Cuenca Cubea 2023

Thirty-seven competitors gathered under one roof on July 29, 2023, turning a packed one-day schedule into a masterclass of rapid progression. The Centro Comercial Millenium Plaża set the stage in Cuenca, Ecuador, hosting seven distinct events across ten rounds of action. Throughout the venue, emerging speedcubing talent pushed the pace, showing just how fast dedicated solvers can trim seconds off their previous marks when tested in high-stakes elimination rounds.

At the front of the pack, Luis Fernando Aldás Cuestas orchestrated a commanding run across the schedule at Cuenca Cubea 2023. The marquee 3x3x3 Cube event drew a tournament-high 35 competitors through three demanding stages of competition. Aldás Cuestas claimed top honors in the final with a winning average of 11.08 seconds, backed by a best single of 9.58 seconds. The race for the podium remained fierce, as Josué Ordóñez secured the second spot with a 12.13 average, followed by Marcelo Martínez in third place with a mark of 13.90.

The 2x2x2 Cube competition featured nineteen entrants navigating two intense rounds where tiny margins determined advancement. Aldás Cuestas took his second victory of the day, logging a 4.02 winning average and a 3.60 best single. Ordóñez took the runner-up position with a 4.60 average, while Adrián Leandro Pazmiño Aldás completed the podium in 5.57 seconds. Beyond the final podium, the early qualifying rounds saw a flurry of rapid marks as solvers adjusted quickly to competition conditions.

Ordóñez turned the tables in the larger and alternate formats, demonstrating exceptional versatility. In the 4x4x4 Cube event, Ordóñez captured first place with an impressive 49.43 average and a best single solve of 45.13 seconds, holding off Aldás Cuestas, who finished second with a 53.72 average, and Pablo Sebastián Flores Peralta, who placed third in 56.02. Ordóñez also triumphed in the 15-player Pyraminx field, taking the gold with a 5.37 average, ahead of Pazmiño Aldás at 5.61 and David Alejandro Campozano Méndez at 10.74.

The specialised puzzles generated exciting head-to-head battles as the schedule advanced. Marcelo Martínez delivered the standout performance in 3x3x3 One-Handed, securing victory with a winning average of 22.60 seconds, edging out Ordóñez with 23.67 and Aldás Cuestas with 25.10. Meanwhile, Aldás Cuestas collected two more titles at Cuenca Cubea 2023, taking the Megaminx crown with a 1:16.90 average and prevailing in the strategic 3x3x3 Fewest Moves challenge by completing a solution in just 38 moves.

Beyond the championship trophies, the true heart of this WCA competition was visible in the massive leaps made by developing competitors across the floor. Bryan Moreno delivered one of the most astonishing breakthroughs of the tournament, taking on the 3x3x3 Cube and registering a personal best of 21.71 seconds, which was an incredible 50.7 percent faster than his previous mark of 44.01. Isaac Rafael Curillo Muñoz entered four events and dropped his 2x2x2 Cube best down to 5.50 seconds, a 47 percent improvement from 10.38, while also earning a sixth-place finish in the 4x4x4 Cube. Ronmel Fabian Tenezaca Rios tackled five different disciplines, posting a 45.6 percent cut on his 2x2x2 Cube personal best to hit 3.87 seconds, taking fourth in Pyraminx, and completing his first ever official attempt at Megaminx in 3:03.77. Meanwhile, Ikiam Nawel Tisalema Medina entered three events, achieved a personal best of 31.47 seconds on the classic Rubik's Cube that was 37.9 percent faster than before, and made a first ever attempt at the 2x2x2 Cube, logging 9.85 seconds.

The progress continued across every corner of the venue as competitors seized the opportunity to expand their repertoires. Lizeth Aldás competed in three events, lowering her Pyraminx personal best by 31.3 percent to 13.80 seconds and taking eleventh place. Matías Sebastián Manzano Suan achieved a strong seventh-place finish in the 3x3x3 Cube, recording a personal best of 11.87 seconds to improve by 26.7 percent over his previous 16.19 benchmark. Daniel Ordóñez logged a first ever attempt in Pyraminx with a time of 14.35 seconds, finishing twelfth, alongside a personal best in the 2x2x2 Cube. The event also served as an exciting debut for Emmanuel Lemus, who entered his first career tournament, placed ninth in the 2x2x2 Cube with a rapid 3.65 single, and recorded a 21.49 single in his first ever attempt on the 3x3x3 Cube.

Altogether, all twenty-one podium placements across the seven events went to representatives of Ecuador, illustrating the depth of local talent gathered in Cuenca. The seamless progression from preliminary rounds to tense finals highlighted how quickly participants are evolving their solving methods. The official 3x3 results and alternate puzzle times recorded throughout the day reflected remarkable focus and steady technical growth among the country's rising contenders.

As the day wrapped up, the gathering proved to be an invaluable proving ground for the next generation of speed cubing enthusiasts. With ten rounds packed with personal milestones, Cuenca Cubea 2023 confirmed that dedication at the training table translates directly to success on the official mat. Every entrant left with tangible evidence of improvement, setting a strong standard as these competitors look toward future challenges.