Desafío Cubo CRAI UCA 2024

Sixty-two competitors gathered in San Salvador, El Salvador, on September 22, 2024, setting the stage for a packed single-day speedcubing tournament. The CRAI - Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas played host to the intense gathering, delivering nine rounds of action across seven different puzzles. Speed cubing enthusiasts from across the region arrived ready to test their preparation, with a slate ranging from standard twisty puzzles to complex geometric challenges. With 58 entrants contesting the main event alone, the schedule demanded rapid turnarounds and sharp concentration from the very first solves.

The morning schedule opened with diverse tests of spatial mastery and turning efficiency. Megaminx got the competition running on all cylinders as Juan Jose Ajcam of Guatemala locked in the victory with a 46.87 winning average and a round-best 43.53 single. Alexander Batz secured second place with 48.29, while Shalóm Melquisedec Batz Rodríguez earned third with 52.22. In the heavyweight 6x6x6 Cube contest, Guatemala's Brian Bernabé Bolaños Arreaga set an imposing standard, capturing first place behind a 2:01.85 average and a 1:45.81 single. Oscar Nieto of Colombia took second with 2:08.74, followed by José Enrique Jiménez representing the home nation in third.

As the midpoint of the day approached, Desafío Cubo CRAI UCA 2024 shifted into specialized formats where distinct technical proficiencies came to the forefront. The Square-1 event produced a compelling clash, won by Daniel Escobar of Guatemala with an 18.60 average, holding off El Salvador's Elvis Isaí Rosales Hernández who took second at 20.06 and Oscar Nieto in third at 22.18. Meanwhile, 3x3x3 Blindfolded pushed contestants into pure mental recall. Gabriel Barrios delivered a stunning 20.19 winning single for Guatemala, while Samuel Cuellar Ramirez took second place with 1:23.64 and Joel Hernández placed third in 2:32.95.

The afternoon progressed with rapid rotations in the side events, keeping the venue humming before the premier event resumed. Angelo Melgar of the USA claimed the Pyraminx title in a competitive 40-player field, turning in an average of 3.85 to edge out Gabriel Barrios at 4.03 and Shalóm Melquisedec Batz Rodríguez at 4.48. Skewb action was equally tight as Shalóm Melquisedec Batz Rodríguez grabbed the top spot on the podium with a 6.26 average, closely pursued by José Eduardo Palacios Castro with 6.36 and Brian Bernabé Bolaños Arreaga rounding out the top three with 6.45.

Beneath the podium battles, several competitors produced breakthrough personal milestones across the schedule. Armando Javier Guevara Escalante took on three events, completing his first ever attempt at 6x6x6 Cube with a 3:04.40 result while dropping his Skewb mark by 34.8 percent to 6.33. Emmanuel Antonio Calderón Bojorquez logged his first attempt at Pyraminx with a 9.55 while cutting his 3x3x3 Cube time by 31.5 percent to 26.60. Brayan Alexander Laínez Villatoro took on Pyraminx for the first time with a 9.87 mark and improved his classic solve to 20.83, a 31.3 percent drop. Rafael Eduardo Leiva Cartagena posted inaugural attempts in Skewb at 16.86 and Pyraminx at 12.53 alongside a personal best of 20.57.

The depth of progress continued across the lineup of athletes pushing their limits at this cubing competition. Roberto Isaac Dominguez Colindres shaved 28.1 percent off his Skewb mark down to 18.88 and reduced his 3x3x3 Cube time by 23.3 percent to 20.19. Mateo Rogel Guzmán achieved a 4th-place finish in Skewb on the back of a 4.23 solve, which was 23.9 percent faster than his prior best. Jorge Emilio Brizuela Chávez recorded an impressive 23 percent improvement in Pyraminx with a 10.42 time, while Mauricio Enrique Guzmán Rivera made his first WCA competition appearance, taking on four events and posting a best finish of 14th in Megaminx alongside a 1:54.07 debut.

The climax of the day centered on the traditional 3x3 results, narrowing the field through three intense rounds. José Eduardo Palacios Castro delivered a highlight for the home crowd by setting a National record single of 6.63 on the Rubik's Cube. Shalóm Melquisedec Batz Rodríguez kept the pressure high throughout the bracket, posting a 7.29 single and an 8.09 average during the progression. Across the field, ten different competitors recorded official marks under the ten-second barrier during the elimination stages, setting up a fiercely contested final round.

When the final round concluded, Brian Bernabé Bolaños Arreaga stood atop the podium once again to claim his second victory of the day, logging a decisive 8.42 winning average and an 8.04 best single. Shalóm Melquisedec Batz Rodríguez secured second place with an 8.82 average, and Daniel Escobar completed an all-Guatemala podium sweep in third at 9.87. Desafío Cubo CRAI UCA 2024 drew to a close with Guatemala capturing thirteen podium places, El Salvador earning five, Colombia claiming two, and the USA taking one in a memorable day of racing against the clock.

As the timing gear was packed away, the single-day showcase in San Salvador proved how vibrant the region has become across all seven disciplines. The mix of seasoned title winners, record-breaking individual solves, and breakthrough milestones highlighted the shared momentum building toward the next season of competition.