Intercolegial Tarija 2023

The bustling concourse of Cine MegaCenter transformed into an energetic arena of turning plastic on October 21, 2023, as puzzle enthusiasts gathered in southern Bolivia. Competitors from across Bolivia and neighboring Argentina completed extensive journeys across regional borders and through mountain passes to reach the competition tables. With 95 registered solvers filling the hall, the one-day gathering proved that distance is no barrier for dedicated solvers eager to test their speed against regional rivals across seven distinct disciplines.

For those traveling from across Argentina and distant Bolivian departments, the cubing competition offered 11 rounds of intense action. The trip to Tarija, Bolivia rewarded the traveling contingent with vibrant matchups, uniting solvers across international borders. Competitors had traveled hundreds of kilometers to share the stage, setting up a busy day that tested mastery in everything from the traditional Rubik's Cube to intricate twelve-sided puzzles.

Luis Ernesto Gutierrez Tolaba quickly became the standout performer of Intercolegial Tarija 2023, putting on a clinic across multiple events. In the flagship 3x3x3 Cube event, which drew 81 competitors across three rounds, Gutierrez Tolaba secured the title with a winning average of 11.18 seconds, posting the day's best single of 9.99 seconds. Rodrigo Ugarte followed in second place with an average of 13.02 seconds, while Mauricio Zenteno Avila placed third with a mark of 15.54 seconds in the final 3x3 results.

Beyond the standard 3x3, Gutierrez Tolaba demonstrated his versatility by capturing three additional gold trophies. In 3x3x3 One-Handed, he topped an 11-person field with a 17.59-second average, anchored by a best single of 14.90. He then tackled the 4x4x4 Cube, posting a winning average of 40.34 seconds to hold off Ugarte, who took second at 41.59 seconds. Gutierrez Tolaba sealed his fourth victory in Megaminx, claiming first place with an impressive 50.81-second average.

While the top podiums featured familiar champions, several solvers achieved massive leaps on the official timer. Alvaro David Correa delivered an outstanding breakthrough by logging a 4.93-second personal best in 2x2x2 Cube, an 84.1% reduction from his prior mark of 31.01 seconds, while also making his first ever attempt at Pyraminx in 18.40 seconds. Lucas Guerrero slashed his Pyraminx personal best by 57.5% down to 7.47 seconds and made his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube with a time of 12.96 seconds. Leandro Benitez Bamba dropped his 3x3x3 Cube best by 55.8% to 36.83 seconds, alongside his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube in 10.10 seconds. Matías Pantoja Suter had a remarkably busy day taking on all seven events, securing fourth in Pyraminx with a 7.59-second personal best that was 53.8% faster than before, while making his first ever attempts at 4x4x4 Cube in 2:35.93 and 5x5x5 Cube in 4:43.65.

The progress continued across the roster for solvers expanding their repertoires. Héctor Miguel Carrasco Taquibar tackled four events, making his first ever attempt at Megaminx in 3:42.99 to finish fifth, while also making his first ever attempts at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 34.20 seconds and 4x4x4 Cube in 1:43.15. Jose Antonio Huanca Villa cut his 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 34.3% to 5.13 seconds, improved his 3x3x3 Cube best to 14.62 seconds, and took on his first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:31.61. Dalio Agustín Ibañez Calderón set a new 3x3x3 Cube best of 29.40 seconds, a 31.9% drop, while posting a first attempt in 2x2x2 Cube at 10.70 seconds. Alejandro Cary improved his 3x3x3 Cube standard by 38.4% to 26.29 seconds after logging a first attempt at 2x2x2 Cube in 11.64 seconds.

The short-format puzzles brought thrilling moments across the brackets during the speedcubing schedule. In the 2x2x2 Cube, Seferino Victor Flores Condori earned top honors with a 3.87-second average and a blazing 1.59-second single, edging out Nelson Rodrigo Rios who averaged 4.25 seconds. Awki Giménez, representing Argentina, secured the Pyraminx title with a 5.81-second average to outpace Ugarte's 6.38 seconds, bringing international silverware home from the trip.

Big cubes also produced notable head-to-head battles on the competition stage. Rodrigo Ugarte captured the 5x5x5 Cube crown with a winning average of 1:15.42 and a best single of 1:13.89, outlasting Gutierrez Tolaba who finished second in 1:40.97. Across all events, Bolivian competitors claimed 19 podium places while Argentine visitors earned two, highlighting the depth of talent present at the event.

As the equipment was packed away at Cine MegaCenter, the gathering underscored the growing vitality of speed cubing in the region. The WCA competition provided both seasoned competitors and first-time travelers a memorable stage to test their practice under official regulations. Solvers returned home across roads and borders with fresh personal milestones, looking forward to the next season of competitive solving.