Cubing in Palem 2023

Erick Ethan Mula delivered an exceptional masterclass by securing three separate tournament titles in a single afternoon, setting the standard for a thrilling day of competition. Gathering at Mall Taman Palem on November 12, 2023, the community came together to share solving techniques, support one another through intense rounds, and celebrate the shared culture of speed cubing. The single-day tournament saw 63 competitors converge in Jakarta, Indonesia, filling the venue with rapid turning and friendly encouragement across five distinct puzzle categories spanning eight full rounds of action.

Beyond the competitive pressure, the bustling venue thrived on the camaraderie that defines any major WCA competition. Solvers gathered between rounds to exchange cube hardware adjustments, discuss inspection routines, and cheer on peers testing their skills in side disciplines. The atmosphere was charged with shared enthusiasm as participants of all experience levels stood side by side, proving that the heart of this cubing competition rests firmly on mutual support, shared learning, and the joy of solving together under the lights of Jakarta.

The spotlight on the classic Rubik's Cube delivered outstanding 3x3 results across three hard-fought rounds among a field of 62 entrants. Erick Ethan Mula claimed the top spot on the podium with a decisive winning average of 8.15 seconds, backed by a best single solve of 7.65 seconds. Darren Johan followed closely behind to earn the second-place spot with an 8.61 average, while Kentaro Sasaki rounded out the podium in third with a 9.09 average, capping off a premier showcase of speedcubing precision.

Mula continued his dominant run across the shorter formats, claiming victory in the 2x2x2 Cube with a winning average of 3.24 seconds after posting a 2.70 single. Hiroshi Yumeda (陆天龙) took second place with a 3.43 average, while Marco Vieri Julian took third with a 3.79 average. In the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, Mula secured his third title of the day, logging a winning average of 12.27 seconds and a best single of 9.82 seconds. Darren Johan earned second place with a 14.48 average, followed by Wilson Alvis (陈智胜) in third at 17.50 seconds.

While the top podiums showcased elite consistency, the heart of the event lived in the personal milestones achieved across the venue. Darren Nathanael Oktalius (李忠華) entered five events, recording his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed with a time of 1:25.08, while slashing his Pyraminx personal best to 11.56 seconds from 27.84, an improvement of 58.5 percent, and bettering his 2x2x2 Cube mark by 13.7 percent down to 4.35 seconds. Clayton Alexander Sutanto also took on five events, earning a 9th-place finish in Pyraminx, making his first attempt at Skewb in 13.44 seconds and his first 3x3x3 One-Handed attempt in 32.60 seconds, alongside a 28.1 percent drop in his 2x2x2 Cube best to 3.73 seconds. Faisal Abdurrahman tackled five events as well, logging his first Pyraminx attempt at 12.26 seconds, his first Skewb attempt at 14.65 seconds, and trimming his 2x2x2 Cube time by 9.9 percent to 5.99 seconds.

Progress continued throughout the tournament floor as solvers pushed their boundaries. Oktaviano Handoko Putra took on three events, dropping his 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 55.7 percent to 3.67 seconds and improving his 3x3x3 Cube time by 19.1 percent to 19.10 seconds, while setting a 12.49 Pyraminx personal best. Rasul Poetra Takafuji (髙藤ラシュールポエトラ) made his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube with an 8.20 solve and improved his 3x3x3 Cube mark by 53.1 percent to 32.66 seconds. M. Anakya Yuanggara Ilzar reached 15th place in 2x2x2 Cube, recorded his first 3x3x3 One-Handed attempt at 38.71 seconds, and dropped his 3x3x3 Cube best by 20.3 percent to 9.69 seconds. Christopher Patuwo made his first attempts in Pyraminx at 11.66 seconds and Skewb at 11.91 seconds, while Muhammad Ziyad registered his first Pyraminx solve of 20.94 seconds, his first 2x2x2 Cube solve of 13.70 seconds, and improved his 3x3x3 Cube best to 41.76 seconds.

The side events brought energetic variety to the schedule, giving solvers unique technical challenges on stage. In Pyraminx, Bryan Frank captured the tournament victory with an impressive 2.89 winning average and a single solve of 2.33 seconds across a field of 33 competitors. Hiroshi Yumeda (陆天龙) took the silver spot on the podium with a 4.49 average, while Marco Vieri Julian took bronze with a 5.34 average. The triangular puzzle brought sharp turn accuracy and enthusiastic cheers from spectators watching the rapid, fingertip-heavy solves unfold.

The Skewb competition closed out the specialty disciplines with fast turns and close margins among 26 competitors. Muhammad Fahri Rahman secured first place with an impressive 3.37 winning average and a single time of 2.59 seconds. Gerson Natanael captured second place with a 5.84 average, narrowly edging Hiroshi Yumeda (陆天龙), who earned third place with a 5.88 average. The podium finishes highlighted the depth of regional talent, with all fifteen podium places across the five events earned by competitors representing Indonesia.

As the final timers stopped, Cubing in Palem 2023 wrapped up having delivered both elite three-event dominance and an abundance of personal breakthroughs for the wider community. From seasoned champions collecting hardware to dedicated participants celebrating their first completed rounds in new puzzles, the day demonstrated the strength and warmth of the solving circuit. Solvers left the Mall Taman Palem venue with new memories, shared experiences, and renewed motivation as they look forward to meeting again in the next competitive season.

Sebanyak 63 peserta berkumpul di Mall Taman Palem untuk menguji ketangkasan dalam ajang Cubing in Palem 2023 pada 12 November 2023. Tingkat persaingan di Jakarta, Indonesia ini terbukti sangat padat sejak babak awal. Dengan delapan babak yang tersebar di lima cabang lomba, setiap peserta harus berjuang keras demi menyegel tempat di babak final. Kepadatan kompetisi Rubik ini menuntut konsistensi tinggi karena margin waktu antarpemecah kubus sangat tipis.

Nomor utama 3x3x3 Cube menjadi panggung paling ketat di kejuaraan ini dengan menghadirkan total 62 peserta dalam tiga babak penyisihan hingga final. Erick Ethan Mula keluar sebagai juara utama setelah mencatatkan rata-rata waktu 8.15 detik di babak pamungkas, ditambah catatan tunggal terbaik 7.65 detik. Posisi kedua ditempati oleh Darren Johan dengan rata-rata 8.61 detik, disusul Kentaro Sasaki di peringkat ketiga dengan rata-rata 9.09 detik.

Performa luar biasa Erick Ethan Mula berlanjut pada kategori 2x2x2 Cube yang diikuti oleh 50 peserta dalam dua babak penyisihan. Pada nomor ini, Erick kembali mengamankan podium tertinggi berkat torehan rata-rata 3.24 detik dan single tercepat 2.70 detik. Persaingan podium sangat sengit, di mana Hiroshi Yumeda menguntit di posisi kedua dengan rata-rata 3.43 detik dan Marco Vieri Julian mengamankan peringkat ketiga dengan rata-rata 3.79 detik.

Dominasi Erick Ethan Mula kian tak terbendung saat turun di nomor 3x3x3 One-Handed yang mempertemukan 33 peserta. Erick merebut kemenangan ketiganya di ajang Cubing in Palem 2023 setelah mencatatkan rata-rata 12.27 detik serta single terbaik 9.82 detik. Darren Johan meraih posisi kedua dengan rata-rata 14.48 detik, sementara Wilson Alvis menempati podium ketiga lewat perolehan rata-rata waktu 17.50 detik.

Di luar perebutan gelar juara umum, kompetisi speedcubing ini menyajikan pencapaian luar biasa dari para pemecah kubus yang tampil melampaui batas kemampuan sebelumnya. Sofwan Hidayat Nasution mencatat lonjakan performa besar pada nomor 2x2x2 Cube dengan rata-rata 5.80 detik yang 39.9 persen lebih cepat dibanding catatan sebelumnya, di samping menuntaskan Pyraminx dalam 13.04 detik serta 3x3x3 Cube dalam 36.59 detik. Daniel Charis Lumban Tobing yang turun di lima cabang berhasil memangkas catatan Pyraminx miliknya sebesar 30.6 persen menjadi 9.11 detik, memperbaiki waktu 3x3x3 Cube menjadi 15.61 detik, serta menyelesaikan 3x3x3 One-Handed dengan 44.76 detik. Aurel Naylia Putri Heriyanto tampil impresif dengan memangkas waktu 3x3x3 Cube sebesar 19 persen menjadi 12.65 detik, mencatat waktu 10.02 detik di Pyraminx, serta menjalani penampilan perdana di nomor 2x2x2 Cube dengan hasil 6.45 detik. Kenzo Marciano menyelesaikan debut pertamanya pada 3x3x3 One-Handed dengan waktu 30.08 detik sembari mempertajam catatan 2x2x2 Cube sebesar 15.9 persen menjadi 2.96 detik.

Atmosfer kompetitif di Jakarta ini juga ditandai dengan langkah berani para peserta yang menjalani WCA competition pertama mereka. Clarissa Amaris Gunawan mencatatkan waktu 10.88 detik pada nomor Pyraminx dan menempati posisi ke-19, sembari menuntaskan penampilan perdana di 2x2x2 Cube dengan waktu 4.77 detik serta 3x3x3 Cube dengan 21.61 detik. Ahmad Rizky Lazzuardy mengawali langkahnya di dua cabang resmi dengan mencetak waktu 9.10 detik pada 2x2x2 Cube dan 28.23 detik pada 3x3x3 Cube. Dzanhara Dhiyaulhaq Kyrasha memanfaatkan debut resminya pada 3x3x3 Cube dengan hasil waktu 19.88 detik, sedangkan Raihan Afriza Hasan menyelesaikan nomor yang sama dalam tempo 20.91 detik.

Cabang Pyraminx menyajikan adu kecepatan kilat di antara 33 peserta yang bertanding dalam format satu babak langsung. Bryan Frank tampil dominan dengan merebut juara pertama melalui rata-rata 2.89 detik dan single 2.33 detik. Hiroshi Yumeda berada di posisi kedua dengan rata-rata 4.49 detik, sedangkan Marco Vieri Julian kembali naik ke podium di peringkat ketiga setelah mencatatkan rata-rata 5.34 detik.

Pertandingan nomor Skewb menutup rangkaian acara resmi dengan melibatkan 26 pemecah kubus berkecepatan tinggi. Muhammad Fahri Rahman berhasil membawa pulang gelar juara berkat perolehan rata-rata 3.37 detik dan single terbaik 2.59 detik. Posisi runner up direbut oleh Gerson Natanael dengan rata-rata 5.84 detik, unggul tipis dari Hiroshi Yumeda yang melengkapi podium di tempat ketiga dengan catatan rata-rata 5.88 detik.

Seluruh rangkaian Cubing in Palem 2023 menegaskan tingginya kualitas dan kedalaman persaingan para atlet Indonesia sepanjang musim 2023. Lima belas posisi podium yang tersedia diisi oleh talenta-talenta berbakat yang bersaing ketat hingga putaran terakhir. Rapatnya selisih waktu di setiap babak menjadi bukti nyata bahwa setiap pemecah kubus harus mengerahkan kemampuan maksimal untuk menembus persaingan papan atas.