CCM Baltar Open 2025

The competition floor at www.colegiocasamae.pt buzzed with focused energy as timers were tested, inspection mats unrolled, and plastic puzzles turned in rhythmic bursts of warm-up moves. On July 12, 2025, the venue played host to a packed schedule of speedcubing across five distinct disciplines. A total of 57 competitors gathered in Baltar, Paredes, Porto, Portugal, turning the single-day gathering into a lively showcase of both established speed cubing talent and an influx of energetic newcomers taking their initial strides on the competitive stage.

For many participants in the hall, CCM Baltar Open 2025 marked their earliest foray into an official WCA competition. The registration list featured a striking proportion of fresh competitors stepping up to the timing stations alongside seasoned rivals. Over the course of 10 rounds, the tournament highlighted the growing depth of the regional scene in northern Portugal, with newcomers eager to register their first official times in everything from standard puzzles to complex rotational side events.

The premier event brought plenty of drama to the tables, with 55 entrants vying for top honours in the classic 3x3x3 Cube. In the final round, Afonso Cláudio Machado secured the victory with a commanding 8.54 winning average, anchored by a best single of 7.53. Spain's Sergio Márquez Fernández-Jardón finished as runner-up with an average of 9.48, while Pedro Azevedo took third place with a 9.67 mark. The 3x3 results served as a standout conclusion to a competitive day of classic Rubik's Cube solving.

The 2x2x2 Cube featured 50 competitors battling across two rounds, where Pedro Azevedo claimed the top step with an impressive 2.26 winning average and a single of 2.05. Sergio Márquez Fernández-Jardón took second place with an average of 2.66, ahead of Daniel Cabezudo Fernández in third at 3.45. In Pyraminx, Martim Carvalho led a 49-competitor field to win with a 4.14 average and a best single of 3.35, holding off Sergio Márquez Fernández-Jardón in second at 4.48 and Luís Pedro Gomes Costa in third at 5.12.

Sergio Márquez Fernández-Jardón delivered exceptional performances across multiple disciplines throughout the meet, finishing on every podium. In Skewb, he claimed the title with a 3.90 winning average and a 2.81 single, edging Enzo Perez De Sousa at 4.00 and João Dinis Santos Martins at 4.28. He repeated his winning ways in Square-1, recording a 12.78 average and a 9.04 single to win over João Dinis Santos Martins at 16.40 and Carolina Pereira Dias at 20.00. Across all five events, Portugal collected eight podium spots while Spain earned seven.

Beyond the trophies, the heartbeat of the gathering lived in the massive personal milestones achieved throughout the ranks. Alexandre Athias took on five events, earning a best finish of ninth in 2x2x2 Cube while cutting his personal best down to 2.61, a 54.2 percent drop from his previous 5.70, alongside first attempts at Pyraminx in 4.78 and Square-1 in 46.76. Martim Santos Azevedo entered five events, achieving a best finish of 24th in Square-1 and slashing his personal best to 53.23, an improvement of 43.7 percent, while also dropping his Skewb best by 12.6 percent to 15.71. Sara Martins tackled five events, finishing 22nd in Square-1 with a personal best of 46.64, 30.7 percent faster than before, while improving her Pyraminx mark by 30 percent to 8.23 and logging a first Skewb attempt of 16.96.

That same drive was evident in Duarte Emmanuel Barbosa Ribeiro, who competed in five events to place seventh in 2x2x2 Cube while posting first official attempts in Skewb at 9.58, Pyraminx at 6.43, and Square-1 at 26.52. David Nunes Teixeira Castro finished 11th in 3x3x3 Cube, posting an 8.91 debut in Skewb, a 21.85 personal best in Square-1 that was 21.7 percent faster, and a 2.66 mark in 2x2x2 Cube. Bernardo Leite da Cunha took on four events, registering a 5.32 first attempt in Skewb while improving his Pyraminx best by 27.5 percent to 10.36 and his 3x3x3 Cube best by 12.1 percent to 16.09. João Miguel Amorim Silva clocked an 11.30 debut in Skewb and improved his 3x3x3 Cube best by 15.4 percent to 15.76. Tyhran Mironov entered four events, posting debut attempts in Skewb at 11.69 and 2x2x2 Cube at 5.62, while shaving 16.3 percent off his Pyraminx personal best to finish in 13.04.

When the final timers were packed away, CCM Baltar Open 2025 stood as an encouraging day for the sport across the Porto district. From Afonso Cláudio Machado's decisive 3x3x3 Cube triumph to the wave of new solvers establishing their competitive baselines, the cubing competition celebrated progress across every level of ability. With valuable experience gained and dozens of personal benchmarks reset, the competitors now look ahead to building upon their results as the next season of tournament action approaches.

As mesas de competição montadas no recinto do Colégio Casa Mãe receberam uma intensa jornada desportiva dedicada à resolução rápida de quebra-cabeças. Em Baltar, Paredes, Porto, Portugal, no dia 12 de julho de 2025, os cronómetros Stackmat marcaram o ritmo constante de inspeções minuciosas e movimentos frenéticos. A exigência do formato dos torneios oficiais colocou à prova a capacidade técnica dos participantes logo desde as primeiras rondas de qualificação.

Com um total de 10 rondas distribuídas por cinco modalidades distintas, o CCM Baltar Open 2025 reuniu 57 participantes determinados a superar os tempos de corte. A estrutura das eliminatórias exigiu regularidade imediata para garantir a passagem à fase seguinte. Em formatos curtos, cada segundo conta, e qualquer pequena hesitação na fase de inspeção podia ditar o fim do percurso na respetiva categoria.

A prova principal de Cubo Mágico 3x3x3 contou com 55 participantes ao longo de três rondas seletivas. Afonso Cláudio Machado conquistou a vitória ao registar uma média de 8.54 segundos na final, conseguindo também a marca individual mais rápida do evento com 7.53 segundos. Sergio Márquez Fernández-Jardón assegurou a segunda posição com 9.48 de média, enquanto Pedro Azevedo completou o pódio no terceiro lugar com 9.67.

No Cubo 2x2x2, disputado em duas rondas com 50 atletas, Pedro Azevedo alcançou o primeiro lugar com uma média vencedora de 2.26 segundos e a melhor marca individual de 2.05 segundos. Sergio Márquez Fernández-Jardón obteve a medalha de prata com a média de 2.66 segundos, seguido por Daniel Cabezudo Fernández, que fechou o pódio com a média de 3.45 segundos.

O espanhol Sergio Márquez Fernández-Jardón destacou-se ainda mais ao vencer duas outras modalidades no CCM Baltar Open 2025. No Skewb, superou 42 concorrentes com uma média final de 3.90 segundos, batendo Enzo Perez De Sousa com 4.00 e João Dinis Santos Martins com 4.28. No Square-1, disputado em ronda única com 25 participantes, venceu com 12.78 segundos de média e um registo isolado de 9.04, ficando à frente de João Dinis Santos Martins com 16.40 e Carolina Pereira Dias com 20.00. No Pyraminx, Martim Carvalho venceu com 4.14 de média, superando Sergio Márquez Fernández-Jardón com 4.48 e Luís Pedro Gomes Costa com 5.12.

Atrás dos troféus e das decisões finais, a competição revelou momentos notáveis de evolução pessoal e estreias marcantes. Henrique B. de Souza conseguiu uma redução expressiva de 43.3% no Cubo 3x3x3 ao registar 8.02 segundos, garantindo o quarto lugar da geral. Fernando Martins melhorou o seu recorde pessoal no Pyraminx em 39.7%, fixando a marca de 8.34 segundos, além de registar 24.71 no Skewb. André Coelho do Vale baixou a sua marca no 3x3x3 em 12% para 10.24 segundos e fez a sua primeira tentativa oficial no Skewb com 9.54. Giovana Cardoso fez a sua primeira tentativa no Pyraminx com 11.97, retirando 6.5% no 2x2x2 para 7.01 e 5.3% no 3x3x3 para 18.58.

Vários participantes viveram também a sua estreia absoluta em competições oficiais da WCA durante o torneio. Abel Domingues Proença competiu em cinco modalidades, estreando-se no Pyraminx com 13.24, no 3x3x3 com 34.00 e no 2x2x2 com 4.90, alcançando o 23º lugar no Square-1. João Gonçalves Valente completou a sua primeira participação com marcas de 16.00 no 3x3x3, 6.59 no Skewb e 4.35 no 2x2x2. Kenz Ozdemir estreou-se com 8.31 no Pyraminx, 9.83 no Skewb e 19.53 no 3x3x3. João Pedro Ferreira Vinhas da Silva estreou-se em quatro provas, anotando 9.51 no 2x2x2, 18.36 no Pyraminx e 33.50 no 3x3x3.

No balanço global das posições de pódio do CCM Baltar Open 2025, os atletas de Portugal conquistaram oito presenças entre os três melhores, enquanto os representantes de Espanha alcançaram sete posições de destaque. A prova encerrou um dia longo e dinâmico de speedcubing em Baltar, sublinhando o rigor dos formatos eliminatórios e a determinação dos atletas para as próximas competições da temporada.