Makati Speedcubing Open 2024

Inside SM Makati, the rhythmic tapping of plastic and the distinct click of timers set the stage for an intense day of competition. Speedcubers from across the region gathered around the solving stations, watching adjacent tables as rivalries played out across every bracket. With tables arranged beneath bright retail lights, the one-day gathering drew 60 competitors eager to measure their speed against fellow regional standouts on September 22, 2024.

The Makati Speedcubing Open 2024 brought top Philippine talents together in Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines, spanning seven diverse events and ten complete rounds. Regional rivalries were on full display as solvers challenged each other for local supremacy in both classic speedcubing challenges and specialized twisty puzzles. From early qualifying heats to tense finals, the venue delivered high-stakes action throughout the single-day slate.

The 3x3x3 Cube final served as the weekend centerpiece, drawing 60 competitors through three rounds of standard Rubik's Cube solving. Brenton Angelo Lo Wong delivered an outstanding performance to claim the title with a 6.64 winning average, anchored by a blistering 5.51 best single. Toby Litiatco pushed Wong right to the edge, taking the second podium spot with a 6.78 average. Aragon Martin Gonzales rounded out the top three with an average of 7.87, concluding an electrifying set of 3x3 results.

Aragon Martin Gonzales dominated the side events, establishing a formidable presence across multiple formats. In the 2x2x2 Cube, Gonzales captured first place with an exact 2.00 winning average and a 1.61 single, leading a field of 51 competitors ahead of Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes at 2.23 and Wong at 2.36. Gonzales continued his hot streak in Pyraminx, taking gold with a 2.61 average over Yuji Yoshida at 3.76 and Zedrich Angeles at 4.97, proving uncatchable in the shorter, rapid-fire formats.

The one-handed contest delivered another chapter in the battle between Gonzales and Wong. In 3x3x3 One-Handed, Gonzales secured his third victory of the day with an average of 11.31 and an impressive 7.36 single, besting Wong's 12.34 average and Toby Litiatco's 14.13. The demanding discipline required flawless finger-tricks on a single hand, where Gonzales maintained absolute control to claim a clean sweep of his primary focus events.

Beyond the podium battles, several under-the-radar competitors achieved breakthrough milestones across the schedule. Aaron Gan entered five events, recording his first ever attempt at Clock with a 10.37 and shaving 62.1 percent off his Skewb personal best down to 6.88, alongside a 23.48 in the 3x3x3 Cube that was 10.5 percent faster. Steve Godoy sliced 49.8 percent off his Pyraminx personal best to post a 7.13, finishing 26th in 2x2x2 Cube. Bryce Zildjian M. Banal took on three events, posting a first attempt in 3x3x3 One-Handed at 28.19, a 2.81 in 2x2x2 Cube that was 35 percent faster, and an 8.58 in 3x3x3 Cube which was 13.9 percent faster. Rester James Buhanghang registered his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube with a 14.08, while improving his 3x3x3 Cube mark by 31.8 percent to 44.04.

The progress continued across the tournament roster as dedicated solvers made their mark in new categories. Amir Ocon Decena tackled seven events, logging a first ever attempt at 6x6x6 Cube in 5:17.87, dropping his Skewb best by 29.3 percent to 3.81, and trimming his 3x3x3 One-Handed time by 7.3 percent to 22.79. Jared Albert made his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube with a 4.25 to finish 17th, while cutting 28.8 percent off his Pyraminx record to 9.46. Seff Rylee Tilbe logged a first attempt in 2x2x2 Cube at 7.70, a Pyraminx personal best of 9.38 that was 27.6 percent faster, and a Skewb best of 8.53 that was 10.9 percent faster. Eivan Harrie V. Cañizares registered his first ever attempt at Pyraminx in 6.60, placed 13th in 2x2x2 Cube, and improved his 3x3x3 One-Handed mark by 21.1 percent to 12.71.

The larger puzzles and mechanical formats provided dramatic finishes of their own. In 6x6x6 Cube, Dale Palmares outpaced the ten-competitor field with a winning average of 1:41.69 and a single of 1:39.84, ahead of Wong at 1:53.27 and Louie Jay Quibote at 1:57.87. Zoei Principe earned the Clock crown with a 5.15 average and a 3.81 single, edging Palmares at 6.17 and Javier Ignacio at 6.59. Meanwhile, Skewb came down to a razor-thin margin, where Jansen Alvarez prevailed with a 4.19 average over Ivan Keith Cariaga's 4.20 and Ignacio's 4.52.

Across ten rounds of intense play, every podium spot belonged to competitors representing the Philippines, highlighting the depth of regional talent. The Makati Speedcubing Open 2024 provided a stage for established champions and rising hopefuls alike to test their speed cubing skills in a premier WCA competition. As the year 2024 moves forward, the memories of close finishes and dramatic time drops at this cubing competition set a strong foundation for future regional clashes.

Animnapung kalahok ang nagtipon sa SM Makati noong Setyembre 22, 2024 upang subukin ang kanilang bilis at talas ng isip sa pitong magkakaibang kaganapan. Ang bilisang paglutas nang may matinding konsentrasyon tulad ng kailangan sa mga espesyal na kategorya ay nagtakda ng tono para sa buong araw. Sa kabuuang sampung rounds, ipinamalas ng bawat kalahok ang disiplina at pagsasanay upang maabot ang pinakamataas na antas ng laro sa Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines sa ilalim ng World Cube Association.

Sa pangunahing kategorya ng 3x3x3 Cube na may animnapung kalahok sa tatlong rounds, ipinamalas ni Brenton Angelo Lo Wong ang kanyang galing matapos maiuwi ang unang puwesto na may winning average na 6.64 at best single na 5.51. Pumangalawa si Toby Litiatco na nagtala ng average na 6.78 habang pumuwesto sa ikatlo si Aragon Martin Gonzales na nagtala naman ng 7.87 sa isang dikitang labanan sa podium.

Naging maningning ang araw para kay Aragon Martin Gonzales na humakot ng tagumpay sa tatlong magkakahiwalay na kategorya sa Makati Speedcubing Open 2024. Sa 2x2x2 Cube kung saan may 51 kalahok, nanguna si Gonzales tangan ang winning average na 2.00 at best single na 1.61. Sinundan siya nina Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes na nagtala ng 2.23 at Brenton Angelo Lo Wong na nagtala ng 2.36 para sa ikalawa at ikatlong puwesto.

Hindi nagpaawat si Gonzales sa Pyraminx nang sungkitin niya ang gintong puwesto mula sa 41 kalahok sa pamamagitan ng winning average na 2.61 at best single na 2.16 laban kina Yuji Yoshida na nagtala ng 3.76 at Zedrich Angeles na nagtala ng 4.97. Dagdag pa rito, nanguna rin siya sa 3x3x3 One-Handed laban sa 36 competitors sa tulong ng 11.31 winning average at 7.36 single, habang pumangalawa si Wong sa 12.34 at pumangatlo si Litiatco sa 14.13.

Maliban sa mga nagwagi sa podium, may mga natatanging kwento ng pagsisikap mula sa mga manlalaro sa naturang cubing competition. Si Amadeus Mendenilla ay nagtala ng malaking pagsulong nang makuha ang personal best na 24.32 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed na mas mabilis ng 33.8 porsyento, kasama ang personal best na 11.62 sa 3x3x3 Cube at ika-27 na puwesto. Si Rachel Tatad ay nagpakitang-gilas sa limang kaganapan kung saan nagtala siya ng 8.22 sa Pyraminx na 24.7 porsyentong mas mabilis kaysa dati, at 32.92 sa one-handed. Samantala, pinabilis ni Joaquin Theo Agullo ang kanyang 2x2x2 Cube oras tungong 7.35 na 19.3 porsyentong mas mabilis at naabot ang ika-32 puwesto sa Pyraminx. Si Agastthya Srivastava naman ay sumabak sa dalawang events kabilang ang kanyang unang subok sa 2x2x2 Cube na nagbunga ng 6.15.

Para sa iba pang kalahok, ang araw na ito ay tanda ng kanilang pasimula sa opisyal na WCA competition. Si Anthony Ignacio ay lumahok sa apat na kategorya at nakapagtala ng 17.59 sa Pyraminx, 41.71 sa one-handed, at 13.80 sa 3x3x3 Cube sa kanyang unang torneo. Si Tamara Eunice Vitto ay sumalang din sa kanyang unang torneo at nagtapos sa ika-18 puwesto sa Clock tangan ang 23.60, bukod sa 6.03 sa 2x2x2 Cube at 30.45 sa 3x3x3 Cube. Si Uziah Uri Ungos ay nagtala ng 13.90 sa 3x3x3 Cube at 9.36 sa 2x2x2 Cube sa kanyang debut, habang si Kart Immanuel Lara ay nagrehistro ng 26.44 sa 3x3x3 Cube at 15.74 sa 2x2x2 Cube.

Sa mas malalaking Rubik's Cube kaganapan, pinangunahan ni Dale Palmares ang 6x6x6 Cube na may sampung kalahok matapos magrehistro ng winning average na 1:41.69 at best single na 1:39.84. Tinalo niya si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong na pumangalawa sa 1:53.27 at si Louie Jay Quibote na pumangatlo sa 1:57.87. Naging kapana-panabik din ang kumpetisyon sa Clock kung saan nagwagi si Zoei Principe na may 5.15 average laban kay Palmares na may 6.17 at Javier Ignacio na may 6.59.

Nagtapos ang speedcubing aksyon sa Skewb kung saan nagtagumpay si Jansen Alvarez na may 4.19 winning average at 3.33 best single sa dalawang rounds laban sa 24 na kalahok. Napunta ang ikalawang puwesto kay Ivan Keith Cariaga sa dikit na 4.20 average habang pumangatlo si Javier Ignacio sa 4.52. Lahat ng 21 posisyon sa podium ay nasungkit ng mga kinatawan ng Pilipinas sa isang matagumpay na pagtatapos ng torneo sa taong 2024.

Ang buong kompetisyon sa Makati Speedcubing Open 2024 ay nagpatunay sa lumalalim na galing ng mga manlalaro sa iba't ibang kategorya ng puzzle. Mula sa bilis ng kamay hanggang sa matinding memorya at pokus na kailangan sa entablado, ipinamalas ng bawat kalahok ang kanilang dedikasyon sa paglutas ng bawat hugis at sukat ng cube bago sumabak sa mga susunod pang laban.