Cebu Summer Open 2024

Forty-three competitors gathered across two days of intense speedcubing action, but the true pulse of the tournament came from the sheer volume of personal bests shattered on the tables. Held at the Ayala Malls Central Bloc from May 11 to May 12, the Cebu Summer Open 2024 brought together local solvers and international contenders across twelve events and nineteen rounds. With every turn of the puzzle, participants pushed past their previous limits, proving that progression is just as vital as podium positions in high-stakes competition.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube event drew 42 competitors through three demanding rounds of classic Rubik's Cube solving. In the final stage, Leo Borromeo delivered a commanding performance to secure the championship with a winning average of 5.85 seconds, bolstered by a best single of 5.29 seconds. Neo Cuares followed closely behind with an impressive 6.66-second average to take second place, while Daryl Tan Hong An finished third with an average of 7.87 seconds. The fast-paced 3x3 results set a remarkably high standard for the entire weekend in Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines.

Beyond the traditional three-layered puzzle, multi-stage events brought fierce technical precision to the fore. In the 3x3x3 One-Handed category, Neo Cuares claimed the top spot across two rounds of play, logging a 9.72-second winning average alongside a sharp 8.21-second single. Daryl Tan Hong An took runner-up honours with a 13.25-second average, and Ace Djun T. Aguirre Jr. rounded out the podium at 14.96 seconds. Borromeo returned to the winner circle in the 4x4x4 Cube, producing a 26.14-second average and a 23.99 single to top Cuares and Tan Hong An.

While the title races generated immense excitement, the heart of this cubing competition belonged to participants making substantial leaps in their individual records. Michael Florence R. Pintor entered five events and recorded a monumental breakthrough in Skewb, shaving 65.7 percent off his past mark with a new 7.53 personal best, while also trimming his 2x2x2 Cube best down to 6.41. Vince Jareed Simaringa achieved a ninth-place finish in 2x2x2 Cube on the back of a 2.61 single, which was 52.2 percent faster than his prior record, alongside a 13.52 personal best in 3x3x3 Cube. Jecole Josef Maratas tackled four events, setting an official mark of 29.04 in his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed, recording 1:09.15 in his first 4x4x4 Cube attempt, and achieving a 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 3.41, which was 47.8 percent faster than before.

The wave of progression continued across the floor as solvers embraced new events and lowered their times dramatically. Amberle Jayme took on three events, logging a 12.11 single in his first ever attempt at Pyraminx while dropping his 3x3x3 Cube best by 44.2 percent to 14.38 and his 2x2x2 Cube mark to 5.31. Raio Habana improved across three disciplines, taking nineteenth in 4x4x4 Cube with a 1:15.95 personal best, dropping his 3x3x3 Cube mark to 12.36, and carving 42.5 percent off his 2x2x2 Cube best with a 3.26. Ayle Jan C. Abelo earned fourteenth in 4x4x4 Cube with a 1:01.17 personal best, 35.8 percent faster than his old mark, and dropped his 3x3x3 Cube single to 9.73. Bon Andrei Najarro posted a 23.52 in his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed alongside a 10.61 3x3x3 Cube best, while Larence Dayll C. Conde improved his 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 3.42 and his 3x3x3 Cube single to 10.21.

Daryl Tan Hong An put together a remarkably versatile campaign throughout the weekend, capturing multiple titles across varied disciplines. In the 2x2x2 Cube, he topped a field of 34 solvers with a 2.11 winning average and a 0.88 single, finishing ahead of Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes at 2.86 and Miguel Gonzaga at 3.02. Tan Hong An also claimed victory in Pyraminx with a 3.86 average, and took the top spot in the 5x5x5 Cube with a 51.83 average and 48.28 single. Overall, solvers representing the Philippines captured 30 podium places, while competitors from Singapore secured 9 podium spots across the competition schedule.

Speciality puzzles highlighted the diverse skill sets present at this WCA competition. Ace Djun T. Aguirre Jr. won the Megaminx with a 56.32 average, edging Miguel Gonzaga who took second at 57.29 and Tan Hong An in third at 58.99. Shedeur A. Bhatkal captured the Square-1 title with a 12.19 average and a 7.31 single. Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes prevailed in Clock across two rounds with a 7.74 average, while Kirby Jay Caragan secured first place in Skewb with a 4.23 winning average.

The blindfolded categories demanded exceptional spatial awareness and memorisation. In the standard 3x3x3 Blindfolded event, Brian Acuña took first place with a winning single of 53.11 seconds, finishing ahead of Gabriel Angelo V. Hilado at 2:00.19 and Kirby Jay Caragan at 3:35.07. Hilado went on to claim the 3x3x3 Multi-Blind title by successfully resolving 3 out of 5 cubes in a time of 31:26, standing as the lone solver to post a successful multi-cube tally in the event.

As the Cebu Summer Open 2024 concluded, the official records reflected a weekend of relentless drive and competitive spirit. From the upper tiers of the podium to the massive leaps achieved in individual personal bests, the tournament highlighted the growing depth and dedication within modern speed cubing. Solvers departed the venue with new milestones achieved and clear targets established for the next season of competitive play.

Labing-isang kalahok ang sumabak sa 5x5x5 Cube, isang labanan kung saan nasubok ang tatag ng isip at tibay ng kamay sa pagresolba ng masalimuot na puzzle. Sa kompetisyong ginanap mula Mayo 11 hanggang Mayo 12, 2024 sa Ayala Malls Central Bloc sa Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines, ipinamalas ng bawat manlalaro ang kanilang disiplina sa pag-ikot ng bawat layer. Matagumpay na nakuha ni Daryl Tan Hong An mula Singapore ang unang puwesto sa 5x5x5 Cube matapos magtala ng winning average na 51.83 at pinakamabilis na single na 48.28 sa nag-iisang round ng kaganapan.

Ang Cebu Summer Open 2024 ay umakit ng kabuuang 43 competitors na nagtunggali sa 12 events at 19 rounds ng matinding speedcubing. Bukod sa tagumpay sa malalaking cube, ipinagpatuloy ni Daryl Tan Hong An ang kaniyang magandang takbo sa iba pang mga laro sa weekend na ito. Nakamit din niya ang kampeonato sa 2x2x2 Cube na may average na 2.11 at single na 0.88 laban sa 34 na kalahok, at sa Pyraminx na may winning average na 3.86 laban sa 17 katunggali, habang pumangatlo siya sa 4x4x4 Cube, 3x3x3 Cube, at Megaminx.

Sa pangunahing kategorya ng tradisyonal na Rubik's Cube o 3x3x3 Cube, si Leo Borromeo ang nangibabaw sa 42 competitors sa loob ng tatlong rounds. Nagtala si Borromeo ng winning average na 5.85 at pinakamabilis na single na 5.29 para maiuwi ang tagumpay. Sumunod sa kaniya si Neo Cuares na may average na 6.66 para sa ikalawang puwesto, habang si Daryl Tan Hong An ay pumangatlo sa pamamagitan ng kaniyang 7.87 average sa final round.

Hindi nagpahuli si Leo Borromeo sa 4x4x4 Cube kung saan muli siyang nanguna sa 20 kalahok na naglaban sa isang round. Naglista si Borromeo ng winning average na 26.14 kasama ang pinakamabilis na single na 23.99. Si Neo Cuares ang sumungkit ng ikalawang puwesto sa 4x4x4 Cube sa bilis na 28.74 average, bago bumawi at tuluyang naghari sa 3x3x3 One-Handed sa pamamagitan ng 9.72 winning average laban sa 27 competitors, habang pumangalawa si Daryl Tan Hong An sa oras na 13.25.

Sa mga hindi gaanong napapansing bahagi ng talaan, marami ang nagpakita ng malalaking pag-unlad sa kanilang sariling mga tala. Si Phillip Camden Chan, na sumali sa 1 event matapos sumabak sa tatlong kompetisyon sa kaniyang karera, ay nagbawas ng malaking oras para sa kaniyang 3x3x3 Cube personal best na 15.77, na 36.4 porsyento na mas mabilis kaysa sa dating 24.80. Si Ouhan Chen ay nagtala rin ng personal best na 4.56 sa 2x2x2 Cube na 31.9 porsyentong mas mabilis kaysa 6.70, bukod sa kaniyang 14.95 sa 3x3x3 Cube. Si Ehmir Jan E. Cañete ay nagtala ng personal best na 16.36 sa 3x3x3 Cube na 24.5 porsyentong pagbilis mula sa 21.67, habang si Zean Mariuss C. Algarme ay sumabak sa 6 na events kung saan nakapagtala siya ng ikasiyam na puwesto sa 5x5x5 Cube na may personal best na 1:28.68 mula sa 1:37.90.

Para naman sa mga unang beses sumabak sa isang opisyal na WCA competition, naging entablado ang Cebu Summer Open 2024 para ipakita ang kanilang husay. Si David Jabereyl E. Lim ay sumabak sa 3 events at nagtala ng ika-20 puwesto sa 4x4x4 Cube sa unang subok na 1:18.20, pati na 35.82 sa One-Handed at 14.17 sa 3x3x3 Cube. Si Bernard Granados Doria III ay sumali sa 3 events at nagtapos sa ika-10 puwesto sa Megaminx sa unang subok na 4:30.31, kasama ang 16.37 sa 3x3x3 Cube at 48.07 sa One-Handed. Si Daniel Janreyl Lim ay nagrehistro ng 11.06 sa 3x3x3 Cube, 5.60 sa 2x2x2 Cube, at 44.62 sa One-Handed sa 3 events, habang si John Fritzxelz B. Eboran ay nagtala ng 5.97 sa 2x2x2 Cube, 24.42 sa 3x3x3 Cube, at 57.23 sa One-Handed.

Sa iba pang larangan, nagpakitang-gilas si Shedeur A. Bhatkal sa Square-1 matapos manalo sa pamamagitan ng winning average na 12.19 at single na 7.31 laban sa 11 competitors. Sa Clock, nagwagi si Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes na nagtala ng winning average na 7.74 at best single na 6.48 sa dalawang rounds. Nakuha naman ni Ace Djun T. Aguirre Jr. ang unang puwesto sa Megaminx sa pamamagitan ng 56.32 average, habang si Kirby Jay Caragan ang nanguna sa Skewb na may 4.23 average.

Naging kapana-panabik din ang mga blindfolded events sa cubing competition na ito. Sa 3x3x3 Blindfolded, pinatunayan ni Brian Acuña ang kaniyang galing matapos maitala ang nag-iisang tagumpay gamit ang 53.11 single laban sa 5 kalahok. Sa 3x3x3 Multi-Blind, nagwagi si Gabriel Angelo V. Hilado nang makumpleto ang 3 sa 5 cubes sa loob ng 31:26 upang pangunahan ang 6 na sumabak.

Sa pagtatapos ng Cebu Summer Open 2024, nagpakita ang mga kalahok mula sa Pilipinas at Singapore ng matinding dedikasyon sa bawat puzzle. Nag-uwi ang mga pambato ng Pilipinas ng 30 podium finishes habang ang Singapore ay nagkamit ng 9 na podium finishes. Matagumpay na naidaos ang dalawang araw ng paligsahan sa Cebu City, na nag-iwan ng magagandang marka sa mga susunod pang yugto ng komunidad.