Lights Out Diliman 2024

Sixteen competitors gathered in Quezon City, Philippines on September 14, 2024, to push the boundaries of rapid problem-solving. Staged at Sikat Inc., Lights Out Diliman 2024 tested mental endurance and dexterity over seven intense rounds across six events. Even in a program loaded with deep-focus specialty challenges, the battle against the timer remained fierce from the opening attempts. Speedcubing enthusiasts followed the action closely as top contenders traded fast marks in a compressed single-day schedule.

The quickest turning of the day arrived in the Clock event, where Karl Abarquez delivered a blistering performance to capture first place. Abarquez posted a winning average of 4.10 seconds alongside the day's best single of 3.89 seconds, staving off a tight challenge from Zoei Principe, who took second place with a 4.27 average. Zian Principe completed the podium in third with an average of 5.33 seconds, underscoring the high standard set in the lightning-fast puzzle.

Turning toward classic 3x3 results, the focus shifted to the blindfolded arena, where Ian Guevarra Santos demonstrated supreme composure. Santos captured the 3x3x3 Blindfolded title across two hard-fought rounds, logging a victorious 17.52-second average and a best single of 16.45 seconds. John Axel B. Gordo secured second place with an average of 22.06 seconds, while Marc Jason L. Laresma earned third with a 36.49-second average in a showcase of sharp memorisation and rapid execution.

Santos continued his commanding run in the 4x4x4 Blindfolded discipline, claiming his second gold medal of the competition with a winning single time of 3:19.29. Luis Gabriel Magadia captured second place by finishing in 5:08.42, while Jacob Miko Tan secured third place with a time of 7:03.50. The event demanded flawless recollection under pressure, and Santos proved unflappable on the larger puzzle layout.

Beyond the top steps of the podium, several participants made substantial breakthroughs across their personal records during the weekend. Rigil Carolino tackled all six events on the schedule, achieving a 15.8 percent improvement in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with a personal best of 32 moves, alongside a 10.8 percent reduction in Clock to hit a personal best of 6.80 seconds on the way to a 4th-place finish in 4x4x4 Blindfolded. Meanwhile, veteran Takuma Shirahase took on two events, earning a 4th-place finish in 5x5x5 Blindfolded.

In the 3x3x3 Multi-Blind event, John Axel B. Gordo stood alone atop the standings with a remarkable display of mental mapping, solving 37 out of 49 cubes within the exact 1:00:00 time limit. Wong Chong Wen took second place after successfully completing 10 of 12 puzzles in 59:10, and Luis Gabriel Magadia earned third place with 7 out of 8 cubes solved in 35:34.

Wong Chong Wen made his mark across two other technical events, capturing first place in the 3x3x3 Fewest Moves challenge with a stellar winning average of 22.00 moves and a single of 20. Yuji Yoshida finished second with an average of 35.00 moves, and Nina Reyes took third with 37.00. Wong followed that efficiency clinic by winning 5x5x5 Blindfolded with a top single time of 12:03.00, finishing ahead of Luis Gabriel Magadia at 17:37.00 and Jacob Miko Tan at 25:30.00.

This speed cubing showcase highlighted the vast range of skills required on the modern Rubik's Cube circuit, from split-second mechanical turns to hour-long memorisation marathons. Competitors from the Philippines collected fifteen podium finishes on home soil, joined by three podiums for Singapore. Lights Out Diliman 2024 wrapped up as a memorable WCA competition in Quezon City, providing a masterclass in precision as solvers look ahead to the next competitive season.

Labing-anim na mga kalahok ang nagtipon sa Sikat Inc. noong Setyembre 14, 2024 para sa isang natatanging araw ng pagsubok sa isip at bilis. Sa likod ng maayos na takbo ng bawat round ay ang dedikasyon ng mga organizer, delegasyon, at mga boluntaryo na nagtiyak na ang bawat timer, score sheet, at blindfold ay nakahanda sa oras. Sa anim na masalimuot na kategorya at pitong rounds ng matinding bakbakan, naging matagumpay ang pamamahala sa buong paligsahan.

Ang buong torneo ay nagpakita ng mataas na antas ng husay sa larangan ng Rubik's Cube at mga specialty puzzle. Sa Lights Out Diliman 2024, ang pamunuan ay nagbigay ng isang propesyonal at maayos na kapaligiran para sa mga solver. Ang ganitong WCA competition ay nangangailangan ng masusing pagtutulungan ng mga tagapangasiwa upang masunod ang bawat regulasyon, lalo na sa mga blindfolded events na nangangailangan ng lubos na katahimikan at maingat na pagbabantay.

Sa pangunahing kaganapan ng 3x3x3 Blindfolded, pinatunayan ni Ian Guevarra Santos ang kanyang galing matapos masungkit ang unang puwesto na may winning average na 17.52 at pinakamahusay na single na 16.45. Pumangalawa sa naturang laban si John Axel B. Gordo na nagtala ng average na 22.06, habang nakuha naman ni Marc Jason L. Laresma ang ikatlong puwesto sa kanyang 36.49 na marka.

Hindi nagpaawat si Ian Guevarra Santos sa kanyang dominasyon dahil pinangunahan din niya ang 4x4x4 Blindfolded sa pamamagitan ng winning single na 3:19.29 upang makuha ang gintong medalya sa Lights Out Diliman 2024. Sumunod sa kanya si Luis Gabriel Magadia na nagrehistro ng 5:08.42 para sa ikalawang puwesto, at pumangatlo si Jacob Miko Tan na may 7:03.50 sa isang matinding pagsubok ng memorya.

Sa kategoryang 3x3x3 Multi-Blind, nagpakitang-gilas si John Axel B. Gordo nang maitala ang kahanga-hangang 37/49 sa loob ng eksaktong 1:00:00 para angkinin ang tagumpay. Pumangalawa si Wong Chong Wen na may 10/12 sa oras na 59:10, habang nakuha ni Luis Gabriel Magadia ang ikatlong puwesto na may 7/8 sa loob ng 35:34, na nagpakita ng matinding konsentrasyon mula sa mga kalahok.

Bukod sa mga beteranong umakyat sa podium, nagpakita rin ng kahanga-hangang determinasyon ang iba pang mga manlalaro sa torneo. Si Jaden Lim, na may 26 na kompetisyon sa kanyang karera, ay sumabak sa 3 events dito at nakuha ang ikaapat na puwesto sa 3x3x3 Blindfolded. Samantala, si Christian Naguio naman, na may 56 na kompetisyon sa kanyang karera, ay matapang na hinarap ang 6 events sa kabuuan ng araw at nakamit ang ikaapat na puwesto sa 4x4x4 Blindfolded.

Nagningning din ang dayuhang kalahok na si Wong Chong Wen mula sa Singapore nang magwagi sa 3x3x3 Fewest Moves tangan ang 22.00 winning average at best single na 20, kasunod sina Yuji Yoshida na may 35.00 at Nina Reyes na may 37.00. Nagwagi rin si Wong Chong Wen sa 5x5x5 Blindfolded sa kanyang single na 12:03.00, kung saan pumangalawa si Luis Gabriel Magadia sa oras na 17:37.00 at pumangatlo si Jacob Miko Tan sa 25:30.00.

Sa mabilisang pag-ikot naman ng Clock, nanguna si Karl Abarquez na nagtala ng panalong average na 4.10 at single na 3.89 upang makuha ang unang puwesto. Mahigpit niyang nakatunggali si Zoei Principe na nagtapos sa ikalawang puwesto na may 4.27 average, habang pumangatlo si Zian Principe na nagrehistro ng 5.33 average para kumpletuhin ang podium sa kategoryang ito.

Sa pagtatapos ng Lights Out Diliman 2024, labinlimang podium finishes ang naiuwi ng Pilipinas habang tatlo naman ang napunta sa Singapore. Ang tagumpay ng buong cubing competition sa Quezon City, Philippines ngayong taong 2024 ay patunay ng dedikasyon ng buong komunidad ng speedcubing, mula sa mga opisyal hanggang sa bawat kalahok na naglaan ng oras upang gawing makabuluhan ang paligsahan.