CCPA Open 2025

In an event demanding intense memorisation and composure in total darkness, Kenji Julian Caceres Matsumoto captured the 3x3x3 Blindfolded crown with a single solve of 4:50.27. Taking place on July 26, 2025, at the Centro Cultural Paraguayo Americano in Asuncion, Paraguay, the victory anchored an astonishing sweep. Over seven rounds across six disciplines, 22 competitors gathered for CCPA Open 2025 to test their mental endurance, precision, and speed under World Cube Association regulations. Matsumoto proved unbeatable across every discipline, setting the standard from sightless solving to the most lightning-fast rotations.

The blindfolded contest highlighted the concentration that defines high-level speedcubing. Solvers must commit the entire scrambled state of the Rubik's Cube to memory before pulling down their blindfolds and executing complex sequences purely by touch and spatial awareness. Matsumoto secured the top spot with his 4:50.27 single ahead of Gustavo Riveiro, who finished second with a time of 5:14.61. Operating without visual feedback leaves no margin for error, and the tense discipline set the tone for a full day of action across all table formats in Asuncion.

Beyond the blindfolded triumph, Matsumoto dominated the classic two-handed events. In the premier 3x3x3 Cube contest, which drew all 22 participants across two rounds, he posted a winning average of 8.91 seconds alongside the tournament's fastest single solve of 6.09 seconds. Mauricio Ugarte Canete claimed second place with an average of 13.48 seconds, while Damian Britez Etcheverry earned third on the podium with a mark of 14.16 seconds. The 3x3 results demonstrated Matsumoto's technical sharpness and consistency throughout the bracket.

The multi-event maestro continued his run across the smaller and larger puzzles. In the 2x2x2 Cube category, Matsumoto took first place with a 3.16 average and a 2.19 single, closely followed by Damian Britez Etcheverry at 3.44 and Carlos Benjamin Mereles Martinez at 5.28. Stepping up to the 4x4x4 Cube, Matsumoto delivered a dominant 33.02 winning average and a 26.76 single. Paula Giannina Orrego Chamorro took the silver spot in 1:11.90, edging Diego Andres Ferreira Cuellar who completed the podium in 1:12.14.

Matsumoto completed his clean sweep across the specialty categories. In 3x3x3 One-Handed, he registered a winning average of 15.11 seconds with a best effort of 12.67. Oliver Britez finished as runner-up on 28.84, with Paula Giannina Orrego Chamorro taking third at 36.29. Oliver Britez pushed hard in Skewb as well, taking second with 6.37 behind Matsumoto's winning 5.75 average, while Damian Britez Etcheverry took third in 8.66. Across the entire cubing competition, Paraguayan competitors secured all 17 available podium positions.

Away from the podium battles, several competitors achieved striking personal breakthroughs. Elias Adrian Gonzalez Castano entered three events and delivered a standout Skewb performance, cutting his personal best by 75.4 percent down to 6.25 seconds on his way to sixth place. Cristhian Fabricio Uliambre Villasanti reduced his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 40.1 percent to 14.31 seconds. Matias Penayo Mendez brought his 2x2x2 Cube mark down to 3.42 seconds, a 56.5 percent improvement. Alejo Sebastian Franco Gonzalez dropped his 3x3x3 Cube time by 25.3 percent to 36.63 seconds.

First-time attempts and official debuts brought immense depth to CCPA Open 2025. Sophia Cabral took part in her first WCA competition, taking on three events and posting an opening 3x3x3 One-Handed single of 44.69 to earn eighth place. Fabrizio Daniel Rojas Galeano also made his official debut, logging a 6.83 single on 2x2x2 Cube and a 15.56 single in 3x3x3 Cube for a ninth-place finish. Valentin Huttemann completed his first speed cubing appearance across two events, recording 18.52 on 2x2x2 Cube. Meanwhile, Marcelo Adrian Leiton Cabral took on three events, posting his first official attempts at 2x2x2 Cube with 5.69 and 4x4x4 Cube with 1:24.44.

With six gold medals across six events, Matsumoto established a masterclass in versatility at CCPA Open 2025. From the silent concentration of blindfolded solving to the frantic pace of one-handed and short-format cubes, the Asuncion meeting delivered a complete showcase of local talent. The blend of seasoned mastery and emerging solvers setting personal records capped an energetic day of competition as the community looks forward to the next season on the regional circuit.