Imus Speedcubing Open 2024

A blistering final round in the premier event came down to just four hundredths of a second, with Brenton Angelo Lo Wong taking top honours in the 3x3x3 Cube with a winning average of 6.63 seconds. That razor-thin margin separated him from runner-up Crimson Arradaza, who posted a 6.67 average, while Carl Ashley Cortes secured third place with 7.99 seconds. The intensity of that podium showdown set the tone for an action-packed schedule at Robinsons Place Imus, where 82 competitors gathered on February 18, 2024, to test their speed across 7 events and 10 competitive rounds.

The 2024 gathering in Imus City, Cavite, Philippines showcased impressive field depth from the very start. In the classic Rubik's Cube category, 82 competitors battled through three rounds just to earn a seat at the final table. Navigating through multiple cuts required flawless consistency, and every fraction of a second determined who advanced. Speedcubing in the region continues to exhibit remarkable depth, ensuring that even reaching the later stages of this WCA competition was a major achievement in its own right.

Lo Wong established himself as a dominant presence throughout the weekend, securing a second victory in the 2x2x2 Cube. In a single-round sprint featuring 63 competitors, he registered a winning average of 1.89 seconds alongside the best single of the event at 1.37 seconds. Karl Matthew Angeles followed in second place with a 2.38 average and a 1.81 single, while Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc rounded out the podium in third with an average of 3.09 and a 2.13 single. The event saw a flurry of quick marks across the roster, emphasizing how tight the margins were at the top.

Arradaza balanced the ledger by earning two first-place finishes of his own across specialised disciplines. In 3x3x3 One-Handed, where 41 competitors took to the tables, Arradaza claimed the victory with a 9.26 winning average and an 8.20 best single. Palisoc secured the second step on the podium with a 14.65 average, narrowly edging Lo Wong, who placed third with 14.82 seconds. Arradaza later demonstrated mastery of the classic puzzle without sight, taking first place in the 3x3x3 Blindfolded event with a 48.42 best single, finishing ahead of Luis Gabriel Magadia at 1:21.15 and Lo Wong at 1:40.89.

Beyond the championship battles, the speed cubing gathering served as a stage for remarkable personal milestones across the roster. Lance Roland M. Ventula delivered some of the weekend's largest strides, dropping his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 62.3 percent to 15.09 seconds and improving his 2x2x2 Cube mark by 37.6 percent to 6.65 on his way to 46th place. Serji S. Mariano achieved a 4.53 in Skewb, marking a 56.9 percent drop from his previous best. June Adrian Ersando took on six different events, finishing 14th in 6x6x6 Cube, logging a first Clock attempt of 13.68, and trimming his Skewb and One-Handed marks to 3.87 and 42.55 seconds respectively. Zach San Miguel recorded his first Clock mark of 15.32 for 19th place, made his 2x2x2 debut at 8.67, and cut his 3x3x3 time by 15.7 percent to 24.29.

New event debuts continued to highlight the deeper roster throughout the day. Pocholo Comanda contested five events, achieving a high finish of 17th in Clock with a first attempt of 10.87, alongside debut marks of 49.95 in 3x3x3 One-Handed and 5.91 in Skewb. Karsten Marion C. Ventura entered three events, recording a first official mark in 6x6x6 Cube of 6:49.58 to place 19th, while debuting on 2x2x2 at 13.59 and improving his 3x3x3 personal best by 10.1 percent to 29.18. Karl Aaron P. Ilano completed four events, finishing 11th in 3x3x3 and recording debut results of 23.25 in One-Handed and 11.60 in Clock. Navy Antonio tackled three disciplines, posting debut marks of 38.41 in One-Handed for a 37th-place finish and 5.99 in 2x2x2.

The big-cube and twisty puzzle disciplines also produced compelling races for the hardware. In the 6x6x6 Cube, Palisoc topped the 19-competitor field with a winning average of 1:30.26 and a 1:23.79 single, outlasting Dale Palmares at 1:40.22 and Lo Wong at 1:44.84. In Clock, Karl Abarquez seized victory among 28 entrants with a 5.41 average and 4.72 single, holding off Palmares at 5.70 and Zoei Principe at 6.37. Skewb concluded across two rounds with Ivan Keith Cariaga earning the win with a 3.81 average and a 3.04 single, followed by Abarquez at 4.44 and Palisoc at 4.95.

When the final timers were stopped, every podium placement across all seven categories was secured by competitors representing the Philippines, highlighting the local community strength. With intense qualification battles and standout 3x3 results across the board, Imus Speedcubing Open 2024 delivered a showcase of tactical skill, composure, and depth from start to finish at Robinsons Place Imus, setting a high standard for future competitions on the local calendar.

Umapaw ang sigla sa loob ng Robinsons Place Imus habang abala ang mga organizer, delegado, at boluntaryo sa pag-aayos ng mga timer, score sheet, at display bago pormal na magsimula ang mga pagsubok. Ang bawat round ng speedcubing ay naging maayos at pulido dahil sa walang humpay na pagtutulungan ng mga opisyal at runners sa entablado. Sa gitna ng maingat na koordinasyon, matagumpay na naisakatuparan ang Imus Speedcubing Open 2024 sa Imus City, Cavite, Philippines noong February 18, 2024. Nagdala ito ng pambihirang karanasan para sa walumpu't dalawang kalahok mula sa iba't ibang panig ng komunidad.

Bumida sa prestihiyosong 3x3x3 Cube event si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong matapos magtala ng winning average na 6.63 sa ikatlong round ng labanan. Sinundan siya ni Crimson Arradaza na nakapagtala ng 6.67 average para sa ikalawang pwesto, habang pumangatlo naman si Carl Ashley Cortes na may 7.99 average. Ang pinakamabilis na single solve sa naturang event na may 82 kalahok ay naitala rin ni Brenton Angelo Lo Wong sa bilis na 5.81 segundo. Ang mahusay na paghawak ng mga opisyal sa tatlong magkakasunod na round ang nagbigay-daan sa napakagandang pagtatapos ng laban sa paboritong Rubik's Cube.

Hindi lamang sa pangunahing event nangibabaw si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong dahil inangkin din niya ang unang pwesto sa 2x2x2 Cube sa pamamagitan ng winning average na 1.89 at best single na 1.37 laban sa 63 katunggali. Pumangalawa sa nasabing division si Karl Matthew Angeles na may 2.38 average at 1.81 single, habang ikatlo si Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc na nagsumite ng 3.09 average at 2.13 single. Sa parehong kategorya, nagtala rin ng mga personal na marka sina Chengshuo Zhu (朱成硕) na may 3.31 average at 2.70 single, Gabriel Inrico S. De Belen na may 3.44 average, Sebastian Silva na may 3.47 average, Ian Padua na may 3.51 average, Chris Padua na may 3.71 average, Elijah Francis Jagonio na may 3.85 average, at Ivan Keith Cariaga na nagtala ng 4.24 average.

Nagpamalas naman ng natatanging gilas si Crimson Arradaza sa 3x3x3 One-Handed matapos masungkit ang gintong pwesto gamit ang winning average na 9.26 at best single na 8.20 sa hanay ng 41 kalahok. Pumangalawa sa kanya si Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc na nagtala ng 14.65 average, samantalang pumangatlo si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong na may 14.82. Muling nagwagi si Crimson Arradaza sa 3x3x3 Blindfolded matapos magrehistro ng pinakamabilis na single time na 48.42 segundo sa 15 kalahok, habang pumangalawa si Luis Gabriel Magadia sa oras na 1:21.15 at ikatlo si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong na may 1:40.89.

Sa mas malalaking puzzle at mekanikal na hamon, nanguna si Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc sa 6x6x6 Cube nang magtala ng winning average na 1:30.26 at best single na 1:23.79 laban sa 19 kalahok. Pumangalawa sa kategoryang ito si Dale Palmares sa bilis na 1:40.22, habang si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong ay pumangatlo sa 1:44.84. Sa kabilang banda, pinatunayan ni Ivan Keith Cariaga ang husay sa Skewb sa pamamagitan ng 3.81 winning average at 3.04 single, kasunod sina Karl Abarquez na may 4.44 at Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc na may 4.95. Nagwagi naman si Karl Abarquez sa Clock na may 5.41 average at 4.72 single, kung saan pumangalawa si Dale Palmares sa 5.70 at pumangatlo si Zoei Principe sa 6.37.

Sa likod ng mga podium finishers, marami sa mga kalahok ang nagtala ng mga kahanga-hangang pagsulong sa kanilang mga personal na rekord. Ipinamalas ni Elron Samuel Madrid ang pinakamalaking pag-angat matapos mapabilis ang kanyang personal best sa 3x3x3 One-Handed nang 47.9 porsyento tungo sa 23.22, bukod pa sa 44.8 porsyentong pagpapabuti sa 3x3x3 Cube sa oras na 14.73 kung saan siya ay nagtapos sa ika-29 na pwesto sa isang kamay. Malaki rin ang ibinaba ng oras ni Matteo Zedric Espanillo na nagtala ng 4.74 sa 2x2x2 Cube na 40.9 porsyentong mas mabilis, 6.97 sa Skewb na 38.8 porsyentong pagsulong, at 19.48 sa 3x3x3 Cube matapos sumabak sa tatlong kategorya. Nagpakitang-gilas din si Brandon Enriquez Nocon sa kanyang ika-12 kompetisyon nang tapusin ang kanyang unang pagsubok sa 6x6x6 Cube sa 2:59.03 para makuha ang ika-10 pwesto, kasabay ng 13.8 porsyentong pagbuti sa 3x3x3 One-Handed sa 16.05. Samantala, matagumpay na naisagawa ni Joseph Alonzo Dimitri Y. Nicolas ang kanyang unang tangka sa Skewb sa 4.49 at nagtala ng 12.57 sa 3x3x3 Cube na 11.5 porsyentong mas mabilis.

Naging memorable rin ang araw para sa mga bagong mukha na sumabak sa kanilang unang WCA competition. Sumabak si Ezio Camerino sa tatlong dibisyon kung saan nagtala siya ng 5.61 sa Skewb, 19.45 sa 3x3x3 Cube, at 6.06 sa 2x2x2 Cube kung saan nakuha niya ang ika-40 pwesto. Sa kanyang unang sabak, ipinamalas din ni Charles Andrei B. Galamgam ang bilis sa 2x2x2 Cube sa 3.95 para sa ika-32 pwesto, bukod sa 4.60 sa Skewb at 12.50 sa 3x3x3 Cube. Ang dayuhang kalahok na si Chengshuo Zhu (朱成硕) ay nagtala ng ika-4 na pwesto sa 2x2x2 Cube sa 2.70, kasama ang 16.13 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed at 2:54.96 sa 3x3x3 Blindfolded sa apat na kategoryang sinalihan. Lumaban din si Ricardo Manuel P. Alair III sa dalawang kategorya na may 3.39 sa 2x2x2 Cube para sa ika-48 pwesto at 17.46 sa 3x3x3 Cube.

Ang kabuuang tagumpay ng Imus Speedcubing Open 2024 ay patunay sa masiglang pagtutulungan ng mga tagapamahala at mga manlalaro sa bawat round. Mula sa maingat na pag-iskedyul hanggang sa tapat na paghatol sa pitong magkakaibang labanan, napanatili ang mataas na antas ng palakasan sa Cavite. Ang dedikasyon ng bawat delegado at boluntaryo ang nagbigay-daan upang maging maayos ang takbo ng buong cubing competition para sa taong 2024.