Lismeneta Open 2023

Inside the bustling Comedor universitario U.A.G.R.M in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, tables were laden with every imaginable shape, size, and mechanism of twisty puzzle on March 17 and 18. From massive multidimensional layers and dodecahedrons to compact two-layered cubes and triangular Pyraminx puzzles, the setting offered an expansive showcase of speedcubing disciplines. Over the two-day gathering, fifty-two competitors gathered to put their mechanical dexterity and spatial logic to the test across eighteen demanding rounds.

The range of events gave Lismeneta Open 2023 an exceptionally varied character, with eleven distinct categories scheduled across the program. Whether participants were solving large NxN puzzles, executing one-handed turns, or attempting solves while entirely deprived of sight, the floor saw continuous action across diverse disciplines. For local fans following the classic Rubik's Cube, the three-round premier event gathered the entire fifty-two-person field, providing a dramatic centerpiece alongside the specialized events.

In that headline event, the 3x3 results culminated in a commanding victory for Ignacio Mita Cabezas, who secured first place with a winning average of 8.86 seconds after posting a best single of 8.38 seconds. Dylan Aramayo Calle followed in second place with an average of 10.22 seconds, while Josias Milan Sirpa Pinto locked up third on the podium with a 10.50 average. The fast-paced final round demonstrated the high standard of regional talent in the main discipline.

Across the broader spectrum of puzzles, Josias Milan Sirpa Pinto compiled an extraordinary run of individual titles throughout the weekend. Dominating the big-cube roster, he captured the 4x4x4 Cube with a 35.06 winning average, the 5x5x5 Cube with an average of 1:01.51, the 6x6x6 Cube in 1:57.68, and the 7x7x7 Cube in 3:10.67. He also claimed the 3x3x3 One-Handed event with an average of 15.93 seconds, proving his versatility across varied hand movements and intricate layer configurations.

The remaining puzzle styles brought distinct champions to the podium as well. Adrian Ismael Sirpa Pinto topped the twelve-sided Megaminx event with an average of 47.69 seconds and a single of 44.13. In the Pyraminx division, Antonio Adorno Suarez achieved victory with a brisk 3.14 winning average. Meanwhile, Fabricio Andrés Yañez Terrazas secured the 2x2x2 Cube title by averaging 3.29 seconds, edging Samuel Maija Temo and Maicol Deimar Machaca Apaza in a tightly contested final.

Beyond the top podiums, the official WCA competition served as a platform for remarkable individual breakthroughs and personal leaps. Kimberly Gutierrez took on six events during the weekend, carving an enormous 51.5 percent off her 5x5x5 Cube personal best with a time of 4:27.87, while also lowering her 2x2x2 Cube mark by 35.9 percent to 17.86 seconds and improving her Megaminx time to 4:05.81. Juan Carlos Ortiz Velásquez entered three events, logging his first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 2:23.74, his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 1:21.07, and lowering his 3x3x3 Cube best by 39.8 percent down to 26.70 seconds.

New milestones continued across the floor as Regors Luis Ríos Estevez marked a first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube in 6.12 seconds, a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 2:08.10, and dropped his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 34 percent to 16.67 seconds. Diego Andres Vasquez took 7th place in Pyraminx with a first ever attempt of 7.84 seconds while shaving 12.4 percent off his one-handed best. Haider David Vasquez Ferrufino tackled his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube in 5.30 seconds and lowered his 3x3x3 Cube time by 20.2 percent to 15.01 seconds. Adrian Santiago Uria Valenzuela set personal bests across three events including a 23.9 percent drop in 2x2x2 Cube to 3.12 seconds. Arnaldo Sebastián Escobar stepped up for his first WCA competition, recording first-ever attempts across 2x2x2 Cube, 3x3x3 Cube, and Pyraminx, while Lilith Patricia Hurtado Osorio likewise made her tournament debut across three disciplines.

The blindfolded categories offered their own intense test of memory, orientation, and concentration. Sebastián Morón Mariscal swept both memory-based contests, winning the 3x3x3 Blindfolded event with a single of 2:18.63 and taking the 3x3x3 Multi-Blind competition with 4 solved cubes out of 7 attempts in a time of 45:53. Alvaro Javier Viscarra Catacora finished second in the standard blindfolded event with a successful solve of 8:07.59.

By the close of the schedule, thirty-two podium places had been earned by Bolivian competitors alongside one for Peru, highlighting a thriving community across all formats. This successful cubing competition in Santa Cruz, Bolivia showcased how speed cubing continues to expand beyond the classic puzzle into an entire universe of mechanical challenges, setting a high standard for competitors heading into the 2023 season.