Dasmariñas Speedcubing Open II 2023

Inside Robinsons Dasmariñas, tables were packed with timers, mats, and puzzles as participants shared scrambles and caught up between solving stations. The energy across the floor reflected the close-knit community spirit that characterizes the local scene, where competitors routinely compare notes, trade hardware, and encourage one another across seven different events. Held on November 19, 2023, the Dasmariñas Speedcubing Open II 2023 brought together 77 competitors in Dasmariñas, Cavite, Philippines, turning an ordinary Sunday into a lively festival of twisting plastic and rapid-fire problem-solving.

Across nine intense rounds, the speedcubing gathering showcased both high-profile victories and broad participation. While main-stage puzzles always draw heavy attention, the atmosphere between rounds remained supportive and relaxed, as participants clustered around side-event areas to watch unconventional disciplines. Whether tackling complex multi-layer puzzles or tracking clock dials, entrants found ample room to test their preparation at this WCA competition.

Brenton Angelo Lo Wong produced a standout performance throughout the day, claiming titles across multiple formats. In the classic 3x3x3 Cube, Wong topped the 76-competitor field over three rounds, securing victory with a winning average of 6.25 seconds and delivering the fastest single solve of the event at 5.46 seconds. Justine Aaron Villostas followed in second place with an 8.30 average, while Moses Elijah San Pascual completed the podium in third with an 8.85 average. These decisive 3x3 results anchored an exceptional campaign for the multi-event specialist.

Wong continued his dominant form at the smaller and larger tables alike. In the 2x2x2 Cube, Wong captured first place with an average of 2.46 seconds and a 1.60 single, finishing ahead of Karl Matthew Angeles with a 2.93 average and John McArthur Magnaye with a 3.18 average. Stepping up to the 4x4x4 Cube, Wong added another gold with a 30.41 average and a 29.11 single, besting Nigeria's Ayooluwa Samuel Dada, who finished second with a 34.67 average, and Moses Elijah San Pascual, who earned third with a 34.81 average.

The larger puzzles brought thrilling head-to-head moments for the gathered crowd. In the 5x5x5 Cube, Ayooluwa Samuel Dada posted a 56.52 average and a 51.01 best single to finish in first place, leading Cairon Sumadchat at 57.34 and Dale Palmares at 59.32. Palmares asserted control elsewhere, winning Clock with a 5.34 average ahead of Elijah Francis Jagonio at 5.95 and Keith Liam H. Rasco at 7.30. Palmares also secured the 7x7x7 Cube title with a 2:20.13 average, topping Louie Jay Quibote at 2:31.79 and Cairon Sumadchat at 2:45.04. In the 5x5x5 Blindfolded event, Marc Jason L. Laresma registered the sole successful single of the contest at 16:30.00 to take first place.

Away from the championship hardware, the true heart of the tournament emerged through personal breakthroughs and milestone attempts across the roster. Andrei S. Listana achieved a remarkable 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 2.19 seconds, improving by 80.3 percent over a previous mark of 11.11, while lowering his 3x3x3 Cube personal best to 22.06 seconds. Jose Emmanuel P. Azna contested three events and marked a first ever attempt at Clock with a 32.06 single, paired with a 47.2 percent improvement in 2x2x2 Cube down to 6.98 seconds and a 38.6 percent cut in 3x3x3 Cube to 23.26. Joshua Diacamus entered five events, logging first attempts in both the 5x5x5 Cube at 1:09.46 and the 7x7x7 Cube at 4:04.27, alongside a 36 percent cut to his 4x4x4 Cube personal best with a 28.40 solve. Kyler Ethan Bartolome took on his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube with a 25.76 single, alongside a 26.9 percent reduction in his 3x3x3 Cube best to 32.55.

The progress continued across various disciplines as more participants pushed their limits. Francis Jiro Sarreal registered a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube at 1:33.99, while dropping his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 21.5 percent to 14.97 seconds and posting a 6.80 best in 2x2x2 Cube. Japhine Laurice E. Bigalbal completed a first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube in 7.85 seconds and lowered her 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 20.8 percent to 25.78. Jim Lorenzo tackled four events, registering his first attempt at 7x7x7 Cube in 5:54.24, an 11th-place finish, while cutting his 4x4x4 Cube best by 20.3 percent to 46.93 and his 5x5x5 Cube mark by 11.2 percent to 1:41.24. Alex Bigander took on three events, posting a first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube in 4.36 seconds, a 16.2 percent improvement on his 3x3x3 Cube mark to 9.24, and a 26th-place finish in 4x4x4 Cube with a 47.39 personal best.

Every official cubing competition relies on this blend of elite precision and individual exploration, where solving the Rubik's Cube at any level connects participants across tables and experience brackets. Across podium finishes by territory, Philippines representatives accounted for 19 spots while Nigeria earned 2, showcasing the depth of talent present at Robinsons Dasmariñas during the 2023 speed cubing calendar.

As the final timers were cleared away, the Dasmariñas Speedcubing Open II 2023 wrapped up having delivered memorable milestones, multiple event triumphs, and lasting community connections for all 77 participants.

77 kalahok ang nagtipon sa Robinsons Dasmariñas para sa isang maaksyong araw ng paglutas sa Dasmariñas Speedcubing Open II 2023. Sa harap ng mga lokal na tagasubaybay sa Dasmariñas, Cavite, Philippines noong Nobyembre 19, 2023, naging sentro ng tagumpay ang pambihirang bilis ng mga kalahok. Sa kabuuang siyam na rounds para sa pitong magkakaibang events, ipinakita ng mga delegado ang kanilang pinakamahusay na talento sa bawat kategorya.

Bumida nang husto si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong mula sa Pilipinas matapos magrehistro ng dominanteng panalo sa tatlong pangunahing kategorya. Sa prestihiyosong 3x3x3 Cube, nakuha ni Wong ang ginto tangan ang winning average na 6.25 at best single na 5.46 sa ikatlong round ng labanan. Pumangalawa sa naturang larangan si Justine Aaron Villostas na may 8.30 average, habang si Moses Elijah San Pascual naman ang pumangatlo sa kanyang 8.85 average sa 76 na kalahok.

Hindi nagpaawat si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong sa mas maliliit at mas malalaking puzzle kung saan nagdagdag siya ng dalawa pang kampeonato. Sa 2x2x2 Cube, pinangunahan niya ang podium bitbit ang 2.46 average at 1.60 single laban kina Karl Matthew Angeles na nagtala ng 2.93 at John McArthur Magnaye na may 3.18. Nasungkit din ni Wong ang tagumpay sa 4x4x4 Cube matapos magtala ng 30.41 average laban kay Ayooluwa Samuel Dada ng Nigeria na may 34.67 at Moses Elijah San Pascual na pumoste ng 34.81.

Nagpakitang-gilas din ang pambato ng Nigeria na si Ayooluwa Samuel Dada nang maghari ito sa 5x5x5 Cube. Nagsumite si Dada ng winning average na 56.52 kasama ang 51.01 best single para talunin ang mga lokal na katunggali. Pumangalawa sa naturang dibisyon si Cairon Sumadchat sa kanyang 57.34 average, habang pumangatlo naman si Dale Palmares sa pamamagitan ng kanyang 59.32 average.

Dalawang gintong medalya naman ang naibulsa ni Dale Palmares para sa Pilipinas sa magkaibang hamon. Sa Clock event, nakuha ni Palmares ang unang puwesto na may 5.34 winning average at 4.76 single, kasunod sina Elijah Francis Jagonio na nagtala ng 5.95 at Keith Liam H. Rasco na may 7.30. Nagpatuloy ang kanyang pambihirang laro sa 7x7x7 Cube kung saan nagwagi siya sa average na 2:20.13, habang pumangalawa si Louie Jay Quibote sa 2:31.79 at pumangatlo si Cairon Sumadchat sa 2:45.04.

Sa pinakamahirap na kategorya ng 5x5x5 Blindfolded, tanging si Marc Jason L. Laresma lamang ang nakapagtala ng matagumpay na opisyal na solve. Sa naturang blindfolded solving na nangangailangan ng masusing memorya at matinding konsentrasyon, nagrehistro si Laresma ng panalong single na 16:30.00. Hindi naman pinalad na makapagtapos sina Luis Gabriel Magadia at Jacob Miko Tan sa naturang round kaya nagtapos sila nang may DNF.

Sa likod ng mga nagwagi sa entablado, nagpakita rin ng kahanga-hangang pagsisikap ang iba pang manlalaro sa torneo. Ibinaba ni Kurt Cristoffer R. Enriquez ang kanyang personal best sa 2x2x2 Cube sa 6.05 na 33.5 porsyentong mas mabilis kaysa dati, bukod pa sa 19.82 sa 3x3x3 Cube na 13.6 porsyentong pagbuti. Nagtala naman si Chloe Grace Barrenechea ng personal best na 1:05.88 sa 4x4x4 Cube na 29.9 porsyentong mas mabilis, kasabay ng 10.47 personal best sa 3x3x3 Cube. Si David Bryan Katigbak ay sumabak sa apat na events kung saan nagtala siya ng 1:36.64 sa kanyang unang pagsubok sa 5x5x5 Cube at personal best na 8.57 sa 3x3x3 Cube na 11.6 porsyentong pag-angat, habang si Jak Concepcion ay sumubok sa unang pagkakataon sa 5x5x5 Cube sa oras na 1:23.89 at nagrehistro ng personal best na 50.08 sa 4x4x4 Cube at 7.19 sa 3x3x3 Cube.

Naging makabuluhan din ang araw para sa mga baguhang sumabak sa kanilang pinakaunang WCA competition. Ang kinatawan ng India na si Raunak Srivastava ay lumaban sa apat na events kasama ang unang pagsubok sa 4x4x4 Cube na 2:36.71, 3x3x3 Cube na 23.92, at 2x2x2 Cube na 11.24. Sa kanyang unang torneo, lumahok si Mateo Deandre D. Go sa tatlong kategorya na may 5.16 sa 2x2x2 Cube, 17.67 sa 3x3x3 Cube, at 2:15.02 sa 4x4x4 Cube. Nakuha naman ni James B. Ganotisi ang ika-10 puwesto sa kanyang unang pagtangka sa 5x5x5 Cube sa oras na 1:18.63, habang si Cabato Migs Franco Coloma ng Singapore ay nagtala ng 4.48 sa 2x2x2 Cube at 13.15 sa 3x3x3 Cube sa kanyang pasinayang torneo.

Ang tagumpay ng buong araw ay nagpatingkad sa sigla ng speedcubing sa lalawigan. Sa kabuuan, 19 na podium finishes ang nakamit ng Pilipinas habang 2 naman ang nakuha ng Nigeria sa mga labanan sa Rubik's Cube. Matagumpay na naisara ang Dasmariñas Speedcubing Open II 2023 sa isang mataas na antas ng husay at disiplina mula sa bawat manlalaro sa buong cubing competition.