Cubing Plaza Real Alajuela 2026

Michael Zúñiga Meléndez put on an absolute clinic in Alajuela, capturing four separate event victories across an intensive single-day schedule. Behind every rapid turn and podium finish stood the dedicated team of organizers, WCA delegates, and local volunteers who orchestrated Cubing Plaza Real Alajuela 2026. Staged at the Centro Comercial Plaza Real in Alajuela, Centro, Costa Rica, the meeting brought together 37 competitors across 9 official events on January 31, 2026, delivering 10 completed rounds without missing a beat.

Running a full cubing competition within a single day requires relentless coordination from the staff behind the tables. From scramblers keeping pace to judges resetting timers across nine distinct disciplines, the event ran smoothly from the morning rounds to the late afternoon finals. The venue offered a bustling setting for speedcubing enthusiasts, welcoming both experienced solvers and newcomers looking to test their skills under standard competition conditions.

The 3x3 results formed a central focus of the afternoon as 36 solvers contested the main event. Christian Rodríguez rose to the top of the 3x3x3 Cube standings, locking in first place with a 9.02 winning average and posting the best single solve of the event at 8.71. Michael Zúñiga Meléndez pushed hard to secure the runner-up spot with an average of 9.33, while David Calderón Arce rounded out the podium in third place with a 9.53 average.

Christian Rodríguez added a second championship to his tally in the Square-1 event, topping an 8-competitor field with a winning average of 12.85 and a rapid single of 10.23. José Gabriel Madrigal earned second place with an average of 15.35, followed by Jose Daniel Solano Rodríguez in third at 20.17. The classic Rubik's Cube variants were well represented across the board, drawing consistent cheers as each bracket concluded.

Behind the headline winners, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones away from the podium spotlight. Mathias Laurent Zúñiga entered three events and delivered a massive breakthrough in 3x3x3 Cube, recording a personal best of 19.26 to cut 60.9 percent off his prior mark, while also shaving 48.3 percent off his Pyraminx best at 13.32. Gabriel Montano Loría tackled five events, registering a personal best of 4.32 in 2x2x2 Cube that was 58.7 percent faster than before, while also logging a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube with a time of 1:51.70. Jordan Obando Chacón competed across five events, securing 7th place in Pyraminx and trimming 40.7 percent off his 4x4x4 Cube personal best down to 42.37. Luka Alberto Perez Rodriguez finished 20th in 2x2x2 Cube with a personal best of 6.72, representing a 37.1 percent improvement.

The personal milestones continued across multiple disciplines throughout the venue. Leonardo Guevara Montero completed six events and earned 8th place in Square-1, establishing a personal best of 26.62 that was 41.9 percent faster than his past benchmark. Saúl Martin Rodríguez took on five events, earning 16th in Skewb and logging a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:24.81. Making their official debuts at a WCA competition, Miguel Aaron Venegas Lobo completed three events, highlighted by an 18th place finish in Pyraminx with an 11.27 attempt, while Sebastián Moya Arroyo stepped onto the stage for his first competition, logging a 6.54 single in 2x2x2 Cube and a 25.37 in 3x3x3 Cube.

Michael Zúñiga Meléndez dominated the larger cubes and the short-format puzzles alike. In the 2x2x2 Cube, he posted a 2.34 winning average alongside a quick 1.78 single, while Taj Bressert of the Netherlands secured second at 3.51. Moving to the 4x4x4 Cube, Zúñiga Meléndez took the title with a 30.61 average, besting Kyle McDonald Trejos at 31.85 and Bressert at 34.84. In the big cube categories, Zúñiga Meléndez secured the 6x6x6 Cube title with a 1:42.82 average and completed his quadruple crown by taking the 7x7x7 Cube in 2:31.48.

The specialty events also provided compelling action. Taj Bressert claimed victory in Skewb, posting a winning average of 2.63 and a 2.06 single to finish ahead of David Calderón Arce at 4.16 and Dagne Poveda at 4.35. In Megaminx, David Calderón Arce took top honors with an impressive 42.43 average and a 38.70 single, leading Dagne Poveda at 45.72 and Zúñiga Meléndez at 52.77. In Pyraminx, Fabricio Guerrero Villalobos stood atop the 27-competitor field with a winning average of 4.50.

Across the entire program, speed cubing fans were treated to clean organization, intense competition, and deep fields. With 21 podium spots earned by Costa Rican solvers and 6 by the Netherlands, the competition reflected both domestic strength and international presence. The seamless execution of Cubing Plaza Real Alajuela 2026 stood as a testament to the organizers and volunteers whose tireless work behind the scenes made every solve possible.