Luanda Open 2023

Thirty-nine competitors gathered on May 7, 2023, marking a vibrant chapter for speedcubing in the region. Luanda Open 2023 brought together local talent and international travellers to the Mediateca Zé Du - Cazenga in Luanda, Angola. For competitors travelling from across the city and visitors journeying across international borders from nations like Brazil, the single-day gathering represented a shared dedication to the puzzle. The journey to the tables set the stage for four competitive rounds spread over three distinct events.

The flagship Rubik's Cube event stood as the central focus of the cubing competition, drawing all 39 entrants into the preliminary phase. Over two intense rounds of classic 3x3 solving, the field narrowed as the best speed cubing solvers vied for top positions. When the final rankings settled, José Francisco Manuel of Angola claimed the top spot on the podium. Manuel registered a decisive winning average of 11.41 seconds along with a sharp single solve of 10.04 seconds to lead the 3x3 results.

Following Manuel on the 3x3x3 Cube podium was José Carlos Cardoso Borba, who took second place for Angola with an average of 13.08 seconds. Roger Nataniel Issassa dos Santos, also representing Angola, locked in the third-place position with a final round average of 13.90 seconds. The competition was fierce at the top, but the technical mastery displayed across the opening rounds set a high standard for the entire day.

The one-handed discipline tested dexterity and spatial recognition, requiring competitors to solve the standard puzzle using only a single hand. Luanda Open 2023 saw 15 competitors take on the 3x3x3 One-Handed event across one comprehensive round. José Francisco Manuel continued his commanding form, securing his second victory of the day with a winning average of 20.76 seconds and a best single solve of 18.59 seconds. His performance underscored an exceptional weekend across the rotational events.

The remaining spots on the one-handed podium mirrored the main event standings. José Carlos Cardoso Borba captured the silver position with an average of 21.04 seconds, finishing just behind Manuel. Roger Nataniel Issassa dos Santos earned his second podium placement of the gathering, taking third place with an average of 25.88 seconds. Together, the Angolan trio demonstrated great consistency across multiple variants of the classic cube.

Beyond the top podium steps, the spotlight fell on newcomers making their first mark on the sport. Augusto Jorge Mateus Calunga took on 3 events at his first WCA competition, securing a best finish of 6th place in 2x2x2 Cube while posting a first ever attempt of 5.98 seconds, alongside an opening 33.29 in one-handed and 16.67 in 3x3. Juvenal Chalale also tackled three events in his debut, earning a 5th place finish in 3x3x3 One-Handed with an initial solve of 29.88 seconds, alongside first attempts of 6.92 in 2x2 and 14.55 in 3x3. Kevin Rafael da Silva Sirgado entered 3 events, locking in a 4th place finish in 3x3x3 Cube with a first attempt of 13.56 seconds, a 5.28 in 2x2, and 40.17 in one-handed. Kahilo Pedro Massango took on three disciplines, earning 8th place in 3x3 with an opening solve of 12.41 seconds, a 19.43 in 2x2, and 50.46 in one-handed.

The depth of emerging talent continued with Cláudio Vidal da Silva Morais, who entered three events in his debut, recording a 9th place finish in 2x2x2 Cube with an opening time of 9.84 seconds, a 31.15 in 3x3, and 1:16.21 in one-handed. Filipe dos Prazeres contested two events, achieving a 5th place finish in 2x2 with a first attempt of 6.25 seconds and recording 27.13 in 3x3. Aniceto Rodrigues Cahongolo Lourenço entered two events, finishing 5th in 3x3 with an opening solve of 14.67 seconds and putting up 39.84 in one-handed. Aline Nsukami Dompetelo Nsalambi completed two events, reaching 8th place in 2x2 with a first solve of 11.16 seconds alongside a 29.06 effort in the 3x3 category.

The 2x2x2 Cube event brought rapid pace and record-setting milestones to the venue floor. Roger Nataniel Issassa dos Santos stood atop the podium this time, claiming first place with a winning average of 5.67 seconds and a best single solve of 4.89 seconds. Travelling competitor Marlon de V. Marques from Brazil took second place with a 6.19 average, which along with his 5.08 single marked a key highlight of his international trip. Third place went to Angola's Vivaldo Cristóvão Roque, who registered a 6.24 average and set an Angolan national record single of 4.02 seconds.

Across the full slate of 3 events, competitors from Angola claimed eight total podium positions, while Brazil collected one podium finish. The successful execution of Luanda Open 2023 at Mediateca Zé Du - Cazenga demonstrated the expanding reach of competitive solving across the region. With records broken, first-time participants stepping forward, and competitors crossing oceans to participate, the event established a memorable benchmark for the speedcubing community as they look forward to future seasons.