Cubing & Books Caracas 2023

Inside the halls of Banco del Libro, the steady clatter of turning plastic and the rhythmic tap of timers set the cadence for a full day of action. The gathering brought together 37 competitors in Caracas, Distrito Capital, Venezuela, on October 14, 2023. Behind the smooth operation of the day stood a dedicated team of organizers, delegates, and community volunteers who kept eight rounds across four separate events moving without delay, managing everything from score collection to station management at the single-day WCA competition.

Their efforts ensured that Cubing & Books Caracas 2023 provided an ideal platform for both seasoned entrants and fresh faces. Running an efficient speedcubing schedule across multiple formats requires meticulous attention to detail. Every round of the Rubik's Cube and specialty events ran on schedule, allowing the competitors to focus entirely on their solves while the staff handled judging tables, scrambling stations, and verified official paperwork throughout the event.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube event drew 36 competitors through three hard-fought rounds, ultimately delivering the weekend's most anticipated showdown. Bernardo Torres took the title, logging a winning average of 8.72 along with the weekend's best single of 6.75 in the final. Rafael Antonio Sanchez followed closely in second place with an average of 9.73, while Cristofer Azuaje secured the bronze medal with a mark of 12.70. The 3x3 results demonstrated remarkable consistency at the top of the standings.

While Torres claimed the marquee 3x3x3 Cube title, Rafael Antonio Sanchez put together a dominant showing across the remaining disciplines. Sanchez took first place in the 2x2x2 Cube with a winning average of 2.78 after posting a best single of 1.88 across two rounds. Torres finished in second place with an average of 3.83, and Miguel González rounded out the podium in third with a 4.45 average, completing a Venezuelan sweep across the top spots in the category.

Away from the podiums, the official score sheets told remarkable stories of progression across the field. Jesus Armando Osorio Rodriguez delivered an extraordinary leap in the 2x2x2 Cube, notching a personal best of 4.60 to finish 68.9 percent faster than his prior mark of 14.78, while also making his first attempt at Pyraminx with a 7.21 solve. Cristopher Bolivar cut his Pyraminx personal best to 8.79, improving by 46.2 percent, while Diego Simmons shaved 28.9 percent off his previous standard in 3x3x3 Cube to set a personal best of 31.12.

Several competitors also took on new challenges for the very first time in official play during the cubing competition. Alejandro Navas logged a time of 3.62 in his first official 2x2x2 Cube attempt, while David Alessandro Affaqui Damico tackled his first tries in both Pyraminx at 19.41 and 2x2x2 Cube at 10.81. Alex Aaron Fernandez Trujillo dropped his 3x3x3 Cube best to 13.52, an improvement of 42.7 percent. Angel Inciarte took on four events in his very first tournament appearance, finishing seventh in Megaminx, while Josué Mora also made his debut, capturing sixth place in Pyraminx with a run of 8.11.

The Pyraminx event featured 24 competitors over two rounds, highlighting the wide range of puzzles contested at the venue. Rafael Antonio Sanchez earned another gold medal with an average of 5.26, edging out Miguel González who took second with a 5.69 average. Bernardo Torres added another medal to his collection by taking third place with an average of 6.52, confirming his overall consistency across different categories during the weekend speed cubing program.

In the Megaminx, nine entrants tackled the complex twelve-faced puzzle across a single final round. Rafael Antonio Sanchez once again climbed to the top step with a winning average of 47.07 and the category single of 45.47. Bernardo Torres secured the silver medal with an average of 52.89, while Enrymar Cisneros completed the podium in third place with a time of 1:42.63, capping off an all-Venezuelan podium haul across the tournament.

By the time the final timers were packed away at Banco del Libro, Venezuelan competitors had claimed all 12 available podium positions across the four events. The success of Cubing & Books Caracas 2023 was a testament to the hard work put in by the volunteers and staff on the floor. Their tireless coordination made the day a showcase of local talent and set a solid foundation for the upcoming competition calendar in Caracas.