng kanyang unang subok sa 3x3x3 Cube na 13.14, Pyraminx na 9.35, at 3x3x3 One-Handed na 23.71. Sumabak naman si Joshua Leonel Libadisos sa apat na kategorya kung saan nakuha niya ang 16th place sa Pyraminx, bukod sa kanyang unang subok sa 3x3x3 One-Handed na 1:02.28, 2x2x2 Cube na 7.70, at Pyraminx na 13.46. Si James Paul B. Dacaldacal ay pumasok sa tatlong kategorya at nakamit ang 9th place sa Pyraminx, kalakip ang unang subok sa 3x3x3 Cube na 9.34, Pyraminx na 6.47, at 2x2x2 Cube na 5.46. Sa tatlong kategorya rin sumabak si Ian Louis Berin na nagtapos sa 18th place sa 2x2x2 Cube, kasama ang unang subok sa 3x3x3 Cube na 13.95, 3x3x3 One-Handed na 36.55, at 2x2x2 Cube na 7.12.

Nagpatuloy ang magagandang simula para sa marami pang bagong kalahok sa speedcubing circuit. Si James Walter B. Dacaldacal ay sumabak sa tatlong kategorya at nakapagtala ng 10th place sa 3x3x3 Cube, bukod sa kanyang unang subok sa 2x2x2 Cube na 5.49, 3x3x3 One-Handed na 27.02, at 3x3x3 Cube na 9.90. Si Frince Joseph A. Lagala ay lumaban sa tatlong dibisyon at nagrehistro ng 12th place sa Pyraminx, kasabay ng unang subok sa 3x3x3 Cube na 15.98, 2x2x2 Cube na 4.92, at Pyraminx na 10.15. Gayundin si Jasper S. Legaspi na lumahok sa tatlong laban at nagkamit ng 14th place sa 2x2x2 Cube, kasama ang unang subok sa 3x3x3 One-Handed na 49.23, 2x2x2 Cube na 4.68, at 3x3x3 Cube na 18.59. Nakumpleto naman ni Jayson Saliot ang kanyang tatlong kategorya sa pag-abot ng 15th place sa 4x4x4 Cube, kalakip ang unang subok sa 2x2x2 Cube na 5.30, 4x4x4 Cube na 1:23.03, at 3x3x3 Cube na 16.07.

Sa pangkalahatan, naging matagumpay ang pagtitipon ng mga speedcuber ngayong taong 2023 sa lungsod ng Tagbilaran. Bawat round ay nagpakita ng mataas na antas ng determinasyon at talento mula sa mga delegado ng ibat ibang lugar. Ang mga tagumpay at bagong tala sa Bohol Speedcubing Open 2023 ay patunay ng patuloy na paglago ng komunidad ng speedcubing sa buong bansa.