Dasmariñas Speedcubing Open 2023

Toby Litiatco set the benchmark at SM City Dasmariñas on July 15, 2023, delivering a blistering 7.11-second final average to claim victory in the headlining 3x3x3 Cube at the Dasmariñas Speedcubing Open 2023. In a premier event that drew 87 competitors across three demanding rounds, Litiatco kept his composure in the final, punctuated by an event-best single of 6.28 seconds. The race for the podium was fiercely contested, with Brenton Angelo Lo Wong taking second place with an average of 7.74 seconds and Aragon Martin Gonzales securing third at 7.79 seconds, capping an extraordinary showcase of high-velocity turning in Dasmariñas, Philippines.

The 3x3 results formed the centerpiece of a bustling, single-day WCA competition that brought 90 competitors together for seven distinct events and nine total rounds. The classic Rubik's Cube remains the ultimate proving ground in speedcubing, and the intense battle at the top of the standings set the energetic tempo for the entire gathering. Fans of speed cubing watched a total of nineteen podium positions captured by competitors from the Philippines, alongside two podium spots earned by Nigerian representative Ayooluwa Samuel Dada in the upper puzzle tiers.

Beyond the flagship puzzle, the fast-turning lightweight events delivered spectacular sprints. In the Pyraminx, Psyron Eubert Catral proved untouchable across the 37-person field, taking the title with a tournament-winning average of 3.39 seconds and an event-best single of 2.77 seconds. Aragon Martin Gonzales placed second with a 4.27 average, narrowly edging out Yuji Yoshida, who logged a 4.34 average for third place. Catral was not finished there, adding a second gold medal on the day by topping the Skewb standings with a 4.79 average and a 4.12 single, ahead of Yoshida at 5.37 and France Bautista at 5.45.

In the mid-sized and big-cube categories, Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc put on a masterclass of consistency and speed. Palisoc secured top honors in the 4x4x4 Cube with a 30.74 average and a 26.53 single, finishing ahead of Brenton Angelo Lo Wong with 33.25 and Ayooluwa Samuel Dada with 35.49. Palisoc doubled his gold tally in the 5x5x5 Cube, recording a winning average of 54.22 seconds alongside a fast single of 43.77 seconds. Dale Palmares took second place in the 5x5x5 Cube with a 55.05 average, followed closely by Cairon Sumadchat in third at 59.06.

Big cube mastery shifted to Dale Palmares in the grueling 7x7x7 Cube division. Palmares claimed the championship with a winning average of 2:27.95 and a best single of 2:25.92, leading Palisoc, who earned second place with a 2:51.24 average, and Dada, who claimed another third-place finish with a 2:59.70 mark. Meanwhile, the specialized discipline of the 3x3x3 Blindfolded saw Brenton Angelo Lo Wong solve completely without sight in 59.94 seconds to secure first place. Rigil Carolino followed in second place with a single of 1:23.21, while Marc Jason L. Laresma earned third with a time of 1:42.28.

Away from the top of the podium, the Dasmariñas Speedcubing Open 2023 featured remarkable personal milestones from dedicated competitors across the floor. June Adrian Ersando took on six different disciplines, making a first ever attempt at the 5x5x5 Cube with a 1:24.89 and a first ever attempt at the 7x7x7 Cube with a 6:30.01, while earning a 9th-place finish in Skewb backed by a personal best of 4.79 seconds that was 42.7 percent faster than before. Franklin Posadas tackled three events, making a first ever attempt at Pyraminx with a 10.83, while cutting his Skewb personal best by 39.1 percent down to 10.07 and dropping his 3x3x3 Cube best by 18.5 percent to 20.05. Robert Angelo Rodis logged a first ever attempt at Skewb with a 7.54 on his way to 13th place, while improving his Pyraminx mark by 35.8 percent to 8.35 and his 3x3x3 Cube best to 16.70. Silas Dru C. Rosales logged a first ever attempt at Skewb with an 11.77 and a first ever attempt at Pyraminx with a 10.53, alongside a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 16.48.

The surge of personal breakthroughs continued across multiple categories throughout the afternoon. Markgil Tumampo achieved a 10th-place finish in the 7x7x7 Cube in his first ever attempt at the event with a time of 4:32.45, while improving his 5x5x5 Cube personal best by 26.8 percent down to 1:20.01 and lowering his 3x3x3 Cube best to 9.09 seconds. Chloe Grace Barrenechea achieved her best result of the day with a 23rd-place finish in Pyraminx during her first ever attempt at the puzzle, recording an 8.64, while improving her 3x3x3 Cube mark by 19 percent to 12.22 seconds. Dominic Matthew Rodis improved his Pyraminx personal best by 37.1 percent down to 8.57 seconds and dropped his 3x3x3 Cube time by 13.7 percent to 24.22. Pedro Karol Fransisco A. Ortega took on four events, highlighted by a first ever attempt at the 4x4x4 Cube in 3:00.29, a 19th-place finish in Pyraminx, and a 10.4 percent reduction in his 3x3x3 Cube best down to 17.35 seconds.

The Dasmariñas Speedcubing Open 2023 highlighted the remarkable depth of talent active in the region. Across short sprint formats, big cubes, and blindfolded execution, competitors pushed their limits under the strict regulations of official competition. As the year 2023 progresses toward the next series of regional challenges, the performances recorded in Dasmariñas set an exceptionally high standard for upcoming cubing competition schedules.

Siyamnapung kalahok ang nagtala ng kanilang husay sa isang masinsinang araw ng kompetisyon kung saan ang format ng mga round at cut structure ang sumubok sa kanilang bilis at konsistensya. Sa Dasmariñas Speedcubing Open 2023 na ginanap sa SM City Dasmariñas sa Dasmariñas, Philippines noong Hulyo 15, 2023, pitong magkakaibang events at kabuuang siyam na rounds ang hinarap ng bawat kalahok. Ang kakaibang estruktura ng torneyo, kung saan tanging ang pangunahing 3x3x3 Cube lamang ang nagkaroon ng tatlong rounds habang ang anim pang kategorya ay dumaan sa direktang single-round finals, ang nagtakda ng mataas na presyon upang maging mabilis agad ang bawat tira.

Sa pangunahing kategorya ng Rubik's Cube na dumaan sa tatlong yugto ng elimination, ipinamalas ni Toby Litiatco ang matinding galing upang masungkit ang kampeonato laban sa 87 na mga kalahok. Nagtala si Toby Litiatco ng winning average na 7.11 at may pinakamabilis na winning single na 6.28 sa pinal na laban. Pumangalawa sa podium si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong na may average na 7.74, habang si Aragon Martin Gonzales naman ang sumungkit ng ikatlong pwesto sa kanyang 7.79 na average.

Dahil sa single-round format ng ibang mga events, bawat kalahok ay walang puwang para sa pagkakamali upang makapasok sa podium. Sa 4x4x4 Cube na may 49 na kalahok, nanguna si Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc na may winning average na 30.74 at best single na 26.53, habang pumangalawa si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong sa 33.25 at ikatlo si Ayooluwa Samuel Dada mula Nigeria na may 35.49. Hindi roon nagtapos ang dominasyon ni Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc dahil napanalunan din niya ang 5x5x5 Cube sa average na 54.22 kontra kay Dale Palmares na nagtala ng 55.05.

Nangibabaw naman si Dale Palmares sa pinakamalaking puzzle ng torneyo, ang 7x7x7 Cube, kung saan nagrehistro siya ng winning average na 2:27.95 at pinakamabilis na single na 2:25.92 laban sa labing-apat pang katunggali. Samantala, sa larangan ng 3x3x3 Blindfolded na nangangailangan ng mabilisang pagsasaulo at paglutas nang nakapiring, nagwagi si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong na nagtala ng best single na 59.94. Kasama niya sa podium sina Rigil Carolino na may 1:23.21 at Marc Jason L. Laresma na nagtala ng 1:42.28.

Sa mga side events, dalawang gintong medalya ang naiuwi ni Psyron Eubert Catral sa pamamagitan ng kanyang bilis sa Pyraminx at Skewb. Sa Pyraminx, nagtala si Psyron Eubert Catral ng winning average na 3.39 upang talunin ang 36 na iba pa, kasunod sina Aragon Martin Gonzales sa 4.27 at Yuji Yoshida sa 4.34. Naghari rin siya sa Skewb na may winning average na 4.79 laban kay Yuji Yoshida na nagtala ng 5.37 at France Bautista na nagrehistro ng 5.45 average.

Sa likod ng labanan para sa podium sa cubing competition na ito, nasaksihan din ang magagandang personal na tagumpay mula sa mga manlalarong patuloy na nagpapahusay ng kanilang mga kasanayan. Malaking pag-abante ang ipinakita ni Jairo Daniel Importante na nagtala ng 6.01 sa Pyraminx, na 29.7 porsyentong mas mabilis kaysa sa kanyang dating rekord, bukod pa sa kanyang 14.31 na marka sa 3x3x3 Cube na mas mabilis nang 3.4 porsyento. Si PJ Nathaniel R. De Guzman naman ay nagtala ng kanyang pinakaunang opisyal na subok sa 3x3x3 Blindfolded sa oras na 5:20.08 habang pinaganda ang kanyang 3x3x3 Cube best time sa 10.80, na 7.8 porsyentong mas mabilis. Naitala rin ni Rex David A. Taguinod ang kanyang unang subok sa Skewb sa 9.36 at pinaunlad ang kanyang 3x3x3 Cube personal best sa 9.99 na 3.1 porsyentong mas mabilis, samantalang si Kjeldahl Harvey Pesebre ay sumabak sa unang pagkakataon sa Pyraminx na may 12.87 at nagtala ng 17.61 sa 3x3x3 Cube na 4.3 porsyentong mas mabilis.

Naging espesyal din ang paligsahan para sa mga sumabak sa kanilang pinakaunang WCA competition. Matapang na kumuha ng apat na events si Kal-el Bugarin kung saan naitala niya ang kanyang unang subok sa 7x7x7 Cube sa oras na 5:38.72, sa 5x5x5 Cube sa 2:09.27, at sa 3x3x3 Cube sa 18.55. Sa kanilang unang sabak, ipinamalas din nina John Josef Sebastian P. De Jesus ang kanyang 31.51 sa 3x3x3 Cube at 2:12.71 sa 4x4x4 Cube, Marco Dominic Magalona na nagtala ng 13.20 sa 3x3x3 Cube at 1:05.70 sa 4x4x4 Cube, at Matthew Joshua S. Alvarez na lumapag ng 13.55 sa Pyraminx at 21.30 sa 3x3x3 Cube.

Sa pagtatapos ng Dasmariñas Speedcubing Open 2023, naging malinaw kung paano sinubok ng single-round at multi-round formats ang tibay ng bawat speedcubing competitor. Mula sa mga beterano sa unahan ng bawat kategorya hanggang sa mga baguhang sumubok ng mga bagong puzzle, nag-iwan ang paligsahan sa lungsod ng Dasmariñas ng mga bagong personal na talaan at napatunayang mataas ang antas ng galing ng mga manlalaro sa rehiyon.