Cebu Summer Open 2023

A blistering 6.28 winning average on the 3x3x3 Cube by Leo Borromeo, punctuated by a best single of 5.19 seconds, set the competitive tone for an intense day of Rubik's Cube action. Held on May 13, 2023, the Cebu Summer Open 2023 gathered 71 competitors at the Ayala Malls Central Bloc. Running 11 total rounds across nine distinct puzzle categories in a single packed schedule demands tireless effort behind the scenes, and the community of organizers, delegates, and dedicated staff ensured every round moved smoothly from morning warmups through the evening finals.

Staging a full WCA competition in a single busy day requires seamless coordination, and the team in Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines delivered precisely that. Marshalling 71 entrants through hundreds of attempts across nine separate disciplines, the volunteer judges, runners, and scramblers kept the competition tables active throughout the entire tournament. Their diligence provided the foundation for local and international competitors to perform at their absolute highest level in 2023.

Borromeo turned in a standout showing at the Cebu Summer Open 2023, capturing two top-step podiums. Alongside his victory in the 3x3 results, Borromeo clinched the 4x4x4 Cube with a winning average of 23.55 and a rapid 20.60 single. In that 4x4x4 Cube battle, Jose Polorhenzo Aquino secured second place with a 31.28 average, while Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc claimed third on 32.92. The depth of Filipino speedcubing talent was evident all afternoon.

Aquino mounted an exceptionally productive multi-event campaign of his own, collecting three gold finishes across the weekend. He won the 2x2x2 Cube with a 2.81 average, besting Yuji Yoshida (3.03) and Jiahao Zhu (3.63), then claimed the Skewb crown with a 4.15 mark over Kirby Jay Caragan (4.85) and Miguel Gonzaga (4.87). Aquino also took the Megaminx title with a 50.47 average and picked up additional podium places in 4x4x4 Cube, Pyraminx, and 5x5x5 Cube.

Across the broader spectrum of events, the cubing competition showcased exceptional versatility. In 3x3x3 One-Handed, Sean Patrick Villanueva took victory with a 10.96 average, trailed by Palisoc (13.27) and Borromeo (13.35). Palisoc claimed gold in the 5x5x5 Cube with a 53.00 average, topping Aquino (55.62) and Dale Palmares (59.93). Pyraminx saw Mars Daniel Kudemus post a winning 3.43 average ahead of Aquino and Yoshida, while Kristian Gil Caragan won Clock in 7.56 over Kudemus and Chrisgel G. Tubianosa.

Beyond the podium battles, significant milestones unfolded across the tables as competitors pushed their limits. Alvarez Edel tackled six events, securing a best finish of 6th in 2x2x2 Cube while posting a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube of 1:10.62, a first Skewb attempt of 8.06, and cutting their 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best by 47.9 percent down to 19.84. Noah Philippe A. Lapus tackled four events, recording a first Pyraminx attempt of 9.31, trimming 47.1 percent off their 2x2x2 Cube best to 5.39, and improving their 3x3x3 One-Handed best by 27.4 percent to 1:03.66. Maverine Sanchez entered five events, logging a 10.43 first Skewb mark, a 1:05.83 first 3x3x3 One-Handed time, and an improved Pyraminx best of 9.14, which was 24.3 percent faster than before. Yiannis Doulgerakis contested seven events, logging a 1:06.98 first attempt in 3x3x3 One-Handed, a 23.57 first Skewb attempt, and an 11.2 percent improvement on 4x4x4 Cube to 2:16.60.

The progress continued with Shedeur A. Bhatkal entering six events and registering three new event debuts: a 20.74 first attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed, an 11.47 first Clock attempt, and a 7.37 first Skewb attempt on the way to a 10th-place Skewb finish. Cornelius Miguel Sevilla entered six disciplines, posting a 1:54.58 first try on 5x5x5 Cube, a 7.90 first attempt in Pyraminx, and an 8.2 percent personal improvement in 4x4x4 Cube to 55.05. Lucas Solon competed across five categories, recording a 9.86 first Skewb attempt alongside a 33.1 percent speed cubing improvement in 3x3x3 One-Handed to 30.90 and a 6.5 percent drop in Pyraminx to 9.67. Johann Archieval G. Tacatani took on three events, putting up a first 2x2x2 Cube attempt of 5.21, a first 3x3x3 One-Handed mark of 30.00, and an improved 3x3x3 Cube time of 17.07, which was 7.9 percent faster than their prior record.

The 3x3x3 Cube final concluded the day with an exciting finish. Behind Borromeo's winning 6.28 mark, Villanueva took second overall with a 6.77 average, and Jiahao Zhu finished third with an 8.39. With 25 podium spots secured by competitors from the Philippines and two by China, the Cebu Summer Open 2023 ended as a vibrant celebration of competitive drive and tireless community organization in Cebu City.

Nagtala si Leo Borromeo ng pambihirang 6.28 winning average at 5.19 best single upang manguna sa 3x3x3 Cube sa ginanap na Cebu Summer Open 2023. Sa gitna ng mahigpit na labanan sa Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines noong May 13, 2023, kinailangan ng bawat kalahok na magpakitang-gilas laban sa malawak na hanay ng mga manlalaro upang makatuntong sa podium. Ang naturang torneyo sa Ayala Malls Central Bloc ay nagpakita ng mataas na antas ng husay sa bawat round ng speedcubing sa rehiyon.

Umabot sa 71 kalahok ang nagtunggali sa 9 na opisyal na events na binuo ng 11 rounds sa buong araw ng paligsahan. Naging napakahirap para sa marami ang makapasok sa finals dahil sa lalim at dami ng mga mahuhusay na kasali sa bawat kategorya. Sa pangunahing 3x3x3 Cube pa lamang, 68 competitors ang sumabak sa tatlong rounds bago napasakamay ni Leo Borromeo ang tagumpay laban kina Sean Patrick Villanueva na may 6.77 average at Jiahao Zhu na nagtala ng 8.39 average.

Hindi nagpahuli si Jose Polorhenzo Aquino na nagpakitang-gilas sa maraming kategorya sa buong paligsahan. Nakamit ni Aquino ang unang puwesto sa tatlong magkakaibang disiplina kabilang ang 2x2x2 Cube kung saan nagtala siya ng 2.81 winning average laban sa 53 competitors. Nagwagi rin siya sa Skewb na may 4.15 average laban sa 22 competitors at naghari sa Megaminx na may 50.47 average mula sa 16 na kalahok, habang pumangalawa rin siya sa 4x4x4 Cube, 5x5x5 Cube, at Pyraminx.

Sa iba pang mga kategorya, pinatunayan ni Sean Patrick Villanueva ang kanyang galing sa 3x3x3 One-Handed matapos magtala ng 10.96 winning average at 9.00 best single laban sa 43 kalahok. Sumunod sa kanya sa podium sina Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc na may 13.27 at Leo Borromeo na nagtala ng 13.35. Sa 4x4x4 Cube, muling nanguna si Leo Borromeo na nagtala ng 23.55 winning average laban sa 34 competitors, habang si Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc naman ang nagwagi sa 5x5x5 Cube sa bilis na 53.00 laban sa 22 kalahok.

Nasaksihan din ang mabilisang pag-ikot sa Pyraminx kung saan nagwagi si Mars Daniel Kudemus na may 3.43 winning average laban sa 33 kalahok, habang pumangalawa si Jose Polorhenzo Aquino sa 4.32 at pumangatlo si Yuji Yoshida sa 4.50. Sa kategoryang Clock, nangibabaw si Kristian Gil Caragan na may 7.56 winning average at 7.20 best single sa 17 competitors, sinundan nina Mars Daniel Kudemus na may 7.87 at Chrisgel G. Tubianosa na may 8.83.

Sa likod ng mga nangunang puwesto, marami ring kalahok ang nagpamalas ng sariling husay at malalaking pag-unlad sa kanilang mga opisyal na talaan. Malaking pagbawas sa oras ang naitala ni Normaella Yuzon na sumabak sa 3 events at nakamit ang 4x4x4 Cube personal best na 1:01.85 na mas mabilis ng 52.9 porsyento kaysa dati, 3x3x3 Cube personal best na 15.00 na 49 porsyentong mas mabilis, at 2x2x2 Cube personal best na 4.39. Si Giovanni Sy naman ay sumabak sa 9 na events at nagtala ng kanyang unang pagsubok sa Megaminx na may 3:21.86 at Clock na may 20.50, bukod sa Skewb personal best na 7.25 na 30.6 porsyentong mas mabilis.

Para sa ilang bagong mukha, naging pagkakataon ang torneyo upang magtala ng mga unang marka sa kanilang karera sa World Cube Association. Si Crieo Rhyle Jess Sabalones Cortes ay sumali sa kanyang unang WCA competition at lumahok sa 5 events kung saan naitala niya ang unang pagsubok sa 3x3x3 Cube na 15.74, 4x4x4 Cube na 2:17.98, at Pyraminx na 7.74. Ang baguhang si Jeremy Louie Sy Lee ay sumabak sa 4 na events at nagtala ng 24.06 sa unang pagsubok sa 3x3x3 One-Handed, 51.17 sa 4x4x4 Cube, at 12.31 sa 3x3x3 Cube. Samantala, si Jon Caleb Pacaña ay nagtala ng unang pagsubok sa Pyraminx na 11.11, 2x2x2 Cube na 6.16, at 3x3x3 Cube na 26.41 sa 3 events na kanyang sinalihan.

Nagtala rin ng mahahalagang marka ang iba pang kalahok sa kani-kanilang mga kategorya. Si Gian Jozsef Pascual ay sumabak sa kanyang unang paligsahan at sumali sa 3 events, kung saan naitala niya ang unang subok sa 3x3x3 One-Handed na 28.43, 3x3x3 Cube na 13.98, at 4x4x4 Cube na 1:52.07. Si Jacx Pepito ay sumabak sa 3 events at nagtala ng unang subok sa 2x2x2 Cube na 4.46, unang subok sa Pyraminx na 11.27, at 3x3x3 Cube personal best na 20.27 na mas mabilis ng 6.6 porsyento. Si Xyril Angelo V. Ocampo naman ay sumali sa 3 events kung saan nagtala siya ng unang subok sa 2x2x2 Cube na 5.17 at 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best na 24.09 na mas mabilis ng 29.5 porsyento.

Sa kabuuan ng araw, umani ang Pilipinas ng 25 podium finishes habang ang China ay nakakuha ng 2 puwesto sa tulong ni Jiahao Zhu. Mula sa tradisyunal na Rubik's Cube hanggang sa mga mas kumplikadong puzzle, napatunayan ng bawat manlalaro ang kanilang dedikasyon sa bawat solve. Naging matagumpay ang pagtatapos ng Cebu Summer Open 2023 at nag-iwan ng magagandang alaala at mga bagong personal na tala para sa buong komunidad ng cubing competition ngayong taon.