Kadiliman 2025

Inside Sikat Inc., a focused hush hung across the tables as blindfolds were lowered and timers stood waiting for action. The specialized gathering brought a rare depth of mental discipline to Quezon City, Philippines, setting the stage for a day of pure concentration. Rather than a sprint of quick turns in plain view, the room revolved around total recall, spatial mapping, and sheer determination. Over four total rounds on July 27, 2025, the competitors worked through complex multi-layer sequences in absolute darkness, turning a quiet arena into a masterclass of memory and precision.

The central draw of Kadiliman 2025 was the extraordinary variety of puzzle types that tested solvers across different dimensions of the craft. Solving a standard Rubik's Cube without visual aid is already one of the most demanding disciplines in speedcubing, but stepping upward into larger hardware completely transforms the challenge. Managing center pieces and edge parity on big cubes without seeing the layers requires a vast array of memorisation systems. Having classic three-layered cubes contested alongside massive four-layer and five-layer hardware gave the schedule a unique breadth that highlighted every facet of blindfolded mastery.

In the 3x3x3 Blindfolded category, Ian Guevarra Santos delivered a standout performance to secure the championship. Across two competitive rounds, the event demanded flawless execution, and Santos produced the fastest single solve of the entire tournament with a remarkable 16.72 seconds in the final. John Axel B. Gordo earned the silver medal with an impressive 20.13 single, while Japan's Yuki Yamamoto rounded out the podium in third place at 24.76. Santos led the 11 competitors with confidence, setting the tone for the entire cubing competition with his lightning-quick inspection and execution.

The 3x3 results from the preliminary round established an intensely tight field, showcasing the high level of preparation brought by everyone on the roster. Santos had already signaled his form by turning in an 18.69 single and a 21.70 average in the opening stage, while Gordo followed closely with a 22.27 single and a 24.16 average. Other solid single marks emerged from Marc Jason L. Laresma at 33.42, Luis Gabriel Magadia at 58.83, and Yuji Yoshida at 1:25.79. The sheer technical rigor of this WCA competition ensured that even minor hesitations shifted positions on the leaderboard.

Stepping up to the four-layer challenge, the 4x4x4 Blindfolded event expanded the puzzle variety even further for the eight contenders who took the table. Yuki Yamamoto put on an exceptional display of endurance and accuracy, taking the gold medal with a winning single time of 2:33.47. Ian Guevarra Santos took second place on the podium with a solid time of 4:13.77, while Luis Gabriel Magadia locked in the third-place spot with a time of 5:20.41. Balancing large inner piece cycles in total blindness made this round one of the most technically demanding segments of the meeting.

Yamamoto carried that momentum directly into the largest puzzle on the schedule, capturing the title in 5x5x5 Blindfolded with an outstanding single of 7:12.42 against a field of five competitors. The five-layer cube is notorious for punishing memory slips, making every completed attempt a monumental achievement. Luis Gabriel Magadia claimed his second podium of the day by securing second place with a time of 13:16.00, while Earl Bien D. Celestino earned the bronze with a resolved solve of 16:56.00. Across the podium tallies, the host nation took six podium spots, while Japan claimed three.

Beyond the championship trophies, the true heart of the weekend showed in the quiet milestones achieved across the roster. Juan Miguel C. Manalo took on three separate events and delivered a massive leap forward in 4x4x4 Blindfolded, recording a personal best of 9:13.23 that crushed his previous record of 20:37.00 by 55.3 percent, alongside a fourth-place finish in 5x5x5 Blindfolded. Meanwhile, Glen Goh Wee Zhuan entered two events and completed his first ever official attempt at 4x4x4 Blindfolded with a registered time of 26:13.00, earning a career-best seventh-place finish in the event.

As the final timers were cleared at Kadiliman 2025, the tournament demonstrated the immense depth of the speed cubing scene when diverse puzzles are pushed to their absolute limits. From the rapid-fire memory work of the smaller hardware to the grueling mental endurance required for big cubes, the single-day gathering provided an unforgettable showcase. Solvers walked away with hard-earned personal achievements, setting high standards of excellence across Quezon City as the community looks forward to the next season of blindfolded competition.

Tahimik ang buong bulwagan sa Sikat Inc. habang nakapiring ang mga kalahok at maingat na sinusuri ang bawat galaw sa kanilang isipan. Sa gitna ng matinding konsentrasyon at walang ingay na kapaligiran, nagtipon ang labing-isang manlalaro upang subukin ang kanilang galing sa paglutas nang nakapiring. Ang paligsahang Kadiliman 2025 ay nagbigay-diin sa kahalagahan ng matatag na memorya at tuloy-tuloy na pagganap sa bawat yugto ng laro.

Ginanap noong July 27, 2025 sa Quezon City, Philippines, ang naturang cubing competition ay nagtampok ng tatlong magkakahiwalay na kategorya sa loob ng apat na round. Sa larangan ng speedcubing kung saan nakapiring ang mga manlalaro, ang tibay ng kontrol at tamang pagsasaulo ang tunay na naghihiwalay sa mga nagwawagi laban sa mga umaasa lamang sa mabilis subalit mapanganib na tira. Ang bawat bahagi ng paligsahan ay sumubok sa katatagan ng isip ng bawat kalahok.

Sa pangunahing kategorya ng 3x3x3 Blindfolded na umakit ng labing-isang kalahok sa dalawang round, ipinamalas ni Ian Guevarra Santos ng Pilipinas ang kanyang pambihirang bilis. Nakamit niya ang unang puwesto gamit ang pinakamagandang single time na 16.72 sa kabila ng pagkakaroon ng DNF sa average. Naungusan niya ang kanyang mga katunggali sa pamamagitan ng matinding kontrol sa bawat pihit ng Rubik's Cube kahit walang paningin.

Pumangalawa sa 3x3x3 Blindfolded si John Axel B. Gordo mula rin sa Pilipinas na nagtala ng single time na 20.13. Samantala, ang ikatlong puwesto ay nasungkit ni Yuki Yamamoto mula sa Japan na nagrehistro ng oras na 24.76. Ang labanang ito ay nagpatunay kung paano ang maingat na pagplano at walang patid na ensayo ay nagbubunga ng tagumpay sa isang opisyal na WCA competition.

Sa mas malalaking puzzle, pinatunayan ni Yuki Yamamoto ang kanyang kahusayan sa pamamagitan ng pagsungkit ng dalawang gintong medalya. Sa 4x4x4 Blindfolded na nilahukan ng walong manlalaro, nakuha ni Yamamoto ang kampeonato tangan ang single time na 2:33.47 habang DNF ang average. Sumunod sa kanya si Ian Guevarra Santos sa ikalawang puwesto na may 4:13.77 at si Luis Gabriel Magadia sa ikatlong puwesto na may 5:20.41.

Hindi nagpaawat si Yuki Yamamoto sa 5x5x5 Blindfolded kung saan limang kalahok ang sumabak sa pinakamahirap na pagsubok. Nakamit muli ni Yamamoto ang unang puwesto na may single time na 7:12.42 habang DNF ang naging average. Pumangalawa si Luis Gabriel Magadia na nagtala ng 13:16.00 at pumangatlo si Earl Bien D. Celestino na nagsumite ng 16:56.00 para sa podium ng Pilipinas.

Sa likod ng mga nangungunang puwesto, nagpakita rin ng magagandang laban ang iba pang mga kalahok sa paligsahan. Si Marc Jason L. Laresma mula sa Pilipinas ay sumabak sa tatlong magkakaibang kategorya at nakuha ang ikaapat na puwesto sa 3x3x3 Blindfolded. Kasabay nito, lumahok si Yuji Yoshida sa isang event at nakamit ang ikapitong puwesto sa 3x3x3 Blindfolded, na nagdagdag ng kulay sa kabuuang listahan ng mga resulta.

Nagtapos ang Kadiliman 2025 na may kabuuang siyam na puwesto sa podium kung saan anim ang napanalunan ng Pilipinas at tatlo ang naiuwi ng Japan. Ang buong araw ng kompetisyon ay nag-iwan ng malinaw na patunay na ang tunay na kahusayan sa blindfolded solving ay nakasalalay sa walang mintis na konsistensya at tiyaga sa bawat pagsubok.