Dolphin Cup ISP II 2025

David Montenegro delivered the standout performance at the International School of Panama by posting a winning average of 8.60 seconds to take top honors in the 3x3x3 Cube. That commanding result, backed by a competition-best single of 7.98 seconds, set the pace for a tournament defined by diverse formats. A gathering of 41 competitors assembled in Panama City, Panama on September 20, 2025, taking on eight rounds across five distinct disciplines that challenged everything from pure turning speed to endurance and one-handed coordination.

The full slate showed off the rich mechanical variety of modern speedcubing. From the compact two-layered puzzle to the complex dodecahedron of the Megaminx and the heavyweight layers of the 6x6x6 Cube, the Dolphin Cup ISP II 2025 tested solvers across very different dimensions. Participants shifted gears quickly throughout the one-day schedule, proving that a major cubing competition demands tactical adaptability as much as raw mechanical dexterity. Every discipline required its own dedicated skillset, producing dramatic races for each podium.

Montenegro underlined his adaptability by doubling his gold medal haul in the 2x2x2 Cube. In a rapid final that featured 34 competitors overall, he captured first place with an average of 3.30 seconds and a best single of 2.92 seconds. The margin at the top remained razor-thin, as Gustavo Ross earned second place with a 3.35 average, while Omar Aguilar took third place with a mark of 3.88. Montenegro's ability to maintain composure across both standard speed events established him as one of the weekend's dominant forces.

Omar Aguilar countered with an exceptional display across the larger and alternative puzzles, securing two event victories of his own. In 3x3x3 One-Handed, where 19 participants took the stage, Aguilar captured the title with a 16.10 winning average and a 13.82 best single, edging out Montenegro's 16.38 average and Ross's 16.92. Aguilar later conquered the grueling 6x6x6 Cube, leading the eight-player field with an impressive 2:16.20 average and a 2:06.96 single, finishing ahead of Egdar Castillo at 2:48.26 and Ross at 3:00.55.

The 12-sided Megaminx offered another layer of variety to the lineup, drawing 15 entrants into a test of pattern recognition across twelve colorful faces. Ezequiel Cedeño mastered the complex geometry to finish first with a winning average of 1:04.62, anchored by the only sub-minute single of the event at 59.11 seconds. Aguilar claimed his fourth podium of the day by securing second place with a 1:06.66 average, while Egdar Castillo rounded out the top three with a strong 1:07.99 mark.

Behind the headline finals, many competitors achieved breakthrough milestones across multiple formats. Gabriel Arrue Mcclarin tackled five events, recording his first ever attempt at 6x6x6 Cube with a time of 4:05.38, while slicing 48 percent off his 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best down to 20.10 and improving his Megaminx mark by 43 percent to 1:35.99. Hajoon Yang delivered massive improvements, dropping his 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 69.1 percent to 5.42 seconds and cutting his 3x3x3 Cube best by 41.4 percent to 21.24. Maykol Aguilar completed four events, logging a first Megaminx attempt of 2:14.35, a first One-Handed effort of 23.40, and a 32.6 percent cut on his 2x2x2 single to 3.20.

That spirit of growth continued across the roster at this WCA competition. Tiago Andrés González De León earned fifth in Megaminx while lowering his best to 1:13.53, an improvement of 35.5 percent, alongside cuts of 23.8 percent in One-Handed and 8.2 percent in 3x3x3. David Isaac Isaza Delgado reduced his 2x2x2 Cube best by 37.3 percent to 4.02 and his 3x3x3 Cube time by 29.7 percent to 18.78. Sebastián Iglesias achieved a 38.9 percent personal best drop in 2x2x2 to 5.37, while Sherina S. Chablani registered a first 2x2x2 attempt of 23.30 alongside a 15.5 percent improvement in 3x3x3. Making his official speed cubing debut, Arnie Joel Wilder Zavala Vargas took on three events, posting marks of 21.76 in 3x3x3, 1:09.25 in One-Handed, and 2:01.96 in Megaminx.

The final 3x3 results in the classic Rubik's Cube brought the competition full circle, highlighting the depth of Panamanian talent that swept all 15 podium positions across the tournament. Montenegro's 8.60 average topped the 39-competitor bracket, followed by Aguilar in second at 10.75 and Ross in third at 10.77. The Dolphin Cup ISP II 2025 concluded as a comprehensive showcase of twisting dexterity, proving that success in modern cubing relies on mastering puzzles of every shape and scale as solvers look ahead to the next season.