Elyu Cube Clash III 2026

Inside SM City La Union, the familiar sound of plastic pieces shifting at lightning speed filled the air as thirty-six solvers gathered for a full day of action. The gathering brought together dedicated enthusiasts and rising talents eager to test their skills against the timer. With tables arranged across the venue and timers ready for eight distinct disciplines, the atmosphere carried the focus of competitors determined to lower their personal records. The single-day showdown brought a packed schedule of eleven rounds, drawing participants to San Fernando City, Philippines for a celebration of mechanical puzzle solving.

Held on July 18, 2026, Elyu Cube Clash III 2026 delivered fierce rivalries and remarkable milestones across every category on the schedule. Competitors navigated everything from standard twisty puzzles to side events, showcasing the vast depth of the modern speedcubing community. With nineteen podium finishes earned by solvers representing the Philippines and five by the United States, the international flavour added extra intensity to each phase of the tournament. The tournament proved how quickly developing solvers are advancing, matching seasoned contenders turn for turn across the tables.

In the flagship Rubik's Cube event, Ayden Kainalu A. Bueno delivered a dominant performance across two rounds of intense solving. Topping the 3x3 results with an impressive winning average of 8.07 seconds, Bueno also registered the best single time of the tournament at 6.82 seconds. Marc Arvinson J. Padilla took second place with an average of 9.87 seconds, while Dylan Arteims N. Fernandez secured third place with an average of 9.98 seconds. The tight margins at the top demonstrated the incredible precision required in top-tier speed cubing.

Bueno continued to assert his control across multiple short-format events throughout the weekend. In the 2x2x2 Cube, Bueno captured first place with an average of 3.04 seconds and a best single solve of 1.62 seconds, finishing ahead of Kenneth Carlos at 3.59 seconds and Dylan Arteims N. Fernandez at 3.72 seconds. Bueno then claimed another victory in 3x3x3 One-Handed, recording a 16.39 average to edge Carlos, who took second in 17.44 seconds, and Louie Jay Quibote, who completed the podium in 17.63 seconds.

Beyond the top steps of the podium, Elyu Cube Clash III 2026 highlighted massive progress from competitors making rapid strides in their official careers. Gene Marc Aban dropped his 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 43.6 percent to 4.41 seconds and lowered his 3x3x3 Cube mark to 10.05 seconds, taking 11th place. Christian David Matala improved his 2x2x2 Cube best by 38.3 percent down to 5.62 seconds, took 11th in that event, set a 3x3x3 One-Handed best of 35.00 seconds, and improved his 3x3x3 Cube mark to 11.47 seconds. Blais Angelo Peligman Dao-anis shaved 38.3 percent off his 3x3x3 Cube best with a 13.86, dropped his 2x2x2 Cube mark to 6.20, and logged a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube of 1:33.01. Canxing Gao achieved a 27.5 percent drop in 3x3x3 One-Handed with 17.41 seconds, lowered his 3x3x3 Cube time to 8.78 seconds, and placed 4th in Skewb after a first ever attempt of 6.98 seconds.

Other competitors took on fresh challenges by tackling events on the official stage for the very first time. Matthew Mckenzie Rio Agatep Directo delivered an initial 3x3x3 One-Handed mark of 28.55 seconds, a first 2x2x2 Cube time of 4.56 seconds, a best finish of 8th in 2x2x2 Cube, and improved his 4x4x4 Cube mark by 21.9 percent to 1:16.56. David Laurence I. Gauna completed four events, posting a first attempt of 4.32 seconds in 2x2x2 Cube to finish 12th, along with debut marks of 1:24.31 in 4x4x4 Cube and 43.18 seconds in 3x3x3 One-Handed. Ralf Jan Capistrano logged a first Clock effort of 34.45 seconds, improved his 2x2x2 Cube mark by 15.8 percent to 6.47 seconds, and dropped his 4x4x4 Cube time to 2:11.20. Kent Austler N. Bunagan rounded out the breakthrough efforts with an initial 3x3x3 One-Handed result of 48.46 seconds, a first 2x2x2 Cube time of 9.05 seconds, and a 12.6 percent improvement in 3x3x3 Cube down to 25.07 seconds.

The big cube categories featured an exciting duel between Marc Arvinson J. Padilla and Bueno. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Padilla secured victory with a winning average of 33.75 seconds, followed by Bueno in 36.06 seconds and Renaud B. Manansala in 36.71 seconds. Padilla repeated his winning form in the 5x5x5 Cube, clocking a 58.21 average to narrowly beat Bueno, who recorded a 58.54 average, while Crysky Ralph R. Sapitula took third with a mark of 1:07.44.

Side events offered thrilling action across two rounds in select disciplines. Renaud B. Manansala won the Clock competition with a rapid average of 4.65 seconds, topping Dylan Arteims N. Fernandez at 7.01 seconds and Odrei John Patajo at 7.54 seconds. In Megaminx, Crysky Ralph R. Sapitula posted an outstanding 35.83 average to win over Kenneth Carlos at 1:04.52 and Victor Grant Velasco at 1:06.68. Carlos earned his own top honour in Skewb, taking victory with a 3.30 average ahead of Fernandez at 5.08 seconds and Velasco at 7.13 seconds.

As the final timers were packed away, Elyu Cube Clash III 2026 proved to be an inspiring showcase of determination and technical growth. Solvers across all skill levels departed with fresh personal milestones and valuable round experience at an official cubing competition. With so many young and developing contenders showing steep performance curves, the standard of play in the region continues to climb, setting an exciting foundation for every future WCA competition on the calendar.

Umapaw ang sigla sa SM City La Union habang mabilis na lumalagutok ang mga puzzle sa bawat mesa. Sa gitna ng San Fernando City, Philippines, nagtagpo ang tatlumpu't anim na manlalaro upang sumabak sa iba't ibang kategorya ng bilisan sa paglutas ng Rubik's Cube. Bago pa man naitala ang mga opisyal na numero, kapansin-pansin ang halo ng pananabik at kaba ng mga kalahok na humawak ng timer sa unang pagkakataon. Naging entablado ang bulwagan para sa isang araw ng masinsinang kompetisyon.

Ang torneo na kinilala bilang Elyu Cube Clash III 2026 ay naganap noong July 18, 2026, kung saan naglaban-laban ang mga manlalaro sa walong magkakaibang larangan sa kabuuang labing-isang rounds. Para sa mga baguhan, ang pagtapak sa opisyal na torneo ay isang mahalagang hakbang sa kanilang karanasan sa speedcubing. Mula sa mga tradisyonal na 3x3x3 Cube hanggang sa mas komplikadong mga hugis, bawat segundo sa orasan ay nagpakita ng dedikasyon ng bawat delegado sa bulwagan.

Sa pangunahing kategorya ng 3x3x3 Cube, nakuha ni Ayden Kainalu A. Bueno mula sa United States ang unang puwesto matapos magtala ng winning average na 8.07 at best single na 6.82 sa dalawang rounds laban sa tatlumpu't anim na katunggali. Sumunod sa kaniya si Marc Arvinson J. Padilla na nagtala ng 9.87 average para sa ikalawang puwesto, habang nakuha naman ni Dylan Arteims N. Fernandez ang ikatlong puwesto sa bilis na 9.98.

Nagpatuloy ang dominasyon ni Ayden Kainalu A. Bueno sa iba pang mabilisang kategorya sa buong paligsahan. Sa 2x2x2 Cube, nagwagi siya gamit ang winning average na 3.04 laban kay Kenneth Carlos na may 3.59 at Dylan Arteims N. Fernandez na nagtala ng 3.72. Sa 3x3x3 One-Handed, nanguna muli si Bueno sa pamamagitan ng winning average na 16.39, habang pumangalawa si Kenneth Carlos sa 17.44 at pumangatlo si Louie Jay Quibote na may 17.63 average.

Hindi rin nagpahuli si Marc Arvinson J. Padilla sa mas malalaking puzzle kung saan nagwagi siya ng dalawang gintong puwesto. Pinangunahan ni Padilla ang 4x4x4 Cube na may winning average na 33.75, habang pumangalawa si Ayden Kainalu A. Bueno sa 36.06 at pumangatlo si Renaud B. Manansala sa 36.71. Sa 5x5x5 Cube, muling nanguna si Padilla na may 58.21 winning average laban kay Bueno na nagtala ng 58.54 at Crysky Ralph R. Sapitula na may 1:07.44.

Sa iba pang larangan, nagtagumpay si Renaud B. Manansala sa Clock matapos magtala ng 4.65 winning average, habang pumangalawa si Dylan Arteims N. Fernandez sa 7.01 at pumangatlo si Odrei John Patajo sa 7.54. Sa Megaminx, nanguna si Crysky Ralph R. Sapitula na may 35.83 average laban kina Kenneth Carlos na may 1:04.52 at Victor Grant Velasco na may 1:06.68. Napanalunan naman ni Kenneth Carlos ang Skewb sa bilis na 3.30 average, kasunod sina Fernandez na may 5.08 at Velasco na may 7.13.

Sa likod ng mga panalo sa podium, marami sa mga kalahok ang nagtala ng mga kahanga-hangang personal na tagumpay sa kani-kanilang mga kategorya. Si Arvic Angelo Pacalso Ereño ay lumahok sa walong kategorya at nagtala ng 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best na 25.71 na mas mabilis nang 35.2 porsiyento sa dating 39.68, 3x3x3 Cube personal best na 11.04 na 18 porsiyento ang itinaas, at 5x5x5 Cube personal best na 1:43.79 na mas mabilis nang 14.3 porsiyento, habang nakuha ang ika-10 puwesto sa 5x5x5 Cube. Si Jerome Chris M. Valiente ay sumali rin sa walong kategorya, nakamit ang ika-10 puwesto sa Skewb, sumubok sa unang pagkakataon sa 3x3x3 One-Handed sa bilis na 41.98, at nagtala ng 5x5x5 Cube personal best na 3:40.10. Si John Magasib P. Pata ay nagtala ng ika-11 puwesto sa 5x5x5 Cube, nagtala ng 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best na 26.28 na 12.6 porsiyentong pagbuti, 3x3x3 Cube personal best na 13.51 na 5.6 porsiyentong bilis, at 5x5x5 Cube personal best na 2:55.35 sa anim na sinalihang kategorya. Si Jamel J. Galang naman ay lumaban sa limang kategorya at nakamit ang ika-9 na puwesto sa Skewb.

Naging napakaespesyal din ng araw para sa mga bagong sumabak sa kanilang pinakaunang WCA competition sa bulwagan. Si Ryuji Kehnn Pinas ay nagpakitang-gilas sa tatlong kategorya kung saan nakuha niya ang ika-18 puwesto sa 3x3x3 One-Handed matapos magtala ng unang opisyal na subok na 35.32, kasabay ng unang subok sa 2x2x2 Cube na 5.20 at 3x3x3 Cube na 20.29. Si Juan Quadra ay sumali sa dalawang kategorya at nakamit ang ika-22 puwesto sa 2x2x2 Cube na may unang subok na 3.77 at unang subok sa 3x3x3 Cube na 24.41. Sa dalawang kategorya, si Kyle Gabriel J. Clata ay nagtala ng ika-23 puwesto sa 3x3x3 One-Handed sa pamamagitan ng unang subok na 1:55.78 at unang subok sa 3x3x3 Cube na 36.28. Samantala, si Achilleus Jeanne K. Alvaro ay nakamit ang ika-21 puwesto sa 3x3x3 One-Handed sa kaniyang unang subok na 1:11.10 at nagtala ng unang subok sa 3x3x3 Cube na 20.19.

Sa pagtatapos ng araw, nag-iwan ng labing-siyam na podium finish ang Pilipinas habang lima naman ang naitala para sa United States. Ang pambihirang pagsasama ng mga batikang manlalaro at mga baguhang sumubok sa unang pagkakataon ang nagbigay-buhay sa buong cubing competition. Sa pagtiklop ng Elyu Cube Clash III 2026, babaunin ng bawat kalahok ang mga bagong aral at personal na tala bilang paghahanda sa susunod na yugto ng palakasan sa bansa.