Caloocan Cube Fest 2023

Stephen Mark V. Mariñas delivered a commanding standard in the main event at Caloocan Cube Fest 2023, sealing the 3x3x3 Cube title with a 7.13 final average and an event-best single of 6.44 seconds. Held on October 8, 2023, at SM Center Sangandaan in Caloocan City, Metro Manila, Philippines, the single-day gathering brought together 90 competitors across eight official events and 10 rounds of high-intensity speedcubing. Mariñas stood atop an 88-competitor field after three grueling elimination stages, edging Aragon Martin Gonzales, who took second place with a 7.98 average, and Carl Ashley Cortes, who secured third with an 8.19 mark.

Beyond the championship podiums, the 3x3 results produced an exceptional series of benchmark times as competitors repeatedly lowered their marks. Brenton Angelo Lo Wong led the charge with a 5.97 single and a 7.26 average, while Mariñas added marks of 6.83 single and 7.41 average to his tally. Gonzales turned in a 6.27 single alongside an 8.09 average, and Cortes registered a 6.66 single with an 8.64 average. Karl Matthew Angeles posted a 6.74 single and an 8.65 average, while Psyron Eubert Catral recorded a 7.31 single and 8.43 average.

The 3x3x3 Cube speed cubing blitz continued deeper down the roster. Fergus Matthew Austria delivered a 7.56 single and 9.48 average, while Xavier De Vera logged an 8.34 single and an 8.79 average. Xyruss Gatchalian put together an 8.37 single and a 9.45 average, and Mark Aeron Santos rounded out the flurry of top-tier results with an 8.08 single and 9.71 average. Across the board, competitors raised the competitive ceiling, ensuring this WCA competition stood out as one of the sharpest showcases of the 2023 season.

Brenton Angelo Lo Wong produced a dominant multi-event campaign across the schedule, capturing three separate titles. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Wong took first place among 53 entrants with a winning average of 30.30 seconds and a round-best 27.98 single, besting Gonzales at 32.74 and Santos at 33.06. Wong returned to the top of the podium in Megaminx, finishing with a 51.33 average and a 45.50 single, ahead of Jhon Miller Sumatra at 56.27 and Catral at 1:04.58. Wong then completed his gold haul in Square-1, recording an 11.46 average and 7.94 single to defeat Catral at 11.62 and Bryan Daza at 12.21.

The remaining puzzle categories at Caloocan Cube Fest 2023 delivered equally tight finishes. Mariñas collected his second title of the day in Pyraminx, taking victory with a 3.16 average to hold off Jansen Alvarez at 3.20 and Craig Luke Jimeno at 3.43. Cairon Sumadchat took the 5x5x5 Cube crown with a 57.34 average and a 50.32 single, finishing ahead of Wong at 58.45 and Santos at 1:03.18. In Skewb, Jhon Zedrick Fontanilla topped a field of 28 solvers with a 4.56 average, leading Catral at 4.93 and Perry Nathaniel Gonzales at 5.62. In the 3x3x3 Blindfolded discipline, where competitors must rely entirely on memorisation before donning a blindfold, Jacob Miko Tan won the event with a single time of 1:18.53, ahead of Wong at 1:37.36 and Sumatra at 1:42.71.

Away from the top spots, individual breakthroughs defined the tournament floor across several divisions. Patrick Angelo J. Sanchez entered four events, cutting his 4x4x4 Cube personal best to 47.02 seconds from 1:29.28, an improvement of 47.3 percent, while completing his first career attempts in the 5x5x5 Cube with a 1:50.83 and Pyraminx with a 10.05. Hiroyuki Iriyama tackled six events, dropping his Pyraminx best to 3.55 seconds for a 46.5 percent leap from 6.63, lowering his Skewb mark to 6.21 from 7.54, taking 14th in Square-1, and logging a first 5x5x5 Cube solve of 1:32.81. Julius Pira earned 21st in the 4x4x4 Cube by slashing his personal best to 43.68 seconds from 1:18.70, a 44.5 percent drop, while also taking his 3x3x3 mark down to 10.49 and registering a 1:38.58 in his first 5x5x5 Cube attempt. Angelo Miguel Marzo placed 13th in the 5x5x5 Cube with a debut 1:11.95, posted a first 4x4x4 Cube attempt of 38.93, and improved his 3x3x3 best to 9.78 seconds from 13.99, an advancement of 30.1 percent.

That same drive was evident throughout the rest of the under-the-radar field. Marcus Ishan De La Paz lowered his 3x3x3 Rubik's Cube personal best to 16.10 seconds from 22.05, a 27.0 percent upgrade, chopped his 4x4x4 mark to 1:12.12 from 1:31.50, and finished 25th in Pyraminx with a debut attempt of 8.93 seconds. Vladimir Ramon F. Mendez cut his 3x3x3 best to 11.23 from 15.04, an improvement of 25.3 percent, lowered his 4x4x4 time to 48.78 from 1:03.02, and recorded a first 5x5x5 solve of 2:06.56. John Lendon P. Segundo took on five events, placing 15th in Megaminx while logging first official attempts in Skewb at 8.53, Megaminx at 4:02.91, and Pyraminx at 5.46. Francesco Martinez finished sixth in Megaminx, recording first official marks in Square-1 at 24.66 and Megaminx at 1:08.21, alongside a 3x3x3 personal best of 12.78 seconds, down 8.6 percent from 13.98.

All 24 podium positions across the tournament were secured by competitors representing the Philippines, highlighting the depth of talent present at the venue. From the three-round battles in the classic Rubik's Cube to the specialized dexterity demanded by Megaminx and Square-1, the single-day cubing competition demonstrated sharp execution across all eight disciplines. With high participation across every bracket and scores of personal milestones reached, the event concluded as a resounding success for the regional speedcubing community.

Siyamnapung kalahok ang nagtipon sa SM Center Sangandaan sa Caloocan City, Metro Manila, Philippines noong October 8, 2023 para sa isang kapana-panabik na pagtatanghal ng bilis at galing sa paglutas ng puzzle. Ang Caloocan Cube Fest 2023 ay nagbukas ng entablado para sa walong magkakaibang kategorya sa kabuuang sampung rounds ng bakbakan. Tampok sa araw na ito ang pagdagsa ng mga baguhang manlalaro na sumabak sa kanilang pinakaunang opisyal na torneo, na nagpakita ng lumalawak na komunidad ng speedcubing sa bansa sa bawat pag-ikot ng Rubik's Cube.

Sa pangunahing kategorya ng 3x3x3 Cube, ipinamalas ni Stephen Mark V. Mariñas ang pambihirang bilis matapos magtala ng winning average na 7.13 sa finals upang masungkit ang unang puwesto laban sa 88 kalahok sa loob ng tatlong rounds. Pumangalawa si Aragon Martin Gonzales na nagtala ng 7.98 average, habang nakuha naman ni Carl Ashley Cortes ang ikatlong puwesto sa kanyang 8.19 average. Si Mariñas din ang nagrehistro ng pinakamabilis na winning single sa finals na 6.44.

Hindi nagpahuli si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong na humakot ng tatlong kampeonato sa iba't ibang kategorya sa buong araw. Pinangunahan ni Wong ang 4x4x4 Cube tangan ang 30.30 winning average at 27.98 best single laban sa 53 katunggali, kung saan sumunod sina Aragon Martin Gonzales na may 32.74 at Mark Aeron Santos na may 33.06. Nangibabaw rin si Wong sa Megaminx gamit ang 51.33 average at 45.50 single laban sa 16 kalahok, kasunod sina Jhon Miller Sumatra na may 56.27 at Psyron Eubert Catral na may 1:04.58.

Naiuwi rin ni Brenton Angelo Lo Wong ang ginto sa Square-1 matapos magrehistro ng 11.46 average at 7.94 single mula sa 14 na kalahok, na sinundan nina Psyron Eubert Catral na may 11.62 at Bryan Daza na may 12.21. Bukod dito, nakuha ni Wong ang ikalawang puwesto sa 3x3x3 Blindfolded sa pamamagitan ng 1:37.36 single, at ikalawa rin sa 5x5x5 Cube sa kanyang 58.45 average, na nagpapatunay sa kanyang malawak na kakayahan sa iba't ibang uri ng mekanikal na puzzle.

Sa ilalim ng opisyal na talaan, kapansin-pansin ang pambihirang pag-unlad ng ilang manlalaro sa kanilang personal na rekord. Ibinaba ni Christian Paul Lara ang kanyang personal best sa 5x5x5 Cube sa 1:09.25 mula 1:31.39 na 24.2 porsyentong mas mabilis, nagtala ng 8.99 sa 3x3x3 Cube na 7.5 porsyentong mas matulin kaysa sa dating 9.72, at sinubukan ang Skewb sa unang pagkakataon na may 9.49. Malaki rin ang ibinawas ni Zander Verona sa 3x3x3 Blindfolded sa kanyang 2:07.07 mula 5:06.55 na 58.5 porsyentong mas mabilis, bukod sa 48.63 sa 4x4x4 Cube mula 1:01.20 at 12.17 sa 3x3x3 Cube. Samantala, nagpakitang-gilas si Denise Jaizy Manegdeg sa kanyang unang subok sa Skewb na may 8.50 at Pyraminx na may 11.78, habang si Raphael B. Dioquino ay sumubok sa unang pagkakataon sa 5x5x5 Cube na may 1:38.69 at nagtala ng 42.64 sa 4x4x4 Cube na 21.5 porsyentong mas mabilis kaysa 54.30.

Naging espesyal din ang paligsahan para sa mga sumabak sa kanilang pinakaunang WCA competition. Si Denver Palacio Villareal ay pumasok sa apat na events sa kanyang debut, kung saan nagtala siya ng 8.81 sa Skewb, 1:18.87 sa 5x5x5 Cube, at 50.01 sa 4x4x4 Cube. Ganoon din si Mateo James Alcantara na nagrehistro ng mga unang opisyal na marka na 14.15 sa 3x3x3 Cube, 9.37 sa Pyraminx, at 16.58 sa Skewb. Nakapagtala si Xander Ethan A. Lee ng 21.40 sa 3x3x3 Cube, 2:10.28 sa 4x4x4 Cube, at 10.33 sa Pyraminx, habang si Pierce Victor Takai ay nagtapos sa ika-13 puwesto sa Square-1 sa kanyang 33.03 kasabay ng 1:10.38 sa 4x4x4 Cube at 20.98 sa 3x3x3 Cube.

Sa iba pang larangan, nagtagumpay si Cairon Sumadchat sa 5x5x5 Cube matapos magtala ng winning average na 57.34 at pinakamabilis na single na 50.32 laban sa 36 competitors, kung saan pumangatlo si Mark Aeron Santos sa 1:03.18. Sa Pyraminx, muling nanguna si Stephen Mark V. Mariñas na nagposte ng 3.16 average at 2.64 single laban sa 40 kalahok, bahagyang naungusan sina Jansen Alvarez na may 3.20 at Craig Luke Jimeno na may 3.43.

Nakamit naman ni Jhon Zedrick Fontanilla ang unang puwesto sa Skewb tangan ang 4.56 average at 3.57 single sa 28 competitors, na sinundan nina Psyron Eubert Catral na may 4.93 at Perry Nathaniel Gonzales na may 5.62. Sa kategoryang 3x3x3 Blindfolded na nangangailangan ng buong pagsasaulo nang nakapiring, nanguna si Jacob Miko Tan (陈在元) na nagrehistro ng nag-iisang matagumpay na panalong single na 1:18.53 laban sa 11 kalahok, kasama si Jhon Miller Sumatra sa podium sa kanyang 1:42.71.

Ang buong cubing competition sa Caloocan Cube Fest 2023 ay nagtapos na may 24 kabuuang puwesto sa podium para sa mga pambato ng Pilipinas. Sa dami ng mga baguhang sumabak at mga lumang manlalarong nagtala ng personal na tagumpay, naging patunay ang pagtitipon sa patuloy na sigla at galing ng mga manlalaro sa buong kapuluan bago sumapit ang mga susunod na torneo sa kalendaryo.