Claret Open Montevideo II 2026

The tables at Espacio Claret hummed with constant turning as timers reset and judges scrambled cubes throughout a packed single-day programme. Competitors from across the region gathered in Montevideo, Uruguay on May 16, 2026, creating an atmosphere where every single turn mattered. With 39 competitors filling out brackets across seven distinct puzzles and nine rounds of action, Claret Open Montevideo II 2026 proved to be an intense proving ground. Getting through the opening stages required consistency, as dense brackets meant even seasoned entrants faced stiff competition simply to advance.

The depth of talent made every stage uncompromising, especially in the flagship Rubik's Cube category. The 3x3 results showed just how tight the margins were among the 38 competitors who started the two-round contest. Manuel Malvárez navigated the pressure to take victory in the final round with an average of 8.65 seconds, supported by a best single of 7.75. Agustín Diano pushed closely behind to claim the runner-up spot with an 8.86 average, while Brian Hambeck took third place with a 9.51 average on the main stage.

Santiago Cabral put together a historic performance across several events during this WCA competition, demonstrating exceptional speed and versatility. In the Clock event, Cabral captured first place with an average of 3.07 seconds and a best single of 2.70, setting a new South American record average. Mateo de León finished in second place with an average of 5.03, followed by Víctor Gálvez in third with 7.74. Venezuelan solver Xabier Monsalve also made his mark in the event by recording a national record single of 4.48 seconds.

Cabral continued his momentum across the shorter formats, claiming the 2x2x2 Cube title at Claret Open Montevideo II 2026 with a Uruguayan national record average of 2.25 seconds and a single of 2.00. Peru's Leon Achata secured second place with an average of 2.85, while Agustín Márquez claimed third with 3.09. Cabral also dominated the Square-1 final, winning with an average of 12.33 seconds alongside a Uruguayan national record single of 6.13. Xabier Monsalve took second with 15.63 and Dylan Gandaria finished third with 17.79.

Beyond the championship podiums, Claret Open Montevideo II 2026 offered a stage for massive personal progress that the final standings only begin to reflect. Paula Bolla Tiscornia took on four events, securing a 12th place finish in Pyraminx while posting a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 17.77 seconds that was 57 percent faster than her prior mark. She also delivered her first ever official attempts in the 4x4x4 Cube with a 1:34.68 single and the 2x2x2 Cube with a 9.34. Lucas Barrientos entered six events, logging his first official Square-1 solve at 59.36 seconds and dropping his Clock personal best by 53.2 percent down to 11.82 seconds alongside a 12.32 personal best in 3x3x3. Facundo Ottonello made his official debuts in both 2x2x2 Cube with 11.50 and Pyraminx with 10.18, while dropping his 3x3x3 best by 40.1 percent to 26.86 seconds.

Other competitors likewise seized the day with breakthrough milestones across the board. Alexander Piazza dropped his Clock personal best by 53 percent to 24.13 seconds, his Pyraminx best by 17.6 percent to 18.82, and his 3x3x3 best by 12.4 percent to 45.57 across four events. Benjamin Satriano improved his Pyraminx personal best by 42.4 percent to 6.71 seconds, finishing 15th. Felipe Mai competed in four disciplines, lowering his Clock best by 26.1 percent to 16.70 and his 3x3x3 mark by 9.9 percent to 16.73. First-time speedcubing participants also stepped up, with Matías Bolla completing his debut 3x3x3 Cube attempt in 58.44 and 2x2x2 Cube in 28.48, while Poland's Krzysztof Kubiński made his first official appearances with a 20.50 in 3x3x3 and a 4.34 in 2x2x2.

The larger puzzles brought further dramatic finishes inside Espacio Claret. Manuel Malvárez captured his second tournament victory in the 4x4x4 Cube, delivering a winning average of 36.17 seconds with a sharp single of 31.92. Leon Achata took second place with an average of 40.38, while Agustín Diano completed the top three with 41.00. In Megaminx, Brian Hambeck set the benchmark for the nine-competitor field, posting a winning average of 44.98 seconds and a single of 41.56, ahead of Achata with 50.94 and Gálvez with 53.86.

Pyraminx provided another showcase of rapid execution, as Santiago Cabral secured his fourth individual gold medal with a 2.71 average and a single of 2.20. Sebastiano Benato took second place with an average of 3.01, narrowly edging Brian Hambeck who finished third with 3.15. Across all events, Uruguayan competitors earned 17 podium places, while Peruvian solvers secured three and Venezuela took one.

From debut solves to continental records, Claret Open Montevideo II 2026 captured the depth and vitality of South American speed cubing. The intense schedules and packed fields pushed competitors to perform at their absolute limits through every round. As the equipment was packed away in Montevideo, Uruguay, the standard of competition left a lasting impression for the season ahead.