Elyu Sides 2024

A razor-thin margin of two tenths of a second decided the premier event at Robinson La Union as Marc Arvinson J. Padilla registered a sub-ten 9.99 average in 3x3x3 Cube to take first place. Because the schedule at Elyu Sides 2024 condensed the classic event into a direct single-round final, competitors had no preliminary phase to settle nerves or adjust to conditions. Padilla handled the sudden pressure of the one-and-done setup cleanly, piecing together a best single of 9.35 to narrowly hold off Clifford Orcales at 10.19 and Louie Jay Quibote at 10.67 in an intense display of classic speedcubing.

Held on November 30, 2024, the WCA competition brought together a field of 13 competitors in San Fernando City, Philippines. The compact single-day program distributed 11 total rounds across seven distinct disciplines. Organizing the timetable with direct finals for several events alongside multi-round brackets for side puzzles shaped the pacing of the entire day. Participants in the regional cubing competition encountered varied cut structures and round progressions, demanding rapid adaptations as the tournament transitioned between high-order layers, specialized twisty puzzles, and traditional Rubik's Cube formats.

The straightforward format of the 4x4x4 Cube final also placed immediate demands on execution without the safety net of preliminary heats. Louie Jay Quibote capitalized on the direct final setup, producing the winning average of 36.30 and the event single of 29.11 across the 11-competitor field. Quibote managed the larger mechanism with precision to capture top honors over Clifford Orcales, who took second place with a 37.45 average, while Marc Arvinson J. Padilla completed the podium in third with a mark of 40.74.

Multi-round events offered a contrasting competitive rhythm, giving finalists an opening phase to secure qualification before returning to the tables for the concluding solves. In Clock, Renaud B. Manansala set the standard through two rounds, logging a dominant 4.94 winning average in the final round alongside a blistering single of 3.18. Odrei John Patajo secured second place with a 7.49 average, followed closely by Angelo Siador in third place at 7.81, as the dial-turning event showcased rapid adjustments between the preliminary stage and the championship round.

Pyraminx similarly featured a two-round progression that tested consistency across multiple starts. Marc Arvinson J. Padilla navigated the cut structure effectively, claiming his second gold of Elyu Sides 2024 by posting a winning average of 5.49 and a best single of 5.11 in the final. Louie Jay Quibote pushed the pace to earn second place on a 6.33 average, while Dylan Arteims N. Fernandez secured third with an 8.29 average, demonstrating sharp turning on the tetrahedral puzzle across both phases of competition.

Beyond the top steps of the podium, several participants produced remarkable personal milestones across the schedule. Jomar Labsan delivered an outstanding performance in 4x4x4 Cube, securing 9th place while achieving a personal best single of 58.10, which cut 47.9 percent off his prior benchmark of 1:51.48. Meanwhile, Mark Lawrence Ologenio took on four separate events throughout the day, earning a 6th place finish in Megaminx behind a personal best time of 3:44.07 that shaved 45.3 percent off his previous 6:49.36 mark, alongside a 17.4 percent improvement in 3x3x3 Cube to 17.18 and a 7.8 percent reduction in 4x4x4 Cube to 1:44.58.

The longer Megaminx discipline tested endurance through two rounds of competition. Crysky Ralph R. Sapitula delivered an unmatched performance on the dodecahedral puzzle, capturing the title with a sub-50 winning average of 49.80 and a fast single of 48.13. Louie Jay Quibote claimed his third podium finish of the weekend by taking second place with an average of 1:07.31, while Clifford Orcales finished in third position on a mark of 1:24.07, proving the physical stamina required across extended solve counts.

In Skewb, Dylan Arteims N. Fernandez demonstrated mastery over the corner-turning cube across two rounds, securing the title with a 4.98 final average and a round-best single of 2.22. Renaud B. Manansala claimed second place with an 8.63 average, followed by Clifford Orcales in third at 9.24. Manansala soon returned to the winner circle in Square-1, which utilized a single direct final format, taking the top spot with a 23.98 average ahead of Fernandez at 52.35 and Quibote at 56.56.

When the final solves concluded at Elyu Sides 2024, the full slate of 3x3 results and side event tables reflected a balanced and competitive tournament across all seven categories. Every one of the 21 podium places was earned by competitors representing the Philippines, highlighting the depth of local speed cubing talent in San Fernando City, Philippines. The blend of direct finals and multi-round brackets pushed participants to perform under distinct tactical pressures, concluding the 2024 competition calendar on a sharp competitive note.

Naging sentro ng bilis at pambihirang galing ang Robinson La Union sa pagtitipon ng mga pinakamahuhusay na manlalaro sa San Fernando City, Philippines noong Nobyembre 30, 2024. Sa bawat sulok ng bulwagan, maririnig ang mabilis na lagutok ng mga plastik na piyesa habang maingat na sinusuri ng mga kalahok ang bawat anggulo ng kanilang mga puzzle bago simulan ang kanilang opisyal na pagtatangka. Labintatlong kalahok ang nagtunggali sa pitong magkakaibang kategorya sa kabuuang labing-isang rounds, na nagbigay ng isang buong araw ng matinding labanan sa lamesa.

Bagamat nakatuon ang pansin ng marami sa tradisyonal na mga kategorya, ang kahusayan sa mga espesyal na sangay tulad ng one-handed at side events ay nagpapakita ng kakaibang antas ng dedikasyon at pambihirang kontrol sa daliri. Ang bawat galaw ay nangangailangan ng eksaktong pagpaplano at pambihirang memorya, lalo na sa mga puzzle na sumusubok sa liksi ng kamay at talas ng isip sa ilalim ng matinding oras. Sa ganitong diwa ng masusing pagsasanay sumabak ang mga kalahok sa buong paligsahan.

Sa pangunahing 3x3x3 Cube event, na kilala ng marami bilang tradisyunal na Rubik's Cube, nagpamalas ng pambihirang bilis si Marc Arvinson J. Padilla upang masungkit ang unang puwesto. Nagtala siya ng winning average na 9.99 at nagrehistro ng pinakamabilis na solong oras na 9.35. Pumangalawa sa naturang labanan si Clifford Orcales na may average na 10.19 at nagtala rin ng mabilis na single na 8.89, habang pumangatlo naman si Louie Jay Quibote na nagtala ng average na 10.67.

Hindi nagpaawat si Marc Arvinson J. Padilla sa kaniyang kampanya matapos niyang dominahin din ang Pyraminx event. Nagwagi siya gamit ang winning average na 5.49 at best single na 5.11 matapos ang dalawang rounds ng kompetisyon. Pumangalawa sa kaniya si Louie Jay Quibote na may average na 6.33, samantalang nakuha naman ni Dylan Arteims N. Fernandez ang ikatlong puwesto sa pamamagitan ng kaniyang average na 8.29 sa parehong dibisyon.

Ipinamalas naman ni Louie Jay Quibote ang kaniyang lakas sa mas malalaking puzzle matapos niyang pangunahan ang 4x4x4 Cube kung saan labing-isang manlalaro ang naglaban. Nakamit ni Quibote ang tagumpay sa pamamagitan ng winning average na 36.30 at napakabilis na best single na 29.11. Sumunod sa kaniya sa podium si Clifford Orcales na nagtala ng average na 37.45 para sa ikalawang puwesto, habang si Marc Arvinson J. Padilla ang pumangatlo na may average na 40.74.

Sa Megaminx, nagpakita ng solidong laro si Crysky Ralph R. Sapitula upang maiuwi ang kampeonato laban sa walong kalahok sa loob ng dalawang rounds. Nagtala si Sapitula ng winning average na 49.80 at best single na 48.13 upang pangunahan ang kategorya. Pumangalawa sa podium si Louie Jay Quibote na nagrehistro ng 1:07.31, habang nakuha naman ni Clifford Orcales ang ikatlong puwesto tangan ang kaniyang average na 1:24.07.

Naging makulay rin ang labanan sa mga puzzle na may kakaibang mekanismo kung saan nagpasiklab si Renaud B. Manansala sa dalawang magkaibang larangan. Sa Clock event, nakuha ni Manansala ang panalo tangan ang winning average na 4.94 at best single na 3.18, kung saan tinalo niya sina Odrei John Patajo na may 7.49 at Angelo Siador na may 7.81. Nagwagi rin si Manansala sa Square-1 sa pamamagitan ng average na 23.98, habang sa Skewb naman ay nangibabaw si Dylan Arteims N. Fernandez na nagtala ng panalong average na 4.98.

Sa likod ng mga pangunahing resulta sa bawat cubing competition, nagpakitang-gilas ang iba pang manlalaro na nagtala ng mga bagong personal na talaan. Si Paolo Baladad, na lumahok sa dalawang kategorya, ay nakapagtala ng kahanga-hangang 3x3x3 Cube personal best na 11.48 na mas mabilis ng 24.6 porsyento mula sa kaniyang dating 15.23, bukod pa sa kaniyang 4x4x4 Cube personal best na 57.17 at ikapitong puwesto sa 3x3x3. Samantala, sumabak si Jamel J. Galang sa apat na kategorya at nagtala ng Skewb personal best na 6.79 na mas mabilis ng 14.2 porsyento, Clock personal best na 7.75 na mas mabilis ng 9.1 porsyento upang makuha ang ikaapat na puwesto, at 4x4x4 Cube personal best na 1:14.55.

Ang matagumpay na pagdaraos ng Elyu Sides 2024 sa taong 2024 ay muling nagpatunay sa patuloy na pag-unlad ng komunidad sa Hilagang Luzon. Bawat round sa opisyal na WCA competition na ito ay nagbigay-daan upang maipamalas ang husay ng mga Pilipinong manlalaro sa speedcubing, na nag-iwan ng magagandang alaala at panibagong inspirasyon para sa mga susunod pang laban sa darating na panahon.