Cervantes Cubea 2023

Forty competitors gathered in Montevideo, Uruguay, on September 2, 2023, turning Colegio Cervantes into a bustling proving ground for speedcubing. The single-day fixture featured a vibrant influx of fresh talent alongside seasoned speed cubing racers, creating an atmosphere ripe for breakthroughs. Across eight rounds in four distinct events, newcomers and emerging solvers embraced official conditions, filling the venue with intense turns and focused hands.

The 3x3x3 Cube drew an impressive field of 39 contenders across three rounds, serving as the central attraction of this WCA competition. Agustín Diano secured the top spot on the podium for Uruguay with a sharp 8.75 winning average, also logging the best single solve of the event at 7.49. Fellow countryman Octavio Arocena took second place with an average of 9.88, while Venezuela representative Felipe Santamaría Ruiz finished third with an 11.54 mark.

Diego Moraes excelled throughout the three rounds of the 2x2x2 Cube, topping a field of 20 participants with a final winning average of 3.40 and an event-best single of 2.94. Sebastiano Benato secured the runner-up position with a 3.99 average, while Hugo Riera Ricciardelli earned third place on 4.16. The contest saw solid marks through each phase, reflecting deep domestic preparation in the short format.

Sebastiano Benato captured first place in the Pyraminx event, setting a rapid 2.66 winning average and a 2.36 best single in the single-round showdown among 17 competitors. Santiago Cabral claimed second place with a 4.34 average, followed by Diego Moraes on 8.31. In the 3x3x3 Blindfolded discipline, requiring strict memorisation before solving without sight, Christian Goñi earned victory with a single of 43.27, followed by Sebastiano Benato at 3:01.56 and Felipe Santamaría Ruiz at 7:09.43.

Beyond the top steps of the podium, Cervantes Cubea 2023 served as an essential launching pad for several competitors pushing their personal boundaries. Carlos Sotillo achieved significant leaps on the official tables, cutting his Pyraminx personal best to 5.69, which was 56.5 percent faster than his prior record, while lowering his 3x3x3 Cube mark to 18.38 for a 40.1 percent improvement. Santiago Mañana improved his 3x3x3 Cube best to 20.45, an improvement of 30 percent, and also logged his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube with a 4.33 single. Juan Manuel Arduín Renga completed his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube with 4.81 and dropped his 3x3x3 Cube personal best to 19.70, which was 23.7 percent faster. Francisco Estapé achieved a 23.9 percent improvement with a 26.71 3x3x3 Cube personal best and notched his first ever attempt at Pyraminx with a 12.14 solve.

The depth of progress across the roster continued through several other determined solvers. Juan Diego Alonso took on three events, completing his first ever attempt at Pyraminx in 11.15, his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube in 5.19, and posting a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 17.29 to secure 9th place in Pyraminx. Agustín Márquez contested three events, posting a first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube of 3.21, a first Pyraminx attempt of 9.52, and an 11 percent improvement in 3x3x3 Cube to 17.26. Theo Jorysz recorded his first ever attempt at Pyraminx in 8.30 and his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube in 8.52, while Emiliano Ingianna entered this first WCA competition to tackle three events, earning a 10th-place finish in Pyraminx with an 8.44 attempt alongside initial marks of 4.84 in 2x2x2 Cube and 15.52 in 3x3x3 Cube.

The overall medal tally reflected the strong local presence, with Uruguayan competitors claiming 10 podium positions alongside 2 podium finishes for Venezuela. Across the diverse range of puzzles, from the classic Rubik's Cube to specialized formats, the competitive spirit remained high as solvers tested their capabilities under the pressure of timed rounds.

As the schedule concluded, Cervantes Cubea 2023 highlighted the ongoing growth and enthusiasm within the regional community. With reliable 3x3 results logged and many debutants now holding official competition standings, the participants head into future training cycles equipped with valuable stage experience from an eventful day in the capital city.