Laguna Speedcubing Open VI 2024

Brenton Angelo Lo Wong delivered an extraordinary display at Robinsons Galleria South, averaging 6.60 seconds to claim the marquee title at the Laguna Speedcubing Open VI 2024. Across three intense rounds of standard Rubik's Cube solving, Wong stood above a field of 71 entrants, capping his run with a best single solve of 6.16 seconds. Aragon Martin Gonzales secured the second spot on the podium with an 8.41 average, while Psyron Eubert Catral posted an 8.62 average to capture third place.

Held on October 13, 2024, the one-day WCA competition in San Pedro City, Laguna, Philippines, gathered 74 competitors who contested nine rounds across seven distinct disciplines. What truly defined the gathering was the sheer influx of new energy, as a substantial wave of newcomers made their official debut in the sport. These fresh faces shared the floor with seasoned finalists, giving this local speed cubing stop an electric, welcoming character throughout the packed schedule.

The 2x2x2 Cube event unfolded at blistering speed, bringing together 59 competitors in a rapid single-round sprint. Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes took the victory with a 1.80 average and an event-leading single of 1.33 seconds. Aragon Martin Gonzales finished just behind with a 1.92 average, while Wong collected another podium spot with a 2.65 mark for third place. The depth of the field was evident, with ten competitors setting official marks below the four-second threshold.

In the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, Aragon Martin Gonzales claimed top honours among 41 competitors by delivering a composed 12.22 average, backed by a 10.74 single. Wong took second place with a 13.52 average, followed by Lorenzo T. Ubongen in third with a 14.49 average. Over at the Megaminx station, Nicole Jnus Macalalad set the standard across 18 competitors, logging a swift 38.87 average and a 37.45 single to finish well ahead of Wong at 56.18 and Karl Abarquez at 1:05.83.

Karl Abarquez emerged as a double winner during the afternoon, showcasing his dexterity across two completely different formats. In Clock, Abarquez navigated the dials with precision to average 4.25 seconds with a 3.34 single, holding off Zoei Principe at 4.63 and Kyle Capiral at 5.73. Abarquez then returned to the tables for Skewb, where he topped 24 competitors with a 3.38 average, leaving Yuji Yoshida in second at 5.32 and Elijah Francis Jagonio in third at 5.96.

Beyond the trophies, the spirit of this cubing competition lived in the massive personal strides made by newer and developing entrants across the roster. Cevero Muji Bermas tackled five events, slicing his 2x2x2 personal best by 54.4 percent to 3.96 seconds, dropping his 3x3x3 best by 33.3 percent to 16.83 seconds, and completing a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 1:01.59. Danica Mea Villanueva Bohol improved her 2x2x2 mark by 51.2 percent down to 5.24 seconds, cut her 3x3x3 time by 19.8 percent to 12.78 seconds, and lowered her Megaminx personal best by 10.5 percent to 3:02.09. Zechariah James T. Hubo cut his 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best by 49.1 percent down to 27.98 seconds while finishing 27th, and Rester James Buhanghang slashed his 2x2x2 best by 48.7 percent to 7.22 seconds and improved his Pyraminx mark by 17.6 percent to 12.07 seconds.

Other competitors took on fresh challenges by recording their very first marks in entirely new events on the official stage. Jorrelle Larkean M. Galoso completed four events, notching a first ever attempt at Pyraminx in 4.80 seconds to take 27th place, logging a first 2x2x2 mark of 5.03 seconds, and trimming his 3x3x3 personal best by 35.3 percent to 18.12 seconds. Lans Eizenhart L. Laylo registered debut attempts in Pyraminx at 10.76 and Skewb at 7.84, alongside a 21.7 percent 3x3x3 improvement to 14.28 seconds. Zebastian Ymanuel Peñaflor logged a first Pyraminx attempt of 24.31 seconds and improved his 2x2x2 best by 25.2 percent to 7.04 seconds, while Matthew R. Reyes tried Clock for the first time with a 40.99 single and Pyraminx with 10.87, alongside a personal best 3x3x3 single of 11.30 seconds.

The Pyraminx bracket produced fierce competition among 45 solvers, where Chris Padua captured the title with a polished 2.58 average and a best single of 1.74 seconds. Gonzales continued his productive day across multiple events by taking the second spot on the podium at 3.15 seconds, and Catral picked up another bronze finish with an average of 4.04 seconds.

With all 21 podium places secured by competitors from the Philippines, the Laguna Speedcubing Open VI 2024 closed out an exhilarating day of competitive speedcubing. The event delivered memorable 3x3 results alongside notable milestones for veterans and fresh newcomers alike. As the season rolls on toward future gatherings, the breakthroughs registered in San Pedro City highlight a vibrant community with a rising generation of puzzle solvers eager to build on their personal records.

Pitumpu't apat na kalahok ang nagtipon sa Robinsons Galleria South para sa isang maaksyong araw ng paglutas ng puzzle sa San Pedro City, Laguna, Philippines. Noong October 13, 2024, idinaos ang Laguna Speedcubing Open VI 2024 kung saan sumabak ang mga manlalaro sa pitong magkakaibang kategorya sa kabuuang siyam na rounds. Ang buong torneo ay nagbigay ng entablado para sa mga pambansang pambato at mga baguhang manlalaro ng speedcubing upang ipakita ang kanilang bilis at kahusayan.

Sa pangunahing kategorya na 3x3x3 Cube, ipinamalas ni Brenton Angelo Lo Wong ang kanyang dominasyon matapos magtala ng winning average na 6.60 sa finals mula sa 71 kalahok na dumaan sa tatlong rounds. Nagtala rin si Wong ng pinakamabilis na single time na 6.16 sa torneo. Pumangalawa sa kanya si Aragon Martin Gonzales na nagtala ng 8.41 average, habang nakuha naman ni Psyron Eubert Catral ang ikatlong puwesto sa kanyang 8.62 average sa prestihiyosong labanan ng klasikong Rubik's Cube.

Hindi nagpahuli si Karl Abarquez na umangkin ng dalawang magkahiwalay na kampeonato sa iisang araw. Pinangunahan ni Abarquez ang Clock event taglay ang winning average na 4.25 at best single na 3.34 laban sa 28 kalahok, kung saan tinalo niya sina Zoei Principe na may 4.63 average at Kyle Capiral na may 5.73 average. Bukod dito, nagwagi rin si Abarquez sa Skewb na may average na 3.38 mula sa 24 na manlalaro, habang pumangalawa si Yuji Yoshida na nagtala ng 5.32 at pumangatlo si Elijah Francis Jagonio na may 5.96.

Sa mas mabilisang 2x2x2 Cube na nilahukan ng 59 na katunggali, si Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes ang nangibabaw bitbit ang winning average na 1.80 at best single na 1.33. Mahigpit niyang nakatunggali si Aragon Martin Gonzales na nagtapos sa ikalawang puwesto na may 1.92 average, kasunod si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong sa ikatlong puwesto na may 2.65 average. Ang nasabing kategorya ay nagtala ng maraming matitinding marka sa buong listahan ng mga kalahok.

Bumawi naman si Aragon Martin Gonzales sa 3x3x3 One-Handed nang angkinin ang unang puwesto laban sa 41 kalahok sa pamamagitan ng winning average na 12.22 at best single na 10.74. Pumangalawa muli sa podium si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong na nagtala ng 13.52 average, habang nakuha ni Lorenzo T. Ubongen ang ikatlong puwesto sa kanyang 14.49 average. Ipinakita ni Gonzales ang pambihirang kontrol sa paggamit ng iisang kamay lamang.

Sa iba pang mga laban sa Laguna Speedcubing Open VI 2024, nagreyna si Chris Padua sa Pyraminx laban sa 45 kalahok matapos magtala ng winning average na 2.58 at best single na 1.74. Pumangalawa sa Pyraminx si Aragon Martin Gonzales sa kanyang 3.15 average at pumangatlo si Psyron Eubert Catral na may 4.04. Sa Megaminx naman na may 18 kalahok, wagi si Nicole Jnus Macalalad na may winning average na 38.87 at best single na 37.45, kasunod sina Brenton Angelo Lo Wong na may 56.18 at Karl Abarquez na may 1:05.83.

Sa likod ng mga nagwagi sa podium, sumikat din ang mga kahanga-hangang personal na tagumpay mula sa ibang mga manlalaro sa cubing competition na ito. Si Goddrick Maven Frias ay sumabak sa dalawang events at nagtala ng malaking pag-unlad sa 2x2x2 Cube kung saan ang kanyang personal best na 9.43 ay 47.4 porsyentong mas mabilis kaysa sa dati, kasabay ng 3x3x3 Cube best na 31.40 na 32.1 porsyentong mas mabilis. Si Ashley Belarmino ay nagtala ng kanyang unang subok sa 2x2x2 Cube sa bilis na 4.17 at nagtala ng personal best na 9.44 sa 3x3x3 Cube. Samantala, si Jazdy Jale ay sumabak sa limang events, nagtala ng unang subok sa Skewb sa oras na 10.16, nagtala ng personal best na 15.36 sa 3x3x3 Cube at nagtapos sa ika-18 puwesto sa Clock. Si Ashton Marcus Año naman ay nagtala ng 3.29 personal best sa 2x2x2 Cube na 35.4 porsyentong mas mabilis at 36.97 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed.

Nagpakitang-gilas din ang mga bagong kalahok na sumabak sa kanilang pinakaunang WCA competition. Si James Nikko D. Bonnin ay sumalang sa limang events kung saan nagtala siya ng unang subok sa 3x3x3 One-Handed na 3:09.98, 3x3x3 Cube na 50.20, at 2x2x2 Cube na 40.99, habang nakamit ang ika-28 puwesto sa Clock. Si Humbert Hagan Sayan ay sumabak sa tatlong events at nagtala ng unang subok sa 3x3x3 Cube na 30.76, Pyraminx na 18.13, at 2x2x2 Cube na 4.78 para sa ika-34 na puwesto. Si Justine Delos Reyes Gravamen ay lumahok sa tatlong events kabilang ang unang subok sa 3x3x3 One-Handed na 23.40 para sa ika-18 puwesto, 2x2x2 Cube na 2.55, at 3x3x3 Cube na 10.14. Si Brayden Tyler E. Miller ay nagrehistro rin ng unang subok sa 3x3x3 Cube sa 41.96 at 2x2x2 Cube sa 11.43 para sa ika-55 na puwesto.

Nagtapos ang Laguna Speedcubing Open VI 2024 nang buong tagumpay kung saan lahat ng dalawampu't isang podium places ay nasungkit ng mga kinatawan mula sa Pilipinas. Ang araw na ito sa San Pedro City ay nagpatunay muli ng patuloy na paglago at sigla ng komunidad ng speedcubing sa rehiyon para sa taong 2024.