Cube Ta Liwat Iloilo 2023

The competition floor at Citymall Parola was filled with the rhythmic click of plastic and the hum of timers on April 23, 2023, as 37 speedcubers gathered in Iloilo City, Philippines. The single-day tournament brought together solvers across the region for nine fast-paced rounds spanning seven official disciplines. Cube Ta Liwat Iloilo 2023 proved to be a showcase of local talent, with participants tackling everything from compact twisty puzzles to complex multi-layered dodecahedrons. With every podium spot occupied by competitors representing the Philippines, the atmosphere throughout the venue reflected a vibrant community united by the pursuit of swift solutions.

The early morning schedule launched into the multi-layered challenges, beginning with the 4x4x4 Cube and Megaminx. Ace Djun T. Aguirre Jr. set the tone immediately, controlling the tables with sharp turn accuracy and efficient execution. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Aguirre secured the top spot with a winning average of 30.64 seconds and a single of 26.53 seconds, outlasting Junrho Pauchano, who took second with a 33.16 average, and Kenneth Mathew F. Halago in third at 35.48. Aguirre continued his momentum into the Megaminx event, locking in first place with a 55.78 average, followed by Julian Miguel Bata with 57.16 and Miguel Gonzaga with 1:00.47.

As midday approached, the spotlight shifted toward the specialty side events, bringing variety to the tables at Cube Ta Liwat Iloilo 2023. Mars Daniel Kudemus delivered a standout showing in the Pyraminx final, capturing the victory with a 2.43 average alongside a blistering single of 1.96 seconds. Pauchano followed in second at 3.76, while Gonzaga collected another top-three finish with a 4.00 average. In the Skewb event, Alejandro Jonela III emerged on top in a razor-close duel, logging an average of 4.47 seconds to edge out Kirby Jay Caragan at 4.49, while Aguirre rounded out the podium at 4.63.

Behind the headline finishes, several under-the-radar competitors achieved major individual milestones across the tables. Hannah Grace O. Rafio delivered a notable 36.1 percent drop on her Pyraminx personal best down to 5.51 seconds, shaved 33.7 percent off her 3x3x3 Cube personal best down to 11.19 seconds, took on six events, and registered a 4.72 in her first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube. John Michael Amodia Delos Santos cut 35.9 percent from his 2x2x2 Cube best to hit 3.93 seconds, while recording a 53.20 in his first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube and a 2:44.04 in his first ever attempt at Megaminx across five events. Nico Fritzh Gallo improved his 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best by 25.3 percent to 21.96 seconds and posted a 1:11.25 in his first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube. Jasel John D. Portillo entered six events, lowering his Skewb best by 27.1 percent to 9.60 seconds, improving his 3x3x3 One-Handed best by 14.3 percent to 23.13, and logging a 57.40 in his first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube.

Other persistent competitors used this WCA competition to expand their repertoires into new disciplines. Jethro Ken Niembra improved his 3x3x3 Cube best by 11.2 percent to 8.59 seconds, improved his 2x2x2 Cube mark by 8.1 percent to 3.29, and registered an 18.73 in his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed. Prince Ian Napud tackled seven events, highlighted by a 13.10 in his first ever attempt at Skewb, a 3.75 in his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube, and a 37.29 in his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed. Demie John Jason P. Bayquin handled five events, posting a 56.63 in his first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube, a 5.07 in his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube, and an 11.22 in his first ever attempt at Pyraminx. Mark Louise Bedona entered two events and posted a 6.08 in his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube.

The afternoon advanced into the high-octane 2x2x2 Cube final, drawing a field of 31 participants. Junrho Pauchano set the standard with nimble, fluid finger tricks, capturing first place with a 2.52 average and a 1.64 single. Miguel Gonzaga maintained his podium form by securing second place with a 3.09 average, while Kiian Huey Tolentino joined the medalists in third place with a 3.64 average. The swift rounds kept the speed cubing crowd engaged as the tournament moved toward the final stages of the day.

Aguirre resumed his winning ways in 3x3x3 One-Handed, demonstrating remarkable single-hand dexterity and control. Navigating a field of 21 entrants, Aguirre topped the podium with a 14.51 average, backed by a quick single of 13.16 seconds. Kenneth Mathew F. Halago took second place with a 16.64 average, narrowly holding off Miguel Gonzaga, who took third with 16.69. The performance capped off a stellar multi-event display for Aguirre before the main event took center stage.

The concluding rounds of the classic Rubik's Cube served as the tournament finale. The 3x3 results unfolded across three competitive rounds, narrowing the original 37 competitors down to the fastest finalists. Aguirre sealed his fourth victory of the day, winning the 3x3x3 Cube title with an 8.81 average and an 8.06 single. Miguel Gonzaga took second place with a 9.33 average, while Junrho Pauchano secured third place at 9.38. Cube Ta Liwat Iloilo 2023 wrapped up with all 21 podium awards remaining with Philippine cubers, concluding an action-packed day of competition in Iloilo City.

Napuno ng mabilisang pag-ikot ng mga puzzle at masusing pagtutok ang Citymall Parola sa pagdaraos ng paligsahan noong Abril 23, 2023. Sa bawat solving station, kapansin-pansin ang determinasyon ng mga kalahok na ibaba ang kanilang mga oras sa harap ng mga opisyal na timer. Ang naturang cubing competition sa Iloilo City, Philippines ay nagbigay-daan sa 37 na kalahok upang maipakita ang kanilang kahusayan sa loob ng pitong magkakaibang kategorya at siyam na round ng labanan.

Ang Cube Ta Liwat Iloilo 2023 ay naging entablado ng malalaking pag-angat sa kani-kanilang mga personal record. Maraming manlalaro ang nagtala ng bagong pamantayan para sa kanilang sarili sa bawat pagsubok sa Rubik's Cube at iba pang mga kaganapan. Ang buong torneo ay sumasalamin sa lumalagong sigla ng speedcubing sa rehiyon, kung saan ang bawat milisegundo ay pinaghirapan at pinaghandaan nang mabuti ng bawat delegado.

Bumandera si Ace Djun T. Aguirre Jr. matapos dominahin ang apat na magkakahiwalay na dibisyon. Sa pangunahing 3x3x3 Cube na nilahukan ng 37 competitors sa tatlong rounds, nakuha ni Ace Djun T. Aguirre Jr. ang unang puwesto na may winning average na 8.81 at best single na 8.06. Sumunod sa kanya si Miguel Gonzaga sa ikalawang puwesto na may 9.33 average, habang si Junrho Pauchano naman ang pumangatlo na may 9.38 average.

Nagpatuloy ang pamamayagpag ni Ace Djun T. Aguirre Jr. sa iba pang mabibigat na kategorya sa buong paligsahan. Sa 4x4x4 Cube, nagwagi siya tangan ang winning average na 30.64 at best single na 26.53, habang pumangalawa si Junrho Pauchano sa 33.16 at pumangatlo si Kenneth Mathew F. Halago sa 35.48. Sa 3x3x3 One-Handed, nanguna muli si Ace Djun T. Aguirre Jr. sa average na 14.51 laban kina Kenneth Mathew F. Halago na may 16.64 at Miguel Gonzaga na may 16.69. Nasungkit din niya ang Megaminx sa pamamagitan ng 55.78 average kontra kina Julian Miguel Bata na may 57.16 at Miguel Gonzaga na may 1:00.47.

Sa likod ng mga nangungunang puwesto sa talaan, sumiklab ang gilas ng mga kalahok na nagpakita ng kahanga-hangang pagsulong. Pinatunayan ito ni John Gratian Magbanua na nagtala ng Megaminx personal best na 1:09.58, na 50.7 porsyentong mas mabilis kaysa sa kanyang dating 2:21.09, bukod sa pagkuha ng ikalimang puwesto sa 3x3x3 One-Handed sa anim na sinalihang dibisyon. Si Mary Ella Joyce R. Miralles, na lumaban sa limang kategorya at pumanglima sa 3x3x3 Cube, ay nagtala ng 2x2x2 Cube personal best na 2.47 na 30.2 porsyentong mas matulin, 4x4x4 Cube personal best na 40.27, at 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best na 18.60. Nagpamalas din ng bilis si Ralph Danielle P. Amparo sa apat na kategorya kung saan pumanglima siya sa 2x2x2 Cube at nagtala ng 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best na 18.86 na 12.5 porsyentong mas mabilis, 3x3x3 Cube personal best na 9.22, at 4x4x4 Cube personal best na 36.53. Samantala, si Andrew Thomas Salazar Pacilan ay lumahok sa tatlong dibisyon, pumanglima sa Megaminx sa kanyang unang subok sa oras na 59.16, at nagtala ng 4x4x4 Cube personal best na 38.64.

Naging makabuluhan din ang araw para sa mga bagong sumabak sa opisyal na entablado. Sa kanyang unang WCA competition, sumabak sa apat na kategorya si Francis E. Datiles at tumapos sa ika-11 puwesto sa 3x3x3 One-Handed kalakip ang unang subok na 22.10, bukod sa 9.16 sa 3x3x3 Cube at 58.92 sa 4x4x4 Cube. Ganoon din si Russell Alejandro Junio Obsina na sa kanyang unang torneo ay nagtala ng ika-11 puwesto sa Pyraminx na may unang subok na 7.64, kasabay ng unang pagtala ng 12.10 sa 3x3x3 Cube at 4.47 sa 2x2x2 Cube. Lumaban naman sa tatlong kategorya si Reyjane Marie Subong sa kanyang debut kung saan nakamit niya ang ika-12 puwesto sa 4x4x4 Cube sa oras na 50.70, bukod sa unang subok na 1.99 sa 2x2x2 Cube at 12.44 sa 3x3x3 Cube. Hindi rin nagpahuli si Airah Nathalie Tono sa tatlong kategorya sa kanyang unang sabak, na nagtala ng ika-18 puwesto sa Pyraminx na may 20.48, kasama ang 35.80 sa 3x3x3 Cube at 12.76 sa 2x2x2 Cube.

Hindi rin nagpahuli ang maiikling kategorya sa pagbibigay ng matitinding sagupaan. Sa 2x2x2 Cube, pinatunayan ni Junrho Pauchano ang kanyang bilis nang tanghaling kampeon sa pamamagitan ng 2.52 winning average at 1.64 best single laban sa 3.09 ni Miguel Gonzaga at 3.64 ni Kiian Huey Tolentino. Sa Pyraminx, nakamit ni Mars Daniel Kudemus ang tagumpay sa bilis na 2.43 winning average at 1.96 best single laban kina Junrho Pauchano na may 3.76 at Miguel Gonzaga na may 4.00.

Naging kapana-panabik din ang labanan sa Skewb kung saan nagwagi si Alejandro Jonela III tangan ang 4.47 winning average at 3.67 best single. Muntik na siyang maunahan ni Kirby Jay Caragan na pumangalawa sa 4.49 average, habang si Ace Djun T. Aguirre Jr. naman ang sumungkit ng ikatlong puwesto sa 4.63 average sa gitna ng 12 kalahok.

Ang pagtatapos ng Cube Ta Liwat Iloilo 2023 ay nag-iwan ng magagandang alaala at panibagong inspirasyon sa lahat ng manlalaro. Mula sa mga beteranong humakot ng medalya hanggang sa mga sumabak sa kanilang mga unang opisyal na pagsubok, napatunayan ng bawat kalahok ang bunga ng kanilang pagsasanay. Dala ang mga bagong personal best at mga karanasang nakuha, positibong naghahanda ang komunidad para sa mga susunod pang laban sa larangan.