Marikina City ReMINX 2023

A blistering 6.02 winning average from Toby Litiatco in the 3x3x3 Cube stood out as the highlight result at the Nangka Basketball Court, anchored by a 5.32 single that set the standard for the entire meet. Behind the smooth execution of 13 rounds across seven events, the dedicated team of organizers, delegates, and local volunteers kept the tournament running on schedule. Their tireless work on November 5, 2023, allowed 70 competitors to take to the tables and deliver top-tier performances throughout the single-day gathering in Marikina City, Metro Manila, Philippines.

The operations team made sure the flow of scramblers, runners, and judges remained seamless from the morning rounds to the late afternoon finals. Hosting a full speedcubing schedule in a single day requires constant vigilance, and the local crew managed every puzzle transfer without missing a beat. Their steady oversight created the foundation for 65 competitors to chase down their fastest 3x3 results in the main event, proving once again how essential venue staff and volunteers are to the vitality of the local scene in 2023.

Litiatco led the flagship 3x3x3 Cube competition by posting the victorious 6.02 average in the final round. Karl Matthew Angeles secured second place with an average of 8.17, while Jaybee Montecillo completed the podium in third at 8.42. The classic Rubik's Cube drew the largest field of the day, demanding exceptional consistency across two rounds. Litiatco proved up to the challenge, pairing his single solve of 5.32 with relentless pacing across the remaining attempts to clear the field by more than two full seconds.

Stephen Mark V. Mariñas captured two championship titles over the course of the event. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Mariñas registered a winning average of 32.40 along with a single of 30.20 to lead a 43-player roster, finishing ahead of Dale Palmares in second at 35.98 and Moses Elijah San Pascual in third at 36.09. Mariñas struck again across three rounds of Pyraminx, taking first place with an average of 3.26 and a best single of 2.42. Chris Padua claimed second in Pyraminx with 3.97, and Angeles secured third with 4.09.

Beyond the top podium steps, the heart of the tournament emerged in the personal milestones achieved across the lineup. John Lendon P. Segundo took on five events, improving his 4x4x4 Cube personal best by 49.8 percent with a 1:04.15 mark, lowering his 2x2x2 Cube best by 12.2 percent to 4.90, and logging a first attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed of 20.74. Jon Conrad Arienza entered three events, cutting his Pyraminx best by 42.1 percent to 3.09 to finish 10th, while also trimming his 2x2x2 Cube mark by 8.3 percent to 3.08 and his 4x4x4 Cube time by 8 percent to 41.60. Zion Wyatt Rentillo Catalan tackled four disciplines, dropping his Pyraminx best by 30.9 percent to 11.96 while attempting 2x2x2 Cube with a 6.71 and 3x3x3 One-Handed with 1:09.90 for the very first time. Xander Ethan A. Lee entered five events, slicing 26.1 percent off his 4x4x4 Cube personal best down to 1:36.28 and registering first attempts of 38.36 in 3x3x3 One-Handed and 7.45 in 2x2x2 Cube.

Other competitors similarly expanded their speed cubing resumes by stepping into new formats. Rein Concepcion entered three events, taking 15.4 percent off his 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best down to 25.95, improving his 3x3x3 Cube record by 12.2 percent to 9.87, and recording a first 2x2x2 Cube result of 5.00. Nicole Santos entered seven events, securing an 11th-place finish in Clock and recording first-ever attempts in 3x3x3 One-Handed at 39.85, Clock at 10.57, and 2x2x2 Cube at 6.22. Jino France Abelinde competed across four events, finishing 25th in the 4x4x4 Cube while making first attempts in 2x2x2 Cube with 3.81, 4x4x4 Cube with 50.64, and Pyraminx with 9.51. Jaypee Mar E. Eliot entered five events, earning 31st in the 4x4x4 Cube and logging maiden official marks of 4.66 in 2x2x2 Cube, 6.93 in Pyraminx, and 45.49 in 3x3x3 One-Handed.

Action in the specialized formats delivered fast times and tight finishes throughout the venue. Isaiah Benedict S. Feria took top honors in the 2x2x2 Cube with an average of 2.42 and a 1.99 single, leading Angeles in second at 2.55 and Mariñas in third at 2.92. Angeles claimed his own gold in 3x3x3 One-Handed, winning with a 14.94 average and a 13.34 single, outperforming Montecillo at 16.41 and Mariñas at 17.91. At the Clock stations, Renaud B. Manansala won with an average of 5.05 and a 3.80 single, topping Dimetri De La Rea at 5.84 and Albert Quiñones at 6.25.

The 12-sided Megaminx brought the multi-puzzle program to a close across two rounds. Yuji Yoshida earned the victory with a 1:05.75 average and a 59.12 single, narrowly edging Jacob Miko Tan who posted 1:06.37, while Francesco Martinez followed in third with 1:14.35. All 21 podium places across the weekend were captured by competitors representing the Philippines, highlighting the depth of the local community. Marikina City ReMINX 2023 stands as a triumph of coordination and athletic execution, setting a high bar for every upcoming WCA competition as the circuit continues to evolve.

When the final timers were packed away, Marikina City ReMINX 2023 concluded as an efficient showcase made possible by the dedicated staff who kept every station running. From Litiatco's commanding win to the dozens of personal milestones earned across all seven events, the cubing competition celebrated both precision and community teamwork at the Nangka Basketball Court.

Pumuno ng matinding sigla at bilis ang Nangka Basketball Court noong Nobyembre 5, 2023 sa pagtitipon ng mga pinakamahuhusay na cuber. Mula sa mga tradisyonal na kubo hanggang sa mga pambihirang hugis na may iba't ibang mukha, bawat mesa ay napuno ng mabilisang pag-ikot at pag-aaral ng bawat kombinasyon. Umabot sa 70 kalahok ang nagtala ng kanilang husay sa Marikina City, Metro Manila, Philippines sa isang araw ng puspusang tapatan.

Ang torneo na Marikina City ReMINX 2023 ay nagtampok ng pitong magkakaibang uri ng event sa kabuuang 13 rounds. Sa ganitong klase ng cubing competition, hindi lamang ang pamilyar na 3x3x3 Cube ang naging bida kundi pati na rin ang mga kakaibang kategorya tulad ng Pyraminx, Megaminx, at Clock. Ipinamalas ng bawat kalahok ang kanilang kakayahang mag-adjust sa iba't ibang mekanismo at paraan ng pagresolba sa bawat pabilog, tatsulok, at parisukat na puzzle.

Sa pangunahing kategorya ng 3x3x3 Cube, nagwagi si Toby Litiatco matapos magtala ng napakabilis na winning average na 6.02 kabilang ang best single na 5.32 sa harap ng 65 competitors. Pumangalawa sa podium si Karl Matthew Angeles na may average na 8.17, habang pumangatlo naman si Jaybee Montecillo sa kanyang average na 8.42. Ang klasikong Rubik's Cube na ito ay nagbigay muli ng mataas na antas ng husay at determinasyon sa bawat solve.

Hindi nagpahuli si Karl Matthew Angeles na naghari naman sa 3x3x3 One-Handed matapos magtala ng winning average na 14.94 at best single na 13.34 laban sa 40 kalahok. Sa parehong kategorya ng isang kamay, sumunod sa podium sina Jaybee Montecillo na may 16.41 at Stephen Mark V. Mariñas na nagtala ng 17.91. Sa 2x2x2 Cube, pinangunahan ni Isaiah Benedict S. Feria ang labanan gamit ang 2.42 winning average, sinundan nina Karl Matthew Angeles na may 2.55 at Stephen Mark V. Mariñas na may 2.92.

Naging maningning din ang pagtatanghal ni Stephen Mark V. Mariñas matapos magwagi ng dalawang magkahiwalay na titulo sa torneo. Nanguna siya sa 4x4x4 Cube na may winning average na 32.40 laban kina Dale Palmares na nagtala ng 35.98 at Moses Elijah San Pascual na may 36.09. Dinomina rin ni Stephen Mark V. Mariñas ang Pyraminx sa pamamagitan ng winning average na 3.26 laban kina Chris Padua na may 3.97 at Karl Matthew Angeles na may 4.09. Sa Clock, nagwagi si Renaud B. Manansala sa kanyang 5.05 winning average, habang sa Megaminx naman ay umangat si Yuji Yoshida sa kanyang 1:05.75 winning average.

Sa likod ng mga nagwagi sa podium, marami ring kalahok ang nagpakita ng kahanga-hangang pag-asenso at katapangan sa pagsabak sa mga bagong larangan. Malaking hakbang ang ipinamalas ni JZ Lyle Dexter Wamar na nagtala ng Megaminx personal best na 2:31.56 mula sa dating 4:23.64 na 42.5 porsyentong mas mabilis, kasabay ng 33.5 porsyentong bawas sa Pyraminx sa oras na 8.51. Si Denise Jaizy Manegdeg ay nagtala rin ng 14.43 sa Clock na 36.1 porsyentong mas mabilis kaysa sa kanyang dating 22.59, gayundin ng 8.57 sa Pyraminx at 5.22 sa 2x2x2 Cube. Samantala, sa kanyang ika-72 torneo, sumabak sa unang pagkakataon si Gibran Kwan sa Megaminx at nagtala ng 1:46.16, bukod sa 11.59 personal best sa Pyraminx. Nagtala naman si Joakim Hendrich Victorino ng 46.77 sa kanyang unang pagsubok sa 3x3x3 One-Handed at nagtapyas ng 13.9 porsyento sa 4x4x4 Cube sa oras na 56.08.

Nagpakitang-gilas din ang mga bagong mukha na sumabak sa kanilang pinakaunang WCA competition ngayong taon. Si Constantine Uriel P. Sison ay sumali sa limang kategorya at nagtala ng 13.38 sa 3x3x3 Cube, 7.67 sa Pyraminx, at 4.40 sa 2x2x2 Cube, habang umabot sa ika-15 puwesto sa Clock. Si Evan Diaz ay nakamit ang ika-9 na puwesto sa 2x2x2 Cube sa unang subok na may 2.70, kasabay ng 20.74 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed at 5.33 sa Pyraminx. Sumabak naman si Mark Joseph Ortega sa apat na event kabilang ang 8.09 sa 2x2x2 Cube, 13.61 sa 3x3x3 Cube, at 15.73 sa Pyraminx. Hindi rin nagpahuli si Jumuel Mathew B. Bucag na nagtala ng 14.85 sa 3x3x3 Cube, 33.92 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed, at 4.10 sa 2x2x2 Cube sa kanyang pambungad na sabak.

Ang buong araw ng Marikina City ReMINX 2023 ay naging patunay sa patuloy na paglago at sigla ng speedcubing sa Pilipinas. Ang bawat round at bawat iba't ibang hugis ng puzzle ay nagbigay ng hamon na buong giting na hinarap ng 70 kalahok. Sa pagtatapos ng torneo sa Nangka Basketball Court, bitbit ng bawat manlalaro ang mga bagong personal na tala at karanasan patungo sa mga susunod pang labanan sa darating na panahon.