General Trias Speedcubing Open II 2023

The competition hall at Robinsons General Trias was packed with focused activity on October 15, 2023, as timers started and puzzle stacks filled the tables across every round. Tables buzzed with continuous scrambling and inspection as 78 solvers gathered in General Trias, Cavite, Philippines to test their preparation across nine rounds of play. Long-format events sat alongside lightning-quick sprints, demanding sharp focus from the opening matches to the late-afternoon finals in a packed one-day showcase of speedcubing.

Nowhere is the mental margin thinner than in the big cube mean-of-three events, where a single lockup or slow sequence cannot be eliminated by a dropped counting time. In the 6x6x6 Cube, three consecutive solves decide the entire standings, leaving zero room for hesitation. Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc navigated that razor edge perfectly at General Trias Speedcubing Open II 2023, putting together three steady attempts to secure first place with a winning average of 1:41.87 and a best single of 1:41.53 among 12 competitors. Cairon Sumadchat took second place in 1:51.50, while Louie Jay Quibote claimed third in 1:52.16.

Palisoc carried that steady control directly into the 5x5x5 Cube, where he captured another victory with a 46.62 winning average and a fast single of 41.58 across 19 competitors. Brenton Angelo Lo Wong followed in second place with a 57.40 average, while Cairon Sumadchat completed the podium in third with 59.76. In this extended format, fluid execution and seamless stage transitions kept the top group separated from the rest of the pack.

Lo Wong asserted total dominance across the core puzzles at General Trias Speedcubing Open II 2023, taking top honours in three separate disciplines. His headline victory came in the premier 3x3x3 Cube, where 75 competitors battled across three complete rounds. Lo Wong captured first place with an impressive 6.85 winning average and a 5.90 single, leading the 3x3 results ahead of runner-up Aragon Martin Gonzales at 7.94 and Crimson Arradaza in third at 8.23. The classic Rubik's Cube final capped a brilliant showcase of composure.

In the 4x4x4 Cube, Lo Wong delivered another standout performance, leading a field of 38 competitors to finish first with a 28.89 average and a 26.35 best single. Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc earned second place with 30.59, followed by Aragon Martin Gonzales in third with 33.05. Lo Wong then picked up his third title of the day in the 2x2x2 Cube, pacing 63 solvers with a 2.36 average and a single of 1.61. Palisoc secured second with 2.59, while Jan Martin Villostas took third place with 2.72.

Away from the top steps of the podium, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones across the schedule. Xian Forasteros cut massive time from previous marks, logging a 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 7.09 that improved upon an earlier 14.29 by 50.4 percent, while also dropping their 3x3x3 Cube mark by 30.1 percent to 25.99. Gabriel Takeo Dalupan sliced 46.1 percent off their previous best in 3x3x3 One-Handed to set a personal record of 19.53, reaching 21st place. Joaqui Gerard Isip tackled five separate events, improving their 4x4x4 Cube mark by 32.2 percent to 44.92, trimming 3x3x3 Cube to 10.72, and registering a first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube of 1:46.41 for a 15th-place finish.

Other dedicated solvers marked important progress across multiple disciplines throughout the cubing competition. Albert Jacob Beneciro improved their 3x3x3 Cube best by 27.4 percent down to 17.97 and completed their first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube with an 8.00. Junielle Kyzen Tablan lowered their 3x3x3 Cube mark by 19 percent to 9.36, logged a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed of 30.80, and earned 24th in 2x2x2 Cube. Rafael Demian Sarreal notched a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed of 30.97 for 26th place, alongside double improvements in 3x3x3 Cube with 14.28 and 2x2x2 Cube with 6.62. David Bryan Katigbak registered first attempts in 4x4x4 Cube at 39.78 and 3x3x3 One-Handed at 20.99, while Minchan Kim took on three events and posted first official attempts in Megaminx at 4:52.56 and 2x2x2 Cube at 13.82.

The remaining puzzle categories delivered equally sharp competition. In 3x3x3 One-Handed, Crimson Arradaza took the gold with an average of 11.53 and a single of 10.51 among 37 entrants, finishing ahead of Brenton Angelo Lo Wong in second at 11.98 and Aragon Martin Gonzales in third at 12.90. The 12-sided Megaminx event saw Nicole Jnus Macalalad secure first place with a 45.47 winning average and a 36.82 single, topping Lo Wong in second at 49.61 and Francis Yuel B. Merced in third at 1:03.27.

The action at General Trias Speedcubing Open II 2023 demonstrated the depth of the local speed cubing community, which collected all 21 podium positions across seven distinct events. From high-stakes mean-of-three runs where every turn mattered to the rapid precision of short sprints, this WCA competition provided an intense test of nerve and skill. With scores of personal bests recorded across the roster, competitors wrapped up the day ready for the next round of challenges on the circuit.

Pitumpu't walong kalahok ang nagtipon sa Robinsons General Trias para sa isang maaksyong araw ng paglutas sa General Trias Speedcubing Open II 2023. Ang paligsahan na ginanap sa General Trias, Cavite, Philippines noong October 15, 2023 ay nagtampok ng pitong kaganapan at siyam na rounds. Mula sa pinakapopular na 3x3x3 Cube hanggang sa malalaking puzzle, naging sentro ito ng husay at determinasyon para sa komunidad ng speedcubing sa bansa ngayong taong 2023.

Sa pagsisimula ng araw, agad na umarangkada ang mga maikling event tulad ng 2x2x2 Cube kung saan 63 mga kalahok ang nagtagisan. Si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong ang nanguna sa naturang kategorya bitbit ang winning average na 2.36 at mabilis na single na 1.61. Pumangalawa sa kaniya si Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc na may average na 2.59 habang si Jan Martin Villostas naman ang sumungkit ng ikatlong puwesto sa naitalang 2.72 sa masikip na labanan.

Kasunod nito sa tanghali, sumalang ang mga manlalaro sa 4x4x4 Cube na dinaluhan ng 38 competitors. Muling ipinamalas ni Brenton Angelo Lo Wong ang kaniyang galing matapos dominahin ang kategorya gamit ang winning average na 28.89 at pinakamabilis na single na 26.35. Pumangalawa si Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc sa pamamagitan ng kaniyang 30.59 average, at pumangatlo naman si Aragon Martin Gonzales na nagrehistro ng 33.05 sa kanilang laban.

Pagdating sa mas malalaking puzzle, ibinida ni Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc ang kaniyang husay sa 5x5x5 Cube at 6x6x6 Cube. Sa 5x5x5 Cube, nagwagi siya tangan ang winning average na 46.62 at single na 41.58 laban kina Brenton Angelo Lo Wong na nagtala ng 57.40 at Cairon Sumadchat na may 59.76. Sa 6x6x6 Cube naman, naungusan din ni Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc ang labindalawang kalahok nang magtala ng winning average na 1:41.87 bago sumunod sina Cairon Sumadchat sa 1:51.50 at Louie Jay Quibote sa 1:52.16.

Naging kapana-panabik din ang iba pang mga kaganapan sa hapon sa General Trias Speedcubing Open II 2023 tulad ng 3x3x3 One-Handed at Megaminx. Si Crimson Arradaza ang naghari sa 3x3x3 One-Handed matapos magtala ng winning average na 11.53 laban sa 11.98 ni Brenton Angelo Lo Wong at 12.90 ni Aragon Martin Gonzales. Sa Megaminx naman, si Nicole Jnus Macalalad ang umangkin ng unang puwesto na may winning average na 45.47, habang pumangalawa si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong na may 49.61 at pumangatlo si Francis Yuel B. Merced sa 1:03.27.

Sa likod ng mga nagwagi sa podium, marami ring indibidwal na tagumpay ang nasaksihan sa buong cubing competition. Si Joaquin Caesar Batac Uy na sumabak sa tatlong kaganapan ay nagtala ng 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best na 15.98 mula sa dating 23.20 na 31.1 porsyentong mas mabilis, kasama ang 2x2x2 Cube personal best na 3.26. Si Gabriel Inrico S. De Belen na lumahok sa apat na event ay nagbawas ng 26.2 porsyento sa 3x3x3 One-Handed sa oras na 14.23, 40.06 sa 4x4x4 Cube, at 2.67 sa 2x2x2 Cube. Samantala, si Quiel Antonio C. Valera ay sumubok sa unang pagkakataon sa 3x3x3 One-Handed na nagtala ng 28.40 at nagrehistro ng 13.35 sa 3x3x3 Cube, at si Ceindreck Wayne Tamayo naman ay gumawa ng unang pagsubok sa 4x4x4 Cube sa oras na 2:10.33 at 14.87 sa 3x3x3 Cube.

Ipinagdiwang din ang mga bagong sumali sa kanilang pinakaunang WCA competition sa naturang torneo. Si Kurt Cristoffer R. Enriquez ay sumabak sa apat na kaganapan at nagtala ng unang opisyal na subok sa 2x2x2 Cube sa 9.10, 3x3x3 One-Handed sa 1:01.95, at 4x4x4 Cube sa 1:41.94. Si Jose Emmanuel P. Azna ay nagtala ng mga marka sa tatlong event kabilang ang 37.86 sa 3x3x3 Cube, 1:25.96 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed, at 13.21 sa 2x2x2 Cube. Si Mar Yvan Gantia naman ay sumabak sa Megaminx sa 4:49.30, 22.98 sa 2x2x2 Cube, at 50.56 sa 3x3x3 Cube, habang si Christian McKlein Lantin ay kumatawan sa 5x5x5 Cube sa 5:24.03, 1:32.03 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed, at 31.12 sa 3x3x3 Cube.

Pagsapit ng huling bahagi ng araw, ang pinakahihintay na final round ng 3x3x3 Cube ang naging tampok sa General Trias Speedcubing Open II 2023. Sa larangang kinabibilangan ng 75 na manlalaro sa tatlong rounds, ipinagpatuloy ni Brenton Angelo Lo Wong ang kaniyang dominasyon nang maabot ang winning average na 6.85 at best single na 5.90 upang maselyuhan ang kampeonato sa klasikong Rubik's Cube. Sumunod sa kaniya si Aragon Martin Gonzales sa average na 7.94 para sa ikalawang puwesto, habang si Crimson Arradaza ang pumangatlo na may 8.23.

Nagtapos ang buong araw sa General Trias Speedcubing Open II 2023 kung saan ang lahat ng 21 na puwesto sa podium ay nasungkit ng mga kinatawan mula sa Pilipinas. Sa pagtatapos ng mga round at pagbibigay-pugay sa mga nagwagi, naging patunay ang paligsahan sa lumalawak na galing ng mga manlalaro bago sumulong sa mga susunod na yugto ng palakasan.