Day for PRs Tachira 2024

17 competitors made the journey across regional and international borders to assemble in western Venezuela on November 30, 2024. Traveling from throughout the nation as well as crossing over from neighboring Colombia, solvers gathered at the Auditorio Unidad Educativa Rafael Alvarez. The single-day showdown brought an intense focus to Táriba, Táchira, Venezuela, where participants tackled seven rounds across four disciplines. The gathering stood as an ambitious cubing competition designed to reward long journeys with personal best marks, drawing both seasoned performers and fresh talent to the tables.

The centerpiece of the speedcubing schedule delivered memorable drama across three full rounds of standard Rubik's Cube solving. When the dust settled on the final 3x3 results, Victor Salas captured the premier title for Venezuela with a winning average of 9.66 seconds, punctuated by a best single of 8.88 seconds. Leonardo Neptalí Alicastro Palma secured the runner-up position with an average of 10.21 seconds, while Oscar Andelfo Dúran Caicedo took third on the podium with a mark of 10.42 seconds in an event contested by all 17 entrants.

Despite yielding the main event to Victor Salas, Oscar Andelfo Dúran Caicedo emerged as the dominant force of Day for PRs Tachira 2024. Across the remaining three events on the schedule, Dúran Caicedo swept every gold medal available. In the 2x2x2 Cube, he navigated two rounds against 15 rivals to take victory with a final average of 3.92 seconds, having delivered a tournament-best single of 2.14 seconds. Joseth Camilo Sanchez Leal of Colombia claimed second with a 4.27 average, edging out Salas who finished third at 4.31 seconds.

Oscar Andelfo Dúran Caicedo continued his commanding run in the larger puzzles and specialty events. In 4x4x4 Cube, where 14 competitors took to the stage, he secured the top spot with an average of 38.32 seconds and a best single of 34.57 seconds. Leonardo Neptalí Alicastro Palma followed in second with 44.01 seconds, while Samuel de Jesus Parra Rojas placed third with 45.33 seconds. Dúran Caicedo then sealed a triple-gold performance by claiming 3x3x3 One-Handed, recording a 15.16 average and a 12.85 single to finish ahead of Salas at 19.14 and Colombia's Diego Alejandro Casas Jimenez at 21.09.

Away from the top of the podium, Day for PRs Tachira 2024 served as a breakthrough stage for competitors establishing their presence in official speed cubing. Josias David Torres Vera delivered one of the weekend's sharpest improvements, taking his 3x3x3 Cube personal best down to 11.05 seconds, which was 16.7 percent faster than his previous mark of 13.26 seconds, alongside recording his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 20.80 and his first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:32.58. Daniel Forero competed in four events, finishing fourth in 3x3x3 Cube while registering a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 16.71 and a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 43.90. Luis Manuel Gonzalez also tackled four events, recording a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:11.09 and a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 41.00, earning a best finish of ninth.

The event was equally meaningful for those who made their official debut at this WCA competition. Kleberson David Sanchez Bueno completed his first tournament appearance across three events, logging a first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube in 5.08, a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Cube in 19.26, and a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:08.69 on his way to eighth place in 2x2x2. Anthonny Josue Rodriguez Sanchez stepped up for his debut, posting a first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube in 6.04, a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Cube in 17.52, and a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 2:03.51. Edinson Alejandro Camba Colina recorded a first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube in 6.54 and a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Cube in 21.47, while Miguel Abraham Duque Castro delivered a first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube in 14.93 and a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Cube in 39.41. Kleybert Ortiz rounded out the newcomers by notching a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Cube in 27.24.

The distribution of podium places underscored the competitive cross-border dynamic in Táriba. Solvers representing Venezuela claimed ten podium positions throughout the day, while Colombia's contingent secured two top-three honors courtesy of Joseth Camilo Sanchez Leal and Diego Alejandro Casas Jimenez. The tight scheduling across four puzzle categories created relentless pacing for the participants, who balanced the mechanical precision of standard solving with the dexterity required in one-handed play.

As the final rounds wrapped up at Day for PRs Tachira 2024, the journey proved worthwhile for the 17 solvers who converged in Táchira. With multiple victories for Oscar Andelfo Dúran Caicedo, a signature 3x3x3 Cube triumph for Victor Salas, and a wave of personal milestones set by rising local competitors, the 2024 tournament left an indelible mark on the regional circuit as solvers look ahead to the next season of competition.