Masskara Speedcubing Cup 2023

Robinsons Place Bacolod was filled with the rhythmic click and snap of plastic puzzles as 49 competitors gathered on October 15, 2023. The bustling shopping hub provided the stage for the Masskara Speedcubing Cup 2023, where solvers from across the region met to test their dexterity and composure under tournament conditions. Seven distinct events and eight fast-paced rounds were scheduled for the single-day competition, drawing both seasoned tournament regulars and emerging talents aiming for personal bests. The atmosphere across the competition floor was concentrated and intense from the opening solves.

The 2x2x2 Cube final came down to the absolute wire, decided on the closing attempts of the round. Ace Djun T. Aguirre Jr. edged out Miguel Gonzaga in a nail-biting exchange where every fraction of a second mattered. Aguirre Jr. delivered an average of 2.88 seconds alongside a single of 2.09, barely slipping past Gonzaga, who locked in an average of 2.96 and a best single of 2.34. Ace Christian C. Wong captured the third step on the podium with a 3.42 average, completing an exceptionally close contest in the compact puzzle category.

Aguirre Jr. carried that late-round momentum straight into the marquee 3x3x3 Cube event. Spanning two rounds among 48 competitors, the 3x3 results culminated in another gold medal for Aguirre Jr., who posted a winning average of 8.37 and a best single of 6.50. Kirby Jay Caragan chased closely to secure second place with a 9.25 average, while Mary Ella Joyce R. Miralles earned third place with a 9.34 average. The classic Rubik's Cube final showed high-level consistency across all five solves in the deciding phase.

The one-handed category further highlighted the depth of the field in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines. In 3x3x3 One-Handed, Ace Djun T. Aguirre Jr. completed his gold medal sweep of three events by recording an average of 13.53 and a single of 11.69 across 28 competitors. Kenneth Mathew F. Halago took second place with a 15.81 average, while Aaron Josh C. Wong rounded out the top three by registering an 18.45 mark on the official timing display.

Beyond the podium battles, several competitors achieved remarkable individual milestones away from the spotlight. Nathan Garrido took on five events, improving his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 45.4 percent down to 15.85 seconds from 29.04, while also logging a first ever attempt at Pyraminx with 9.46, where he placed 18th, and a first attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed of 1:30.02. Pio Nathaniel Perez cut his Skewb personal best by 45.2 percent to 5.95 seconds, finished 11th in Skewb, and posted first attempts in 4x4x4 Cube at 1:14.18 and 3x3x3 One-Handed at 30.64. Ze'ev Aamir Kanaan dropped his 3x3x3 mark by 39.4 percent to 16.86 and his 2x2x2 best by 21.3 percent to 5.96, while recording a first Pyraminx solve of 6.64 to finish 16th. Elizer James G. Buro improved his 2x2x2 Cube time by 30.2 percent to 2.70, placed 9th in Skewb, and attempted both Skewb for the first time at 6.90 and 3x3x3 One-Handed at 36.82.

Other participants made major strides across multiple disciplines at this WCA competition. Khevin James E. Panaligan shaved 28.4 percent off his 3x3x3 best with a 10.62 single, finished 15th in Pyraminx on a first attempt of 10.20, and made his first 2x2x2 Cube attempt in 5.52. Prince Stefan Robes lowered his 3x3x3 Cube mark by 28.3 percent to 25.67, earned 19th in 4x4x4 Cube with a first attempt of 3:35.31, and logged a first Pyraminx solve of 19.99. Angela Vena C. Gelogo dropped her Pyraminx personal best by 14.4 percent to 26.58, placed 24th, and recorded first attempts in 3x3x3 Cube at 36.93 and 2x2x2 Cube at 25.09. Generoso L. Secreto III took on six events, achieved a best finish of 14th in Skewb, and logged first attempts in Pyraminx at 18.14, 4x4x4 Cube at 2:22.81, and Skewb at 29.33.

The larger puzzles and side events produced exciting finishes throughout the afternoon. Miguel Gonzaga captured victory in the 4x4x4 Cube with an average of 32.87 and a single of 31.81, staying ahead of Aguirre Jr. who took second with 35.77 and Kenneth Mathew F. Halago who finished third with 38.22. In the Pyraminx event, Mars Daniel Kudemus won gold with an average of 2.87 and a best single of 2.07, finishing above Gonzaga at 3.31 and Aguirre Jr. at 4.06.

The day concluded with specialized puzzle action at the Masskara Speedcubing Cup 2023. Kirby Jay Caragan took top honors in Skewb with a winning average of 3.87 and a best solve of 2.91, leading Gonzaga at 4.84 and Aguirre Jr. at 5.09. In the 3x3x3 Blindfolded division, where competitors rely purely on memory before donning a blindfold, Bea Alexandra Marie Flores earned first place with a single solve of 1:11.04. Gabriel Angelo V. Hilado followed in second at 2:16.57, while Caragan took third in 2:44.21. All 21 podium places were claimed by competitors from the Philippines, bringing a dynamic day of speed cubing to a thrilling close.

Umiikot ang mga piyesa sa ilalim ng maliwanag na ilaw ng Robinsons Place Bacolod habang nakatutok ang bawat kalahok sa kanilang mga puzzle. Sa bawat paglapag ng mga kamay sa timer, ramdam ang bigat ng bawat segundo sa bulwagan. Ang naturang cubing competition na ginanap noong October 15, 2023 sa Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines ay nagtipon ng 49 na kalahok mula sa iba-ibang dako. Naging sentro ng aksyon ang matinding tapatan sa bilis at talas ng isip sa buong araw ng paligsahan.

Naging dikit ang labanan sa huling yugto ng 2x2x2 Cube kung saan ang huling ikot ang nagtakda ng kampeon. Naungusan ni Ace Djun T. Aguirre Jr. ang kanyang katunggali matapos magtala ng winning average na 2.88 at best single na 2.09. Pumangalawa si Miguel Gonzaga na nagrehistro ng average na 2.96 matapos ang kanyang 2.34 single, habang pumangatlo naman si Ace Christian C. Wong na may 3.42 average sa kompetisyong nilahukan ng 32 na manlalaro.

Hindi rito nagtapos ang dominasyon ni Ace Djun T. Aguirre Jr. sa Masskara Speedcubing Cup 2023. Sa pangunahing 3x3x3 Cube na kinatampukan ng 48 competitors sa loob ng 2 rounds, muling nasungkit ni Aguirre ang unang puwesto gamit ang winning average na 8.37 at best single na 6.50. Pumangalawa si Kirby Jay Caragan na may 9.25 average, habang pumangatlo si Mary Ella Joyce R. Miralles na nagtala ng 9.34 average sa pinakatanyag na Rubik's Cube division ng torneo.

Nasungkit din ni Aguirre ang gintong medalya sa 3x3x3 One-Handed matapos magtala ng winning average na 13.53 at best single na 11.69 laban sa 28 na kalahok. Sumunod sa kanya si Kenneth Mathew F. Halago na nagtapos sa 15.81 average para sa ikalawang puwesto, at pumangatlo si Aaron Josh C. Wong na may 18.45 average. Sa kabuuan, ipinamalas ni Aguirre ang matinding kahusayan sa bilis ng kamay sa isang kamay man o dalawa.

Sa 4x4x4 Cube, pinatunayan ni Miguel Gonzaga ang kanyang galing nang dominahin ang 20 kalahok sa pamamagitan ng winning average na 32.87 at best single na 31.81. Tinalo niya si Ace Djun T. Aguirre Jr. na nagtala ng 35.77 average para sa ikalawang puwesto, habang pumasok sa ikatlong puwesto si Kenneth Mathew F. Halago na nagrehistro ng 38.22 average sa iisang round ng bakbakan.

Maraming magagandang kwento ng pag-unlad ang natunghayan sa Masskara Speedcubing Cup 2023 sa labas ng mga nangungunang podium. Si Aevielle Chloe Tabelisma ay nagtala ng 49.9 porsyentong bilis sa Pyraminx sa kanyang bagong personal best na 3.01 kumpara sa dating 6.01, habang lumaban din sa 4 na kategorya kabilang ang 21.73 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed. Si Charlisle Alob ay nagpakitang-gilas sa pamamagitan ng 48.6 porsyentong tapyas sa 2x2x2 Cube para sa bagong personal best na 3.03 mula 5.89, kasama ang 45.81 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed at 17.99 sa 3x3x3 Cube. Samantala, si Ianne Theodore D. Pastera ay nagtala ng 2.55 personal best sa 2x2x2 Cube na 43.1 porsyentong mas mabilis kaysa sa dating 4.48, bukod sa 4.02 sa Skewb at ikaanim na puwesto sa Pyraminx. Si Jiro D. Ueno naman ay nagtala ng 51.01 sa kanyang unang subok sa 4x4x4 Cube kung saan nakuha niya ang ikawalong puwesto, bukod sa personal best na 3.11 sa 2x2x2 Cube at 25.23 sa isang kamay.

Naging espesyal din ang araw para sa mga bagong sumabak sa entablado ng WCA competition sa taong 2023. Si Rafael Andrae A. Roullo ay sumali sa kanyang unang torneo at lumahok sa 5 events, kung saan nagrehistro siya ng 8.48 sa Skewb para sa ikawalong puwesto, 6.35 sa Pyraminx, at 3.91 sa 2x2x2 Cube. Si Cailey Katia Lopez ay sumabak sa 3 events sa kanyang debut, nagtala ng 9.15 sa Pyraminx para sa ika-14 na puwesto, 28.14 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed, at 17.96 sa 3x3x3 Cube. Sa kanyang unang torneo, si Chloe Ysabelle Masanit ay nagtala ng 10.51 sa Pyraminx para sa ika-19 na puwesto at 32.13 sa 3x3x3 Cube. Si Kian Alvane S. Abastillas naman ay nagtala ng 15.31 sa 2x2x2 Cube at 28.59 sa 3x3x3 Cube sa kanyang unang sabak sa speedcubing.

Sa iba pang kategorya ng Masskara Speedcubing Cup 2023, nagwagi si Kirby Jay Caragan sa Skewb tangan ang winning average na 3.87 at best single na 2.91 laban sa 14 na competitors, habang pumangalawa si Miguel Gonzaga sa 4.84 average at pumangatlo si Aguirre sa 5.09. Sa Pyraminx na may 24 kalahok, nanguna si Mars Daniel Kudemus na may winning average na 2.87 at best single na 2.07, kasunod sina Gonzaga sa 3.31 at Aguirre sa 4.06. Sa 3x3x3 Blindfolded na nangangailangan ng masusing pagsasaulo bago buuin ang puzzle nang nakapiring, nagwagi si Bea Alexandra Marie Flores sa kanyang best single na 1:11.04, kasunod sina Gabriel Angelo V. Hilado na may 2:16.57 at Kirby Jay Caragan na may 2:44.21.

Sa kabuuang 7 events at 8 rounds, naging matagumpay ang buong araw ng paligsahan kung saan ang lahat ng 21 posisyon sa podium ay nasungkit ng mga kinatawan mula sa Pilipinas. Nagtapos ang kompetisyon na may mga bagong marka at hindi malilimutang tagisan ng bilis sa lungsod ng Bacolod.