Makati Side Events Open 2026

Inside SM Makati, the retail bustle gave way to the rhythmic clack of turning layers and the steady tap of timing mats across the competition floor. Solvers huddled over tables in Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines, fine-tuning their grips and inspecting complex puzzle configurations before each attempt. While the schedule offered a broad spread of disciplines across eight events on September 13, 2026, the technical nuances of the single-handed discipline stood out. One-handed solving places extraordinary physical demands on competitors, stripping away the balance of two-handed control in favor of pinky flicks, table stability, and rapid fingertricks that test precision and ergonomics under strict tournament conditions.

Crimson Arradaza mastered those single-handed demands to secure a decisive victory in 3x3x3 One-Handed. Navigating the unique rotational flow of the event, Arradaza posted a winning mark of 8.60 seconds. Brenton Angelo Lo Wong followed in second place with a time of 10.92, while Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes claimed third on the podium at 11.57. The result underscored how efficiency and fingertrick dexterity separate the fastest solvers when only five fingers are permitted to turn the puzzle. The one-handed contest proved to be one of the sharpest demonstrations of technique throughout the entire cubing competition.

Arradaza carried that exceptional form directly into the standard 3x3x3 Cube event, completing an impressive sweep of the classic formats. Delivering crisp execution in the main Rubik's Cube category, Arradaza took first place with a rapid 6.28. The 3x3 results at the top mirrored the one-handed podium, with Brenton Angelo Lo Wong earning the runner-up position in 6.76 seconds and Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes finishing third with a time of 7.25. The dual victories cemented Arradaza as the dominant standard-cube solver of the tournament.

Beyond the classic 3x3 events, Karl Abarquez put together a versatile campaign at the Makati Side Events Open 2026, capturing first-place finishes across three entirely different categories. In Clock, Abarquez claimed the gold with a fast 2.93, clear of Seff Rylee Tilbe at 5.91 and Zion Wyatt Rentillo Catalan at 6.52. Moving over to the twelve-sided Megaminx, Abarquez topped the standings with a time of 44.26, besting Francis Yuel B. Merced at 46.78 and Brenton Angelo Lo Wong at 49.34. Abarquez added a third victory in Square-1, clocking 9.24 to edge Daphne Sharynna S. Taan at 9.47 and Merced at 12.14.

The remaining speed cubing disciplines at the Makati Side Events Open 2026 delivered fast action and close margins. Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes secured the top spot in 2x2x2 Cube with a time of 1.49, outpacing Gabriel Subion at 1.89 and James Certeza at 2.28. In Pyraminx, Certeza rose to the top of the podium with a winning 2.56, followed closely by Subion at 2.75 and Abarquez at 3.82. Subion earned a victory of his own in Skewb, recording a 3.93 to lead Abarquez at 4.01 and Ayra Aiesha N. Negrillo at 4.42, keeping all 24 podium spots firmly in the hands of competitors representing the Philippines.

Behind the top podium steps, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones and personal breakthroughs on the tournament floor. Frinz Jebriel Luna delivered the largest relative jump of the day, logging a 3x3x3 One-Handed time of 32.76, an improvement of 47.8 percent over a previous mark of 1:02.74, while also lowering their 3x3x3 Cube best by 4.1 percent to 15.26 across two entered events. Euan Iñigo T. Marasigan took on all eight events, dropping their Square-1 mark by 42.3 percent to 29.64, their one-handed time by 28 percent to 28.92, and their 3x3x3 Cube mark by 26.1 percent to 13.28, highlighted by a ninth-place finish in Pyraminx. Joaquin Magic B. Liwag entered four events, posting their first ever Clock attempt of 30.17 to finish 22nd, their first ever 2x2x2 attempt of 6.78, and a 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best of 32.16 that was 39 percent faster than their prior 52.68. Yuan Xandler Nebril tackled three events, improving their 2x2x2 Cube mark by 37.1 percent to 8.35 and their Pyraminx best by 31.9 percent to 6.78, which secured 27th place.

The surge of personal records continued across the scorecards as other competitors expanded their event profiles during the WCA competition. Surewynn Larga took on seven events and recorded a personal best of 8.67 in Clock to finish 10th, trimming 20.7 percent off an earlier 10.93, while also recording a 16.4 percent drop to 4.83 in 2x2x2 Cube alongside a first ever Square-1 attempt of 26.48. Harris Gavin Dio took on seven events, recording a first ever Megaminx attempt of 1:31.81 for a 12th-place finish and cutting their 2x2x2 Cube mark by 18.1 percent to 3.17. George Ronquillo entered seven events, making a first ever Megaminx attempt of 1:28.66 to place ninth, a first ever Square-1 attempt of 28.42, and improving their 2x2x2 Cube time by 15.9 percent to 3.18. Austin Gyan E. Marbella competed in four events, logging a first ever Square-1 attempt of 45.77 to place 17th, lowering their Megaminx mark by 15.3 percent to 1:42.50, and cutting their 3x3x3 Cube time by 10.6 percent to 10.87.

The one-day gathering at SM Makati showcased the broad technical range of modern speedcubing, from the one-handed mastery of standard cubes to intricate mechanical puzzles like Clock, Square-1, and Megaminx. The Makati Side Events Open 2026 provided a dedicated stage for both multi-event champions and progressing solvers to test their technique and claim new personal benchmarks in Makati City.