Fundación de Cuenca Open 2023

A blistering 8.54 single from Anthony Gavilanes Coello set the tone for a thrilling showdown in the 3x3x3 Cube, anchoring his winning 10.16 final average in Cuenca, Ecuador. The high-caliber display highlighted a packed schedule of speedcubing at the C.C. Milenium Plaza. Staged across nine rounds on April 15, 2023, the event gathered 34 competitors ready to battle across six different disciplines. The premier Rubik's Cube category delivered drama from the opening heats through to the final solves, establishing a fierce standard for the entire gathering.

The morning schedule opened with rapid-fire rotations on the smaller puzzles, where the 2x2x2 Cube saw 21 competitors vie for supremacy across two rounds. Sebastián Mateo España Chango captured the event title with a sharp 3.72 average and a round-best single of 3.32, holding off Josué Ordóñez who placed second at 4.17. Luis Fernando Aldás Cuestas completed the top three with an average of 4.27. The early sessions demonstrated exceptional technical discipline, setting a frantic pace for every cubing competition participant.

As the day shifted toward side events, Luis Fernando Aldás Cuestas demonstrated remarkable mastery on unconventional mechanisms. Aldás Cuestas claimed a double victory, winning the Pyraminx with an 8.72 average and a 6.24 single against a field of 14 competitors, edging Josué Ordóñez who finished second at 8.79 and Sebastián Mateo España Chango in third at 9.74. Aldás Cuestas followed that up in Skewb, taking top honors with a 7.03 average and a 6.15 single, narrowly besting España Chango who marked a 7.07 average for second place.

Midday brought intense focus in the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, where seven finalists tested their single-arm dexterity. Josué Ordóñez took the crown with a composed 20.37 average and a 19.64 single. Ordóñez maintained composure across all five solves to hold off Anthony Gavilanes Coello, who placed second with a 23.81 average, while Luis Fernando Aldás Cuestas secured third at 26.86. The one-handed contest proved to be one of the most technical battles of the entire WCA competition program.

Away from the main podium battles, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones across their individual schedules. Yarik Sebastián Chalán Lozano took on five events and achieved a 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 3.64, cutting 53.3 percent off his prior mark, alongside a 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best of 29.42 which was 46.9 percent faster, and a Pyraminx personal best of 7.93. Glenn Mathias Cansing Macias notched a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 19.41, trimming 47 percent from his previous best, while also improving his 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 8.05. Ronmel Fabian Tenezaca Rios registered a 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 7.12, which was 45.9 percent faster, and finished fourth in Skewb. Isaac Rafael Curillo Muñoz entered four events, posting a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 24.90 that improved his record by 35.7 percent, while making his first ever attempt at Pyraminx with a 12.15 and his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube with a 10.38.

The depth of progress continued across the venue as fresh faces and dedicated solvers tackled new challenges. Donovan Sander Suarez Tejena logged a 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best of 36.51 to go 33.3 percent faster, placed fifth in Skewb, and posted his first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube at 1:49.44 and his first ever attempt at Pyraminx at 18.54. Neithan Samuel Cárdenas Carpintero took ninth place in the 3x3x3 Cube with a personal best of 14.65, a 20 percent improvement, and recorded his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube with a 7.78. Martin Alejandro Sinchiguano Balseca embraced his first WCA competition by taking on four events, earning sixth place in Skewb, while logging his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube at 11.83, first ever attempt at Skewb at 21.87, and first ever attempt at Pyraminx at 15.89. Salomon Guillermo Cansing Macias also debuted in his first WCA competition, recording his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube at 12.18 and his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Cube at 25.65.

The afternoon progressed to the heavy rotational challenges of the 4x4x4 Cube, drawing nine competitors to the tables. Anthony Gavilanes Coello dominated the single-round contest, logging the fastest single at 44.60 on his way to an unmatched winning average of 49.23. Josué Ordóñez tracked closely behind with a 50.71 average for second place, while Sebastián Mateo España Chango locked down third place with an average of 53.30, capping an exhausting and precise display of speed cubing big-cube mechanics.

The finale returned to the classic 3x3x3 Cube, narrowing 32 original contenders down through three rounds of elimination. Gavilanes Coello proved unassailable, backing up his preliminary rounds with the title-winning 10.16 average. Sebastián Mateo España Chango claimed second place with a 12.12 average, while Josué Ordóñez stepped onto the third podium step with a 12.40 mark. The clean 3x3 results brought an electric finish to a day of unrelenting competition.

With 18 podium positions claimed entirely by domestic solvers, the Fundación de Cuenca Open 2023 closed out an unforgettable day of competition at C.C. Milenium Plaza. The blend of seasoned podium regulars and ambitious competitors establishing personal bests defined an exceptional gathering in Cuenca. As the tables were cleared and timers packed away, the standard across all six events underscored the rising talent in the region.