Ecuador Nationals 2024

Anthony Gerard Álvarez Ludeña showed his endurance at the Ecuador Nationals 2024, winning the 5x5x5 Cube with a commanding average of 1:11.96. The big cubes challenge a speedcuber’s stamina and focus, demanding intricate reduction methods before the puzzle can be solved like a traditional Rubik's Cube. The victory was part of a dominant weekend for Álvarez Ludeña, who proved to be the standout performer across multiple events in Cuenca, Ecuador. His best single in the 5x5x5 was 1:07.30, holding off Caleb Salcedo Rivera and Josué Ordóñez to top the podium.

The 6x6x6 and 7x7x7 cubes provided further tests of endurance for the fifty competitors gathered at the Salón de la Ciudad de Cuenca from October 10 to 12, 2024. Caleb Salcedo Rivera triumphed in the 6x6x6 Cube, securing a winning average of 2:14.97, with a best single of 2:08.92. Josué Ordóñez, who finished second in the 6x6x6, found his victory in the marathon 7x7x7 Cube event. Ordóñez recorded a winning average of 3:27.26 and a fastest single of 3:11.62, showcasing the intense concentration required to navigate the largest puzzles in this speedcubing competition.

The standard 3x3x3 Cube remained a central focus of the weekend, with three rounds determining the ultimate champion. Anthony Gerard Álvarez Ludeña again rose to the top, winning with an average of 8.93 seconds and a best single of 7.91 seconds. Mateo Baruc Mero Benavides took second place with a 9.50-second average, and Caleb Salcedo Rivera claimed third with 10.62 seconds. The 3x3 results highlighted the fierce competition at the top of the field, as solvers pushed their limits to break the ten-second barrier.

In the smaller and alternative puzzles, speed cubing specialists made their mark. Raúl Gómez took the 2x2x2 Cube title with an average of 2.36 seconds and a best single of 1.87 seconds, though multiple national records were set in this event throughout the rounds. Adrián Leandro Pazmiño Aldás won the Pyraminx with a 4.43-second average, while Carlos Mario Ortiz Alay secured the Skewb victory with an average of 6.26 seconds. Pablo Sebastián Flores Peralta proved his versatility by winning both Clock, with an average of 9.23 seconds, and Square-1, averaging 16.26 seconds.

Beyond the main podiums, the competition saw impressive personal milestones from dedicated local competitors. David Miranda recorded a remarkable Skewb personal best of 2.06 seconds, improving upon his previous best by a massive 60.3 percent. Anthony Mishquero took on a grueling eleven events, delivering a 6x6x6 Cube personal best of 4:08.88, which was 46.9 percent faster than his prior record, and completed his first ever attempt at the 7x7x7 Cube. Yarik Sebastián Chalán Lozano also achieved significant progress, landing a 4x4x4 Cube personal best of 55.31 seconds, 23 percent faster than before, while making his first ever attempts at the Megaminx and 5x5x5 Cube.

The spirit of a WCA competition is often found in the dedication of newer solvers taking on challenging events for the first time. Jose Andrés Armas Reascos made his debut at a WCA event, tackling eight different events and completing his first ever attempts at the 4x4x4 Cube, 5x5x5 Cube, and Pyraminx. Samir Felipe Espinoza Landivar, competing in six events, successfully registered his first ever attempts at the 3x3x3 Cube, Pyraminx, and 5x5x5 Cube. José Isaac Manrique Galarza broadened his repertoire by completing his first ever attempts at the Pyraminx, Megaminx, and 4x4x4 Cube. Ernesto Farias and Agustin Nicolas Arévalo Arévalo both completed their first ever attempts at the 3x3x3 Cube, embracing the challenge of the competitive environment.

Blindfolded solving added another layer of complexity to the weekend, requiring competitors to memorize the puzzle's state before donning a blindfold. Anthony Gerard Álvarez Ludeña won the 3x3x3 Blindfolded event with an average of 1:10.99. Luis Fernando Aldás Cuestas dominated the big cube blindfolded events, winning the 4x4x4 Blindfolded with a best single of 7:14.81 and the 5x5x5 Blindfolded with a remarkable 19:15.00 single. Aldás Cuestas also triumphed in 3x3x3 Multi-Blind, scoring 11 out of 11 cubes in 46 minutes and 55 seconds.

The Ecuador Nationals 2024 concluded as a successful showcase of skill across seventeen different events. From the lightning-fast 2x2x2 solves to the methodical marathon of the 7x7x7, the depth of talent in Cuenca was evident. With a blend of established champions like Álvarez Ludeña and a strong field of emerging solvers pushing their personal boundaries, the weekend reinforced the thriving nature of the local community. As competitors pack away their puzzles, the results from this year will stand as benchmarks for the seasons ahead.