Cainta Puzzle Fest 2024

The Pabton II Covered Court was bustling as tables filled with timers, mats, and an array of twisting puzzles on December 21, 2024. Competitors gathered in Cainta, Rizal, Philippines, adjusting their seats and testing their grips during morning warmups. The atmosphere at this WCA competition was defined by a surge of first-time energy, with numerous solvers taking their first official competition steps. Across seven varied events, thirty competitors brought their sharpest skills to the tables to wrap up the year in style.

Cainta Puzzle Fest 2024 served as a major proving ground where newcomers and established contenders shared the floor over eleven rounds of intense action. For several competitors in the field, the day marked an entry into official speedcubing, navigating inspection periods and judging procedures for the very first time. The blend of seasoned tournament regulars and emerging solvers produced spirited competition across traditional puzzles and complex side events alike throughout the single-day gathering.

The spotlight event of any cubing competition remains the classic 3x3x3 Rubik's Cube, and the final round did not disappoint. Aragon Martin Gonzales captured the title with a winning average of 7.49 seconds, anchored by a best single of 6.29 seconds across three rounds of play. Nicole Jnus Macalalad claimed second place on the podium with an 8.47 average, while Psyron Eubert Catral earned the third step at 8.63. The competitive 3x3 results capped a busy day of solving for the thirty participants entered in the main event.

Beyond the 3x3x3 Cube, Aragon Martin Gonzales secured a second victory on the day in the fast-paced 2x2x2 Cube. Out of twenty-eight entrants, Gonzales delivered a winning average of 1.89 seconds, highlighted by a 1.71 single solve. Lorenzo Layug took the runner-up spot with an average of 2.60 seconds, followed closely by Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes in third place at 2.82 seconds. The short, explosive solves of the 2x2x2 event kept the competition floor moving at a rapid pace.

Away from the main podiums, the event gave several participants the chance to establish major milestones. Michael Paul Romero took on a demanding schedule across seven events, posting his first ever attempt in Square-1 with a 24.79 single, his first Megaminx attempt at 1:15.56, and taking 6th place in Square-1 alongside a Clock personal best of 30.71 that improved his previous mark by 30.6 percent. Francis Arlei Dela Cruz logged his first ever attempt at the 4x4x4 Cube with a 53.52 result and earned a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 15.31, which was 15.6 percent faster than before. Nathaniel Villanueva recorded his first ever attempt in Clock at 22.69, finished 8th in 3x3x3, and lowered his 2x2x2 best to 3.48, an improvement of 13.9 percent.

Progress continued across the scorecards as Mar Daniel Morfe Peñamante secured personal bests in two events, cutting his 2x2x2 mark by 21.4 percent to 5.39 and dropping his Pyraminx best by 20.4 percent to 9.22. Macarius Hilary Banuelos lowered his 3x3x3 Cube best by 8.4 percent to 12.60 on his way to 22nd place in 2x2x2. James Michael R. Salise entered five events, claiming 6th place in Megaminx with a personal best of 1:11.13, which was 3.4 percent faster, and registered a personal best single of 7.37 in 3x3x3. JZ Lyle Dexter Wamar took on six events at the venue, earning a best finish of 18th in the 4x4x4 Cube.

The larger puzzles and specialized events delivered impressive technical displays throughout the afternoon. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Lorenzo Layug took the top spot with an average of 33.38 seconds, besting Aragon Martin Gonzales who finished second with 35.11 and Yuji Yoshida in third with 35.52. The Megaminx competition saw Nicole Jnus Macalalad dominate two rounds to finish first with a 40.91 average, while Lorenzo Layug took second at 56.03 and Psyron Eubert Catral finished third with a 1:01.31 mark.

Psyron Eubert Catral enjoyed a standout day across multiple disciplines, securing double victories in Pyraminx and Square-1. Catral won Pyraminx with a 3.57 average ahead of Aragon Martin Gonzales at 3.75 and Justin Andrew Dee at 3.97. In Square-1, Catral posted a winning average of 12.35 seconds, edging out Lorenzo Layug at 12.77 and Yuji Yoshida at 14.28. In the Clock event, Zoei Principe triumphed with a 3.28 average, leading Kyle Capiral at 5.83 and Yuji Yoshida at 6.13.

With twenty-one podium placements claimed entirely by competitors from the Philippines, Cainta Puzzle Fest 2024 demonstrated the impressive speed cubing talent emerging across the region. From the debut runs to the swift final solves, the tournament at the Pabton II Covered Court provided a complete showcase of dedication and precision as the 2024 calendar drew to a close.

Umihip ang malamig na simoy ng Disyembre sa loob ng Pabton II Covered Court habang nagkakatipon ang mga manlalaro bitbit ang kani-kanilang mga puzzle timer at mat. Ramdam ang matinding konsentrasyon at bilis sa bawat sulok ng venue bago pa man opisyal na magsimula ang mga pagsubok sa lamesa. Sa pagtitipong ito sa Cainta, Rizal, Philippines noong Disyembre 21, 2024, tatlumpung kalahok ang nagtagisan ng galing sa pitong opisyal na kategorya sa ilalim ng labing-isang rounds ng masusing labanan.

Bagamat laging inaabangan ang tradisyunal na 3x3x3 Cube, ang mga natatanging kategorya tulad ng Clock, Megaminx, at Square-1 ang nagbigay ng kakaibang sigla sa torneo. Sa Clock, nagpamalas ng pambihirang bilis si Zoei Principe upang sungkitin ang unang pwesto matapos magtala ng winning average na 3.28 at mabilis na best single na 3.00 laban sa labing-apat na katunggali. Pumangalawa sa naturang kategorya si Kyle Capiral na may 5.83 average, habang pumangatlo naman si Yuji Yoshida sa kanyang 6.13 average.

Hindi rin nagpahuli ang bakbakan sa Square-1 kung saan walong kalahok ang sumalang sa dalawang rounds ng matinding pag-ikot. Nanguna si Psyron Eubert Catral matapos magrehistro ng 12.35 winning average at 8.51 best single upang tanghaling kampeon. Mahigpit niyang nakatunggali si Lorenzo Layug na nagtapos sa ikalawang pwesto hawak ang 12.77 average, habang muling pumwesto sa podium si Yuji Yoshida sa ikatlong puwesto bitbit ang 14.28 average para sa kanyang pangalawang medalya sa torneo.

Sa Megaminx na kinabibilangan ng labing-isang kalahok sa dalawang rounds, pinatunayan ni Nicole Jnus Macalalad ang kanyang husay sa pamamagitan ng winning average na 40.91 at pinakamabilis na single na 38.21. Pumangalawa si Lorenzo Layug na may 56.03 average, samantalang nakuha naman ni Psyron Eubert Catral ang ikatlong pwesto sa kanyang 1:01.31 average. Nagpakitang-gilas din si Catral sa Pyraminx nang mangibabaw laban sa dalawampu't isang kalahok gamit ang 3.57 winning average, habang sumunod sina Aragon Martin Gonzales na may 3.75 at Justin Andrew Dee na may 3.97.

Sa likod ng mga numero sa podium ng Cainta Puzzle Fest 2024, kapansin-pansin ang ipinakitang dedikasyon ng mga manlalarong patuloy na sumusubok sa iba't ibang larangan. Ito ang opisyal na unang WCA competition para kay Kirsten Hagia C. Cruz, na sumabak agad sa tatlong events kung saan naitala niya ang kanyang first ever attempt sa 3x3x3 Cube na 17.61, sa 2x2x2 Cube na 8.64, at sa 4x4x4 Cube na 2:35.32 kalakip ang kanyang best finish na ika-dalawampung pwesto sa 4x4x4 Cube. Ganoon din si Lord Louie Morfe na sumabak sa kanyang unang speedcubing meet, na nagtala ng first ever attempt na 34.27 sa 3x3x3 Cube at 18.58 sa 2x2x2 Cube kung saan nakamit niya ang ika-dalawampu't walong pwesto.

Patuloy ding lumalaban nang buong husay ang iba pang mga delegado na nagtala ng magagandang marka sa buong araw. Si Joakim Hendrich Victorino ay lumahok sa tatlong events at nakamit ang ika-limang pwesto sa Megaminx sa kanyang ika-apatnapu't tatlong torneo. Si Jayden Allen T. Dee ay lumaban sa tatlong kategorya at nakuha ang ika-apat na pwesto sa Pyraminx. Samantala, lumahok sa tatlong events si Gibran Kwan at nakuha ang ika-labing-isang pwesto sa 4x4x4 Cube, habang si John Michael Calicdan ay lumaban sa apat na events at nagtapos sa ika-sampung pwesto sa Pyraminx, at si Carla Juliana Segundo ay sumalang sa apat na kategorya at nakuha ang ika-labing-isang pwesto sa Clock.

Bumalik naman ang pansin sa mga classic puzzles kung saan nagpakitang-gilas si Aragon Martin Gonzales. Sa pangunahing 3x3x3 Cube, tinalo ni Gonzales ang dalawampu't siyam na iba pang kalahok sa tatlong rounds matapos magtala ng winning average na 7.49 at best single na 6.29. Sumunod sa kanya sa podium sina Nicole Jnus Macalalad na may 8.47 average at Psyron Eubert Catral na may 8.63 average. Duminadagdag din ang tagumpay ni Gonzales sa 2x2x2 Cube kung saan nanguna siya sa 1.89 winning average laban kina Lorenzo Layug na may 2.60 at Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes na may 2.82.

Sa 4x4x4 Cube, pinatunayan ni Lorenzo Layug ang kanyang dominasyon matapos makuha ang unang pwesto sa winning average na 33.38 at best single na 28.23 sa hanay ng dalawampung kalahok. Pumangalawa si Aragon Martin Gonzales na nagtala ng 35.11 average, habang pumangatlo si Yuji Yoshida sa kanyang 35.52 average upang kumpletuhin ang sweep ng Pilipinas sa lahat ng dalawampu't isang podium finishes.

Naging ganap na tagumpay ang nag-iisang araw na cubing competition sa Rizal para sa komunidad ng Rubik's Cube. Mula sa bilis ng kamay sa Clock hanggang sa komplikadong pag-ikot sa Megaminx, naipakita ng tatlumpung kalahok ang kanilang galing at disiplina bago magsara ang taon.