CCPA Open 2024

An 8.72 second winning average sealed the marquee victory as Kenji Julian Caceres Matsumoto capped a dramatic final round to secure the 3x3x3 Cube crown. The single-day tournament gathered 29 competitors for eight total rounds across five events on June 15, 2024, at the Centro Cultural Paraguayo Americano in Asuncion, Paraguay. With the title hanging in the balance down to the closing solves, Matsumoto delivered an 8.06 single that preserved his edge over a hard-charging field in the premier Rubik's Cube category.

The main event came down to a head-to-head duel across two rounds of classic speedcubing. Martin Alejandro Benitez Lopez pushed the pace throughout the final, posting a runner-up average of 9.24 seconds, while Carlos Santiago Farina Vera earned third place with a mark of 14.33 seconds. Across 27 contenders in the 3x3 results, Matsumoto held steady when the margin for error disappeared, locking down the victory with precise execution during his final rotation at the timing station.

Beyond the main event, Matsumoto established unmatched consistency across the official schedule. In the 2x2x2 Cube, he navigated two rounds among 22 competitors to finish first with a 2.51 average and a 1.98 single. Benitez Lopez claimed second place with a 4.29 average, while Joshua Giesbrecht locked up third place averaging 4.72 seconds. The compact puzzle demanded sharp recognition, and Matsumoto repeatedly found the fastest paths to completion.

The 3x3x3 One-Handed event brought twelve specialists to the tables, where Matsumoto completed his third victory of the competition by recording an average of 13.84 seconds and a single of 12.34 seconds. Benitez Lopez secured another silver podium spot with a 17.24 mark, while Giesbrecht earned bronze with a 22.75 average. Matsumoto added a fourth triumph in Skewb, averaging 6.95 seconds over two rounds to edge out Elias Miguel Acosta Acosta at 7.47 seconds and Benitez Lopez at 9.14 seconds.

Martin Alejandro Benitez Lopez delivered his own championship performance in Pyraminx, taking the title with a tournament-best average of 3.81 seconds and a 2.99 single. Benitez Lopez led the eleven-person field from start to finish, staying well ahead of Joshua Giesbrecht, who secured second place with an 8.62 average, and Argentina's Tobias Joaquin Villarreal, who took third on an average of 9.38 seconds. The triumph represented the lone non-Matsumoto victory across the entire schedule.

Away from the top steps of the podium, several solvers delivered major breakthroughs that highlighted the depth of the gathering. Oliver Britez produced a massive drop in 3x3x3 One-Handed, recording a personal best of 34.95 seconds that improved on his prior mark by 66.5 percent on his way to fourth place. Alan Ramon Candia Schmickler made rapid gains in 2x2x2 Cube with a personal best of 5.95 seconds, a 38.6 percent improvement. Mauricio Ugarte Canete advanced to eighth place in 3x3x3 Cube by logging a personal best of 12.70 seconds, slashing 37 percent off his previous standard, while Enrique Saul Rios Demattei lowered his 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 35.4 percent to 5.50 seconds.

Other competitors used the WCA competition to branch out into fresh puzzles or make their official debuts. Rafael Belen Hildebrandt secured fourth place in Pyraminx with a 9.01 personal best, 34.3 percent faster than before, while taking on three separate disciplines. Pedro Abrahan Ramirez Gonzalez tackled four events, recording his first official one-handed attempt at 50.08 seconds alongside a 28.5 percent drop in 3x3x3 Cube to 20.95 seconds. First-time participant Matias Josue Figueredo Mendoza entered three events, registering a Pyraminx single of 12.56 seconds and placing sixth in 2x2x2 Cube. Sebastian Teichroeb Olmedo also debuted on the circuit, producing a 20.24 mark in his first 3x3x3 Cube showing.

The international distribution reflected Paraguay's commanding home presence, with national competitors collecting fourteen podium placements alongside a single medal for Argentina. The swift progression across eight rounds highlighted the rapid evolution of speed cubing talent in the capital. By the time the final solves settled the standings at CCPA Open 2024, the Asuncion event had delivered sharp competitive drama and memorable milestones across every bracket of the cubing competition.

As the equipment was packed away in Asuncion, the tournament stood as a testament to poise under pressure. The five events showcased intense single-solve battles and substantial personal growth across the roster, setting a high competitive benchmark for the regional community as preparations begin for the next season on the circuit.