Luzon Multi-Mega Madness 2025

A single solution of 23 moves from Japan's Yuki Yamamoto (山本祐輝) stood as the defining masterclass at Luzon Multi-Mega Madness 2025. While typical speedcubing tournaments celebrate the blur of turning speed, the 3x3x3 Fewest Moves contest demands quiet pen-and-paper analysis over sixty intense minutes. Yamamoto outmaneuvered a field of 27 competitors by finding the most efficient path to solve the classic Rubik's Cube, narrowly edging out Yuji Yoshida of the Philippines who took second place with 24 moves, while Jacob Miko Tan (陈在元) secured third place with 29 moves.

Held at the Area 3 Phase 7 Covered Court and Function Hall in Cainta, Rizal, Philippines on June 1, 2025, Luzon Multi-Mega Madness 2025 drew 46 competitors across 8 distinct events and 10 rounds of play. The schedule leaned heavily into memory, analytical skill, and specialized puzzles, providing a stark contrast to traditional fast-paced speed cubing meets. Yamamoto was not content with only winning Fewest Moves, as he also clinched victory in 5x5x5 Blindfolded with a winning single time of 5:28.08, leading a Japanese podium sweep alongside Naoto Kobayashi (小林直登) at 6:08.03 and Shiori Yanai at 6:30.80.

In the premier standard 3x3 results, Christian Naguio of the Philippines took top honors with a 7.89 winning average and a best single of 7.53 across the 40-person field. The battle for the podium was razor thin, as compatriot Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes finished in second place with an average of 7.91. Psyron Eubert Catral rounded out the top three with an 8.88 average, following a standout single solve of 7.54 during the single-round showdown.

Catral also found individual gold on the day in the Square-1 event, averaging 10.91 with a single of 8.51 to top a 22-competitor lineup. Japan's Taku Yanai (矢内拓) claimed the silver medal in Square-1 with a 13.44 average, followed closely by Jacob Miko Tan (陈在元) at 14.03. In the Clock event, Karl Abarquez delivered the fastest pace of the weekend, setting a winning average of 3.27 and an event-best single of 2.22 to finish ahead of Zoei Principe at 4.43 and Zian Principe at 5.01.

The multi-faceted puzzle events saw Masayuki Hirai (平井雅之) of Japan navigate three complete rounds of Megaminx to capture first place with a 32.11 average and a single of 29.90. Nicole Jnus Macalalad earned second place with a 37.87 average, while Ayooluwa Samuel Dada of Nigeria finished third at 47.49. Meanwhile, in 3x3x3 Multi-Blind, China's Yucheng Chen (陈裕铖) demonstrated supreme spatial memory to win by solving 51 out of 59 cubes in 58:28, holding off John Axel B. Gordo of the Philippines who achieved 46 out of 51 cubes in 57:42, and Naoto Kobayashi (小林直登) who scored 35 out of 40 in 57:38.

Beyond the top steps of the podium, several competitors delivered remarkable individual breakthroughs throughout the WCA competition. Syunei Miyauchi (宮内俊英) took on five different disciplines, achieving a personal best single of 10.76 in the 3x3x3 Cube that was 7.6 percent faster than his prior record, posting a 42.70 Megaminx personal best, placing 4th in Fewest Moves, and successfully resolving a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Multi-Blind with a perfect 3 out of 3 in 23:45. Juan Miguel C. Manalo took on an extensive eight-event workload, highlighted by a 7th place finish in Clock, a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Multi-Blind yielding 7 out of 8 in 54:01, and a first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Blindfolded in 44:24.00. Nina Reyes registered a personal best finish of 10th place in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves while logging a first ever attempt at Clock with a time of 34.58.

The spirit of persistence was equally evident in the efforts of Luis Gabriel Cueto Pahati, who tackled six events and dropped his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 7.1 percent to 21.84, improved his Megaminx mark by 3.8 percent down to 4:10.62, and placed 22nd in 3x3x3 Blindfolded. Akatsuki Kitamura (北村曉) pushed through all eight events on the schedule, achieving a Clock personal best of 12.61 and placing 9th in 5x5x5 Blindfolded. Gibran Kwan contested five events, earning 17th place in 3x3x3 Multi-Blind with a personal best of 2 out of 3 in 18:58. Haruka Kitamura (北村晴香) balanced six events, placing 4th in 5x5x5 Blindfolded while establishing official marks in a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with 43, a first ever attempt at Megaminx in 1:34.25, and a first ever attempt at Clock in 19.68.

The blindfolded speed events concluded with John Axel B. Gordo seizing the 3x3x3 Blindfolded title on a 19.82 single, topping Yuki Tsuneyoshi (恒吉優紀) at 22.12 and Taku Yanai (矢内拓) at 29.96. Across all disciplines, the host nation Philippines collected 13 podium places, Japan secured 9, China earned 1, and Nigeria took 1. The intense problem-solving across memory, efficiency, and turning precision highlighted a demanding day of action as Luzon Multi-Mega Madness 2025 drew to a close in Cainta.

With complex disciplines taking center stage, the cubing competition showcased how the sport extends far beyond raw speed into deep algorithmic theory and endurance. Every competitor who stepped onto the floor at Luzon Multi-Mega Madness 2025 contributed to a vibrant atmosphere of technical mastery, setting a high standard of precision as the regional calendar looks ahead to upcoming challenges.

Pumuno ang ingay ng mga timer, ang mabilis na lagutok ng mga plastic layer, at ang matinding konsentrasyon ng apatnapu't anim na kalahok sa Area 3 Phase 7 Covered Court and Function Hall sa Cainta, Rizal, Philippines noong Hunyo 1, 2025. Bawat mesa ay naging saksi sa mainit na pagsubok ng bilis at memorya habang naghaharap ang mga manlalaro mula sa iba't ibang bansa. Sa bawat kategorya ng naturang cubing competition, naging napakahigpit ng labanan upang makapasok sa pinakamataas na puwesto dahil sa lalim at husay ng buong grupo.

Sa kategoryang 3x3x3 Cube na siyang tradisyonal na Rubik's Cube, apatnapung kalahok ang sumabak para sa iisang round ng tagisan. Naungusan ni Christian Naguio ang buong larangan matapos magtala ng winning average na 7.89 at best single na 7.53 upang masungkit ang unang puwesto para sa Pilipinas. Pumangalawa si Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes na nagtala ng average na 7.91 sa isang napakadikit na laban, habang pumangatlo naman si Psyron Eubert Catral na may average na 8.88 matapos ding magtala ng personal na best single na 7.54 sa parehong event.

Ang Luzon Multi-Mega Madness 2025 ay nagpakitang-gilas din sa mga espesyal na puzzle, kabilang ang Megaminx na umabot sa tatlong round kasama ang tatlumpung kalahok. Nagtagumpay si Masayuki Hirai mula sa Japan sa pamamagitan ng winning average na 32.11 at best single na 29.90. Sumunod sa kanya si Nicole Jnus Macalalad ng Pilipinas na nagtala ng average na 37.87, at pumangatlo si Ayooluwa Samuel Dada mula sa Nigeria na may 47.49 average. Sa kategoryang Clock, nanguna si Karl Abarquez sa kanyang winning average na 3.27 at best single na 2.22 laban kina Zoei Principe na may 4.43 at Zian Principe na nagtala ng 5.01.

Naging sentro rin ng husay sa memorya ang mga blindfolded event kung saan nagningning ang mga kalahok sa speedcubing. Sa 3x3x3 Blindfolded, nakuha ni John Axel B. Gordo ang kampeonato sa bilis na 19.82 single, habang pumangalawa si Yuki Tsuneyoshi na may 22.12 at pumangatlo si Taku Yanai na may 29.96. Sa 5x5x5 Blindfolded, naghari si Yuki Yamamoto sa oras na 5:28.08 single, kasunod sina Naoto Kobayashi na may 6:08.03 at Shiori Yanai na nagrehistro ng 6:30.80. Sa 3x3x3 Multi-Blind, nagwagi si Yucheng Chen mula sa China sa iskor na 51/59 sa loob ng 58:28, laban kay Gordo na may 46/51 sa 57:42 at Kobayashi na may 35/40 sa 57:38.

Sa mga madiskarteng laban, pinangunahan ni Yuki Yamamoto ang 3x3x3 Fewest Moves gamit ang 23 moves single laban kina Yuji Yoshida na may 24 moves at Jacob Miko Tan na may 29 moves. Samantala, sa Square-1 naman ay nanaig si Psyron Eubert Catral sa pamamagitan ng 10.91 winning average at 8.51 best single, kung saan pumangalawa si Taku Yanai na may 13.44 at pumangatlo si Tan na nagtala ng 14.03. Ang bawat round ay nagpakita ng mataas na antas ng kasanayan mula sa mga lokal at dayuhang delegado.

Sa likod ng mga nangungunang marka, maraming kwento ng pagsisikap ang nasaksihan sa buong bulwagan. Sumabak si Khian Eziekel Manalastas sa kanyang kauna-unahang WCA competition at nagtala ng unang opisyal na subok sa 3x3x3 Cube na may 14.22 single at 17.43 average para makuha ang ika-33 puwesto. Gayundin, nilaro ni Bradley Mando R. Dy ang kanyang pinakaunang opisyal na kompetisyon sa pamamagitan ng unang subok sa 3x3x3 Cube na nagbunga ng 26.24 single at naglagay sa kanya sa ika-37 puwesto. Ang mga unang hakbang na ito ang nagbigay-buhay sa tunay na diwa ng torneo.

Nagpatuloy ang dedikasyon ng iba pang manlalaro na humarap sa kani-kanilang mga hamon sa iba't ibang kategorya. Matapang na lumaban si Daisuke Kochi sa tatlong magkakaibang event sa kanyang ika-52 kompetisyon sa karera at naabot ang ika-4 na puwesto sa Megaminx. Hinarap naman ni Ryu Riggs Pua Tan ang tatlong event sa kanyang ika-10 torneo at nasungkit ang ika-14 na puwesto sa Square-1. Si Cevero Muji Bermas ay sumabak sa tatlong kategorya sa kanyang ika-15 torneo at nakuha ang ika-18 puwesto sa 3x3x3 Multi-Blind, habang si Kazue Kobayashi ay nakipagtagisan sa 3x3x3 Cube para sa ika-24 na puwesto sa kanyang ika-30 torneo, at si Frank Aidan Ngaw ay tumapos sa ika-39 na puwesto sa 3x3x3 Cube sa kanyang ika-5 kompetisyon.

Nagtapos ang Luzon Multi-Mega Madness 2025 na nag-iwan ng labintatlong podium finish para sa Pilipinas, siyam para sa Japan, at tig-isa para sa China at Nigeria sa kabuuang walong event. Ang bawat solve at bawat round sa Cainta ay nagpatunay sa lumalalim na galing ng mga manlalaro sa buong rehiyon. Sa pagtatapos ng araw, bitbit ng bawat kalahok ang mga bagong aral at karanasan na magsisilbing pundasyon sa kanilang pagbabalik para sa mga susunod na torneo ng speedcubing.