De La Sierra Cubing 2023

Rodrigo Paz Vaca delivered the weekend's defining statement in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, capturing the premier 3x3x3 Cube title with a blistering 8.13 winning average and a best single of 6.95. That dominant showing was only the start of an extraordinary campaign that saw him claim four separate victories across the schedule. Behind the scenes, the tournament team, dedicated delegates, and tireless scorekeepers ensured every bracket operated with precision, guiding a bustling field of 73 competitors through 21 rounds across June 10 and June 11 in 2023.

Staged at the Colegio Internacional De La Sierra, this major cubing competition brought together speedcubing enthusiasts from across the region to tackle 13 distinct disciplines. The event crew managed a relentless schedule spanning everything from pocket cubes to intricate twisty puzzles. Their coordination allowed the community to shine on the official stage, giving veteran contenders and fresh faces an ideal environment to test their skills in a world-class WCA competition setting.

Rodrigo Paz Vaca proved virtually unstoppable throughout the programme, adding three more gold trophies to his collection alongside his 3x3 results. In the 4x4x4 Cube, he took first place with a 35.35 average, finishing ahead of Jhoan Jhunior Alvarado Balderrama who posted 36.63. He then doubled down on the larger puzzles by capturing the 5x5x5 Cube title with an average of 1:07.76, edging Ignacio Mita Cabezas at 1:11.05. Demonstrating remarkable versatility on the classic Rubik's Cube, Paz Vaca also topped the 3x3x3 One-Handed event with a 13.61 average, joined on the podium by Diego Iglesias Godoy and Dylan Aramayo Calle.

Sebastián Morón Mariscal put on a masterclass in the technical and memory disciplines, claiming two blindfolded titles and a puzzle win. In 3x3x3 Blindfolded, Morón Mariscal won with a 1:36.37 single, while also securing the 3x3x3 Multi-Blind event by registering 3 out of 5 solved cubes in 28:25. His dexterity carried over to the Clock event, where he clinched victory with a 16.09 average, narrowly beating Adrian Ismael Sirpa Pinto who recorded 16.20. Across the remaining rounds, Joseph Daniel Blas Sanchez took the 6x6x6 Cube in 2:23.88 and Skewb in 6.97, Fabricio Andrés Yañez Terrazas won the 7x7x7 Cube with a 4:06.73 mark, Adrian Ismael Sirpa Pinto claimed Megaminx in 44.68, and Antonio Adorno Suarez secured the Pyraminx crown with a 3.35 average.

The 2x2x2 Cube event saw Amaru Aloys Ancasi Pevec earn the top spot on the podium with a rapid 2.95 average. That bracket proved to be a hotbed for rapid growth across the board, with official marks updated for numerous competitors including Jose Antonio Ibarra Ovando, Jesús Álvaro Tejerina Sosa, Haider David Vasquez Ferrufino, Alvaro Javier Viscarra Catacora, and Santiago Asaf Rodríguez Ticona. For the organizing crew, processing hundreds of solves accurately made the quickfire rounds a logistical triumph that highlighted the depth of local speed cubing talent.

Beyond the championship podiums, De La Sierra Cubing 2023 offered a wealth of personal milestones that showed the true spirit of the weekend. Juan Marcos Mercado Vaca showed stunning progress on the main puzzle, setting a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 31.19 that was 51.8 percent faster than his prior mark, alongside a first ever attempt at the 2x2x2 Cube of 18.70. Jose Manuel Murillo Espinoza delivered a 10.12 Pyraminx personal best to improve by 45.9 percent while also attempting Megaminx for the first time with a time of 5:02.41. Nicolas Armella Laime lowered his Pyraminx personal best by 44.9 percent down to 4.72 on his way to 9th place, and Haider David Vasquez Ferrufino trimmed 43.2 percent off his 2x2x2 Cube mark to register a swift 3.01.

The breakthroughs continued as Carlos Andres Pinto Muñoz dropped his 3x3x3 Cube personal best to 25.44, a 41.1 percent leap, while Edison Janco Ayna logged a 21.64 personal best in the same event alongside a first ever attempt at Pyraminx in 10.38. Pablo Antonio Cortez Charupa took on five events across the schedule, recording first ever attempts in the 4x4x4 Cube at 2:01.80, the 2x2x2 Cube at 9.80, and the Pyraminx at 18.69. Meanwhile, Henrique Pietro Muraro de Oliveira made an impressive first WCA competition appearance, taking on seven events, securing a 4th place finish in Clock, and logging opening career marks of 14.27 in the 3x3x3 Cube and 21.37 in 3x3x3 One-Handed.

When the final timers were cleared, Bolivian competitors had amassed 35 podium places, while entrants from Peru secured 5. From the first rounds on Saturday to the closing finals on Sunday, the dedication of the organizers and volunteers made the extensive multi-event programme possible. The tournament closed as a celebrated showcase of community effort and athletic resolve, leaving Santa Cruz ready for the next chapter of the season.