Cubing in Borinquen 2025

Thirty-six competitors assembled for a packed day of speedcubing at the El Guarimary Convention Center in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico, USA, where steady averages repeatedly proved more decisive than single fleeting solves. Held on April 12, 2025, the tournament spanned five events and six total rounds. Across every bracket, composure over five solves separated the frontrunners from the chasing pack, reinforcing the foundational truth of modern speed cubing: one fast turn sequence can deliver a highlight, but true success demands repeatability.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube event drew 33 competitors through two rounds of play, culminating in a composed performance by Felix J. Santiago Melendez. Santiago Melendez logged a best single solve of 9.05 seconds, but it was his winning 9.52 average that earned him the top step of the podium. Javier Gonzalez-Napoleoni secured second place with an average of 10.78 seconds, while Kamila Cruz took third place with a 15.73 average. The final 3x3 results underlined how maintaining pace across a full set determines the champion of the classic Rubik's Cube.

Santiago Melendez reinforced his technical mastery in 3x3x3 One-Handed, an event contested by 11 entrants in a single round. Operating with unmatched efficiency, he registered the best single time of 14.52 seconds on his way to an event-winning average of 17.67 seconds. Rusbel Manuel Osorio Rodriguez claimed second place with a 30.43 average, followed by Adrian Rodriguez in third with a 38.83 mark. In a discipline where physical fatigue often derails late attempts, Santiago Melendez remained thoroughly reliable.

The 2x2x2 Cube event presented one of the closest podium margins of Cubing in Borinquen 2025, bringing together 29 competitors for a single round. Javier Gonzalez-Napoleoni captured the victory with a 4.14 winning average, edging Emilio Gabriel Galvis Barreto by just four hundredths of a second as Galvis Barreto finished runner-up at 4.18. Adrian Rodriguez rounded out the podium in third place with a 4.68 average. Gonzalez-Napoleoni also posted the fastest single of the event at 3.89 seconds, converting his speed into the gold medal.

Side events offered no shortage of tight racing across the tables. In Pyraminx, Angelo Melgar led a field of 24 solvers, taking the win with a 3.59 average alongside the best single solve of 3.02 seconds. Julián Ramírez-Hermida followed in second place with a 4.72 average, while Javier Gonzalez-Napoleoni added another podium finish with a 5.77 average for third. In Skewb, 13 competitors tackled the corner-turning puzzle, where Adrian Rodriguez claimed first place with a 7.69 average and a 5.93 single, finishing ahead of Gonzalez-Napoleoni at 8.46 and Diego E. Rodriguez Medina at 10.82.

Beyond the podium battles, significant development unfolded deeper down the final rankings. Jasobeam A. Reyes made a first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube with a 5.90 single to finish 9th, while also recording a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed of 51.57 and trimming their 3x3x3 Cube personal best to 15.89, which was 39.4% faster than before. Ramses Rosa dropped substantial time across three disciplines, lowering their 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 5.94, an improvement of 56.5%, and taking their 3x3x3 Cube mark to 18.30 for a 52.4% cut. Jorge Adyel Plaza Capriles set personal bests in both the 3x3x3 Cube at 19.36, 57.6% faster, and Skewb at 9.17, which was 52.4% faster.

Other competitors marked important firsts and milestones during the day. Junoel Rosario Santana took on a first ever attempt at Pyraminx with an 11.80 while dropping their Skewb personal best to 14.92, an improvement of 17%. Vincent Rosa slashed their 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 6.84, which was 44.1% faster, alongside a 40.6% improvement in Pyraminx to 12.45. Alanys Sofia Gonzalez Alicea cut their Pyraminx best by 32% down to 10.50. Meanwhile, first-time tournament participants made an immediate impression: Kahilyan Rivas-Barea tackled five events, finishing 4th in 3x3x3 One-Handed with an opening mark of 30.60, while Adrián Canel secured 4th in Skewb during their debut WCA competition.

With all 15 podium positions claimed by competitors representing the USA, Cubing in Borinquen 2025 concluded as a testament to disciplined execution across the tables. From newcomers charting their initial marks to seasoned solvers holding their nerve under the timer, the cubing competition in Toa Alta demonstrated that the path to victory rests firmly on unwavering consistency.