Ekeko Cubing 2023

Inside the Parque de las Culturas in La Paz, Bolivia, dozens of solving mats and timers lined the tables across two busy days on January 21 and 22. A bustling energy filled the venue as 83 competitors converged for a packed weekend of speedcubing. The tournament hall brought together established champions and a massive wave of fresh contenders eager to test their skills in an official setting. With 12 events and 21 rounds on the schedule, the gathering served as a lively showcase for the rapid growth of the local scene during the 2023 season.

A major story of Ekeko Cubing 2023 was the sheer number of newcomers stepping up to the tournament tables for the very first time. For dozens of participants, this WCA competition marked their first venture into the world of official timers, judges, and regulations. Speed cubing in the region has drawn in an ambitious group of players who arrived ready to log their initial marks across traditional puzzles, side events, and high-order cubes alike, instantly expanding the depth of the regional roster.

In the spotlight section of the weekend, several competitors delivered dramatic personal milestones that went far beyond the main leaderboard. Inti Mario Cesar Laura Huanca delivered a massive breakthrough in Megaminx, logging a personal best of 2:34.43 that cut 53.1 percent off his prior mark alongside a 12.79 single in the 3x3x3 Cube. Arturo Luna Lazcano entered six events, securing 13th place in Skewb with a first attempt of 18.46, while shaving 52.8 percent off his 5x5x5 Cube mark down to 4:03.41 and notching a Megaminx best of 3:14.69. Maximiliano Barrenechea enjoyed an exceptional weekend across six events, improving his 2x2x2 Cube single to 4.89 for a 61.6 percent drop, while taking his 3x3x3 Cube single to 20.89 and his Pyraminx mark to 8.02. Jacqueline Rocío Calle Quiroz recorded a 40.14 single in the 3x3x3 Cube, improving by 42.1 percent, and added a 13.60 best in the 2x2x2 Cube.

The surge of new attempts continued through the ranks as athletes expanded their repertoires. Ignacio Castro Moruno logged a first official 2x2x2 Cube attempt of 7.11 while lowering his 3x3x3 Cube best by 35.4 percent to 20.68 and his Pyraminx single to 9.91. For Gabriel Ignacio Correa Calle, this was a memorable debut as he tackled three events at his first WCA competition, recording marks of 26.33 in the 2x2x2 Cube, 44.41 in the 3x3x3 Cube, and 13.35 in the Pyraminx. Raphael Sebastian Mollericona Pallarico also made his debut, placing 12th in Skewb with a 9.37 attempt alongside a 32.88 in the 3x3x3 Cube and 9.21 in the 2x2x2 Cube. Stefano Gabriel Gottret Fernandez marked his first tournament with three events, logging an 11.34 single in the 2x2x2 Cube, 42.82 in the 3x3x3 Cube, and 10.71 in the Pyraminx.

When the final rounds got underway, the 3x3 results took center stage as 79 competitors battled through three rounds on the classic Rubik's Cube. Moisés Marco Quispe Arellano proved untouchable in the final, stringing together a 9.81 winning average and a single of 9.34 to secure first place. Axel Elias Espinoza Ribera took second on the podium with a 10.00 average, followed by Xavier Antonio Balderrama in third with 11.05. Quispe Arellano added another gold to his tally in Skewb, taking victory with a 4.27 average and a 3.83 single.

The big-cube categories belonged entirely to Josias Milan Sirpa Pinto, who orchestrated a stunning sweep across every high-order puzzle. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Sirpa Pinto secured first place with a 36.00 average, outpacing Peru contender Joseph Daniel Blas Sanchez at 40.54 and Rodrigo Ugarte at 40.89. Sirpa Pinto went on to take the 5x5x5 Cube title with a 58.14 average, the 6x6x6 Cube victory with a 1:58.81 mark, and the 7x7x7 Cube crown in 2:55.38, establishing total control across the long-format events.

Fast-paced sprint events delivered thrilling conclusions as well. In the 2x2x2 Cube final, Amaru Aloys Ancasi Pevec captured first place with a sub-three average of 2.98, edging out Claudio Andre Gomez Villca at 3.03 and Josias Milan Sirpa Pinto at 3.68. Rodrigo Ugarte claimed top honors in Pyraminx with an average of 4.47, Fabricio Andrés Yañez Terrazas won the Megaminx event with a 1:00.05 average, and Samuel Antonio Cruz Coareti prevailed in Square-1 with an 11.75 winning average.

Solving without vision demanded immense concentration, and Juan Dilan Nina Magueño rose to the occasion in both memory-based disciplines. Nina Magueño took the 3x3x3 Blindfolded title with a winning average of 1:09.88, having produced a best single of 52.82 to finish ahead of Joel Mamani Tumiri and Sebastián Morón Mariscal. In 3x3x3 Multi-Blind, Nina Magueño sealed another victory by successfully solving all 7 cubes out of 7 attempted in a time of 40:34, while Mamani Tumiri earned second place by completing 6 out of 6 in 30:04.

By the time the final timers were packed away, Ekeko Cubing 2023 concluded as a landmark gathering in La Paz. Across every bracket, Bolivia took 35 podium positions alongside 1 for Peru, showing the impressive strength and competitive depth of the host country. With dozens of newcomers earning their first official times and seasoned champions setting high benchmarks, the cubing competition delivered a memorable chapter that will fuel the region throughout the year.