Cabanatuan Speedcubing Open 2024

Richmond Mico Rigor produced a masterclass across five distinct events at the Cabanatuan Speedcubing Open 2024, securing gold in the 2x2x2 Cube, 3x3x3 One-Handed, 4x4x4 Cube, Pyraminx, and 5x5x5 Cube. His dominant multi-discipline performance set the benchmark throughout an intense single day of action at Nueva Ecija High School. The gathering brought together dedicated puzzle solvers to Cabanatuan City, Philippines on November 9, 2024, showcasing both elite dexterity and deep local talent.

The flawless execution of the competition rested on the organizational team, dedicated delegates, and volunteers who managed the schedule across eight official events and eleven competitive rounds. Running a smooth cubing competition demands precise timekeeping, scrambling verification, and relentless score sheet coordination. The staff at Nueva Ecija High School ensured all fifteen competitors could focus entirely on their solves, keeping the day running on time from the morning heats to the late-afternoon finals.

In the flagship 3x3x3 Cube contest, Xavier De Vera captured the prestigious title by putting up a winning average of 8.97 seconds across the final round, highlighted by a best single solve of 8.35 seconds. Rigor maintained relentless pressure to finish second on a 9.17 average, while Dylan Arteims N. Fernandez secured third place with an average of 10.60. The 3x3 results proved to be the most tightly contested sequence of the day, demanding ice-cool consistency from each finalist.

Rigor struck gold in the 2x2x2 Cube with a winning average of 4.44 seconds in the final, edging Denver Janry M. Mendoza who took silver at 4.68 and Kristine Robin T. Linsangan who finished third at 4.83. The fast-paced two-round event saw widespread improvement across the board, with competitors pushing their limits. Rigor also seized top honors in 3x3x3 One-Handed with a 16.44 average, outperforming Mendoza at 17.08 and Louie Jay Quibote at 17.74.

Moving onto the bigger mechanical challenges of the Rubik's Cube family, Rigor continued his sweep in both the 4x4x4 Cube and 5x5x5 Cube divisions. In the 4x4x4 event, Rigor took victory with an average of 29.00 seconds, well ahead of Quibote who registered 34.92 and De Vera at 38.42. The 5x5x5 Cube saw Rigor claim gold with a 54.99 average, while Quibote took second place in 1:05.66 and De Vera took third in 1:35.47.

Away from the top steps of the podium, several competitors logged remarkable personal achievements that the final rankings do not fully capture. Ayer Mackryss C. Genese tackled three events, making a debut in 3x3x3 One-Handed with a 52.52 single, while setting a 2x2x2 personal best of 3.92 seconds to improve by 40.4 percent, alongside a 3x3x3 personal best of 11.08 seconds that was 9 percent faster than before. Reid Gio Aguilar took on five events and posted his first ever 3x3x3 One-Handed attempt at 40.89, while lowering his 2x2x2 best to 3.68 seconds, a 24.7 percent improvement, and cutting his Clock mark to 11.21 seconds, 24.3 percent faster. Dexter James De Guzman contested seven events, securing fifth in 3x3x3, a 5x5x5 personal best of 1:51.30 that was 10 percent faster, a Skewb mark of 7.74 seconds that was 5.1 percent faster, and a 4x4x4 best of 42.21 seconds, 5 percent quicker.

The side events provided varied challenges throughout the day. Dylan Arteims N. Fernandez earned the Skewb championship with a 5.28 average and a best single of 3.56 seconds, finishing ahead of Rigor at 5.78 and Kyle Capiral at 7.39. In the Pyraminx event, Rigor returned to the top step with a 6.64 average, followed by Edsel Pilobello with 8.84 and Fernandez with 9.42, demonstrating the depth required across different puzzle geometries.

The Clock competition delivered intense precision over two rounds, culminating in victory for Renaud B. Manansala with a sharp winning average of 5.16 seconds and a best single of 3.95 seconds. Kyle Capiral took second place with an average of 6.18, and Fernandez picked up another podium finish in third with 8.97. Across all events, competitors demonstrated the rigorous technical precision that defines modern speed cubing.

The Cabanatuan Speedcubing Open 2024 served as a standout display of community spirit, precision engineering, and athletic resolve. All twenty-four podium places across the eight events went to competitors from the Philippines, celebrating the deep talent embedded in the country. Thanks to the meticulous work of the event organizers, judges, and runners, the WCA competition concluded as a celebrated milestone in the local speedcubing calendar.

Labinlimang kalahok ang nagtipon sa Nueva Ecija High School noong Nobyembre 9, 2024 upang subukin ang kanilang bilis sa walong magkakaibang larangan. Sa buong labing-isang rounds ng paligsahan, napatunayan na ang matatag at tuloy-tuloy na bilis sa bawat solve ang siyang tunay na nagpapanalo ng mga titulo, higit sa basta pagkakaroon lamang ng isang mabilis na single. Ang Cabanatuan Speedcubing Open 2024 sa Cabanatuan City, Philippines ay nagpakita ng mataas na antas ng husay sa bawat round ng Rubik's Cube.

Sa pangunahing 3x3x3 Cube event, naging susi ang katatagan ni Xavier De Vera upang masungkit ang unang puwesto. Nagtala si Xavier De Vera ng winning average na 8.97 matapos ang dalawang rounds ng matinding bakbakan, kasama ang kanyang best single na 8.35. Pumangalawa si Richmond Mico Rigor na nagrehistro ng average na 9.17, habang pumangatlo naman si Dylan Arteims N. Fernandez na nagtapos tangan ang average na 10.60.

Ipinamalas ni Richmond Mico Rigor ang pambihirang kontrol at tibay sa buong araw sa pamamagitan ng pamamayagpag sa limang magkakahiwalay na kategorya. Sa 2x2x2 Cube, pinangunahan ni Richmond Mico Rigor ang laban gamit ang winning average na 4.44 at best single na 3.45. Sinundan siya ni Denver Janry M. Mendoza sa ikalawang puwesto na may 4.68 average, habang nakuha ni Kristine Robin T. Linsangan ang ikatlong puwesto sa kanyang 4.83 average.

Nagpatuloy ang dominasyon ni Richmond Mico Rigor sa 3x3x3 One-Handed kung saan naitala niya ang 16.44 winning average at best single na 12.12 laban sa labing-apat na katunggali. Pumangalawa sa naturang kategorya si Denver Janry M. Mendoza na may 17.08 average, at pumangatlo si Louie Jay Quibote na may 17.74 average. Muling ipinakita ng paligsahan na ang bilis gamit ang isang kamay ay nangangailangan ng pantay na diskarte at tibay sa bawat ikot.

Sa larangan ng mas malalaking puzzle sa Cabanatuan Speedcubing Open 2024, muling nanguna si Richmond Mico Rigor sa 4x4x4 Cube tangan ang 29.00 winning average at best single na 25.42. Pumangalawa rito si Louie Jay Quibote na may 34.92 bago sinundan ni Xavier De Vera na nagtala ng 38.42. Sa 5x5x5 Cube naman, nagwagi muli si Richmond Mico Rigor na may 54.99 winning average laban sa 1:05.66 ni Louie Jay Quibote at 1:35.47 ni Xavier De Vera.

Sa labas ng podium, may mga kahanga-hangang kwento ng personal na pagsisikap na nagbigay-buhay sa paligsahan. Para kay John Dale Steven A. Cunanan, ito ang kanyang unang WCA competition kung saan sumabak siya sa anim na events, nagtapos sa ikawalong puwesto sa Skewb, at nagtala ng kanyang mga unang opisyal na subok sa Pyraminx na may 17.60, 4x4x4 Cube na may 1:16.83, at 3x3x3 One-Handed na may 57.76. Sumabak naman si James Matthew Sanchez sa limang kategorya at nakamit ang ikapitong puwesto sa 3x3x3 One-Handed kasabay ng personal best na 1:04.86 sa 4x4x4 Cube. Ipinamalas din ni Russel Bocalbos ang dedikasyon sa pagsali sa lahat ng walong events at nakuha ang ikaapat na puwesto sa Skewb.

Hindi nagpahuli ang Pyraminx event kung saan nagwagi si Richmond Mico Rigor sa pamamagitan ng 6.64 winning average at best single na 5.88. Pumangalawa sa kategoryang ito si Edsel Pilobello na nagtala ng 8.84 average, habang nakuha naman ni Dylan Arteims N. Fernandez ang ikatlong puwesto sa kanyang 9.42 average sa harap ng labing-isang manlalaro.

Sa Skewb, ipinamalas ni Dylan Arteims N. Fernandez ang kanyang husay upang sungkitin ang tagumpay tangan ang winning average na 5.28 at best single na 3.56, habang pumangalawa si Richmond Mico Rigor na may 5.78 at pumangatlo si Kyle Capiral na may 7.39. Sa Clock naman na umabot sa dalawang rounds, si Renaud B. Manansala ang naghari hawak ang winning average na 5.16 laban sa 6.18 ni Kyle Capiral at 8.97 ni Dylan Arteims N. Fernandez.

Nagtapos ang Cabanatuan Speedcubing Open 2024 nang may kabuuang dalawampu't apat na podium finishes para sa mga pambato ng Pilipinas. Ang bawat round at bawat average na naitala ay patunay ng lumalagong husay ng bansa sa speedcubing. Ang tagumpay ng naturang cubing competition ngayong taon ay nag-iiwan ng matibay na pundasyon para sa mga susunod pang laban sa darating na panahon.