Mini Tunas 2023

Fifty-five competitors gathered at the Museo Laberinto de las Ciencias y las Artes for Mini Tunas 2023, stepping into a packed one-day schedule featuring six diverse events across seven total rounds. Speedcubing often summons images of rapid-fire turning and split-second stops, yet the discipline spans far beyond pure sprint events. Puzzles requiring systematic calculation, precision, and varied tactical approaches demand deliberate focus across every table. Held on November 12, 2023, the gathering in San Luis Potosí, Mexico showcased this rich spectrum of the sport, bringing together technical problem solvers from across the region to test their preparation across big cubes, side events, and standard twists.

While some disciplines reward methodical deliberation, the classic speed events delivered immediate drama. In the premier 3x3x3 Cube, Alonso Moreno captured the top spot on the podium with a decisive winning average of 7.60 seconds after two hard-fought rounds. Moreno secured the title ahead of Alexis Rodrigo Cazu Mendoza, who finished runner-up with an average of 8.36, and César Abraham Briones Arreola, who completed the podium in third with an 8.51 mark. Moreno also recorded the fastest single solve of the entire discipline at 7.23 seconds, proving untouchable across the 3x3 results in the final round.

Beyond the standard Rubik's Cube, Alexis Rodrigo Cazu Mendoza put on a masterclass of multi-event mastery, taking victories across all remaining five disciplines. In the 5x5x5 Cube, Cazu Mendoza took first place with a 55.43 average, posting a best single of 50.40 seconds to defeat Isaac Vergara Castillo, who finished second with 1:00.10, and César Abraham Briones Arreola, who placed third with 1:06.65. The 32 competitors in the field were challenged by complex edge-pairing and center-building sequences, where steady pacing proved essential.

Cazu Mendoza maintained that dominant momentum in the 6x6x6 Cube, recording a winning average of 1:35.35 along with a single solve of 1:32.92. Isaac Vergara Castillo collected his second runner-up finish of the day with an average of 1:37.74, while Eduardo Rafael Mendiola Rosas took third place with a mark of 1:49.24. The demanding big cube requires sustained concentration across dozens of individual puzzle pieces, testing mental stamina through extended solves that reward careful planning and error-free execution.

The specialized side events provided further variety throughout the day. In Megaminx, Cazu Mendoza claimed top honors with a winning average of 41.87 seconds and a best single of 36.49, holding off Isaac Vergara Castillo at 50.84 and Luis Sinhue Medina Salas at 54.75. Transitioning to the mechanically distinct Clock, Cazu Mendoza secured another gold with a 6.71 average, besting Alonso Moreno with 10.56 and César Abraham Briones Arreola with 11.11. In Square-1, Cazu Mendoza completed his sweep with an 11.75 winning average, as Briones Arreola took second with 14.77 and Alvaro Perez Posas captured third with 21.20.

Beyond the podium battles at this WCA competition, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones in personal progression and new territory. Rosa del Carmen Monroy Villa entered two events and achieved a massive Clock personal best of 17.80 seconds, cutting 57.1 percent off her prior 41.47 mark and finishing 14th. Gabriel de León Garza tackled five events, finishing 8th in Square-1 with a personal best of 24.34 seconds, 30.9 percent faster than his previous 35.23, while also achieving a 15.4 percent drop in 5x5x5 Cube down to 2:15.34 and making his first ever attempt at Clock with a 12.32 single. Francisco Javier Aguilar Galaviz entered three events, logging his first ever attempt at Megaminx with 4:07.71 to finish 28th, alongside a 28.7 percent improvement in 5x5x5 Cube to 2:19.97. Marlo Josué Castañeda Zepeda took on six events, finishing 9th in Clock after a first attempt of 10.96, logging a first Square-1 attempt of 1:11.95, and improving his Megaminx personal best by 17.9 percent to 1:35.84.

The progress continued across the roster of competitors pushing into unfamiliar territory. Hugo Francisco Ocampo González took on five events, earning his best finish of 12th in Square-1 with a first attempt of 1:01.52, while also posting a first attempt in 5x5x5 Cube of 2:11.64 and dropping his Megaminx personal best by 17.3 percent to 2:01.93. Luis Gerardo Ramirez Hernandez contested five events, taking 10th in Square-1 with a first attempt of 42.89, registering a first 6x6x6 Cube mark of 3:07.31, and cutting his Megaminx best by 15.9 percent down to 1:29.64. Omar Reyes Monroy entered five events, claiming 11th in Clock, attempting Square-1 for the first time with 1:39.34, logging a Megaminx debut of 1:52.98, and shaving 14.6 percent off his 5x5x5 Cube mark to reach 1:56.00. José Sifuentes Turrubiartes entered six events, logging first attempts in Square-1 at 2:42.83 and Clock at 37.78, alongside a 5x5x5 Cube personal best of 2:11.44 to finish 17th in Square-1.

Across all six disciplines, Mexican competitors swept all 18 podium positions available, reflecting the depth of talent present in the host nation. The full slate of events pushed solvers through contrasting styles, from the mechanical dial turning of Clock to the geometric complexity of Megaminx and Square-1. Speed cubing in the region continues to thrive through structured tournaments that reward both established champions and developing participants testing their limits.

As the final timers stopped, Mini Tunas 2023 wrapped up an intense day of competition that celebrated both top-tier speed and personal advancement. Alonso Moreno and Alexis Rodrigo Cazu Mendoza stood at the forefront of the standings, but the achievements spanned the entire floor of solvers. With multiple personal bests logged and fresh milestones set across diverse puzzles, the event highlighted the vibrant spirit of this cubing competition as participants look ahead to the next chapter of their competitive journeys.

Un impresionante promedio de 7.60 segundos en el cubo de 3x3x3 le otorgó la victoria principal a Alonso Moreno en el Museo Laberinto de las Ciencias y las Artes. El certamen celebrado en San Luis Potosí, Mexico, reunió a 55 participantes durante la intensa jornada del 12 de noviembre de 2023. La cita se convirtió en un escenario ideal para la superación individual, donde competidores de diferentes niveles pulverizaron sus mejores registros y llevaron la práctica del speedcubing a un nivel formidable de precisión.

La competencia Mini Tunas 2023 presentó siete rondas repartidas en seis categorías oficiales, dejando actuaciones de enorme calidad técnica en cada mesa de resolución. Alonso Moreno aseguró la cima de 3x3x3 con un mejor intento individual de 7.23 y un promedio final de 7.60, superando a Alexis Rodrigo Cazu Mendoza, quien registró una media de 8.36, y a César Abraham Briones Arreola, quien completó el podio general con un registro promedio de 8.51.

Alexis Rodrigo Cazu Mendoza protagonizó una jornada monumental al coronarse en cinco de las seis modalidades disputadas durante el torneo. En el cubo de 5x5x5 logró el primer lugar con una media de 55.43 y un mejor tiempo de 50.40, aventajando a Isaac Vergara Castillo con 1:00.10 y a César Abraham Briones Arreola con 1:06.65. En Megaminx volvió a dominar con una marca promedio de 41.87 y un mejor intento de 36.49, seguido nuevamente por Isaac Vergara Castillo con 50.84 y Luis Sinhue Medina Salas con 54.75.

El poderío de Alexis Rodrigo Cazu Mendoza continuó en la prueba de 6x6x6, donde ganó con una media de 1:35.35 y un mejor giro de 1:32.92, superando a Isaac Vergara Castillo con 1:37.74 y a Eduardo Rafael Mendiola Rosas con 1:49.24. En Clock, se impuso con un promedio de 6.71 por delante de Alonso Moreno con 10.56 y César Abraham Briones Arreola con 11.11. Finalmente, en Square-1 se alzó con la victoria con una media de 11.75, dejando en segundo puesto a César Abraham Briones Arreola con 14.77 y en tercero a Alvaro Perez Posas con 21.20.

Más allá de las primeras posiciones, el torneo ofreció enormes saltos de rendimiento para competidores que mostraron una evolución notable. Juan Carlos Guerrero Rojas compitió en cinco eventos, firmó su primera participación oficial en 6x6x6 con 3:21.93, obtuvo un noveno lugar en Square-1 y rebajó su marca personal en Megaminx hasta 1:49.31, mejorando un 26.3 por ciento su registro previo de 2:28.37. Por su parte, Diego Suárez Diáz de León alcanzó el octavo puesto en 3x3x3 al recortar un 19 por ciento su tiempo personal hasta 9.37 segundos frente a su anterior 11.57, además de debutar en Square-1 con 1:15.46. Gerardo Alfonso Beltran Martinez registró su primera tentativa en 5x5x5 con 1:52.56 para ser vigesimotercero y mejoró su marca en 3x3x3 un 22 por ciento al pasar de 19.71 a 15.37. Omar Reyes Martínez compitió en tres pruebas, marcando su estreno en Square-1 con 4:37.47 y mejorando un 12.7 por ciento en Clock al firmar 21.41 segundos.

El entusiasmo de estrenarse en una competencia de cubo de Rubik también impulsó a varios participantes que vivieron aquí su primera competencia WCA. Hairo Leonardo Hernández Calvillo afrontó tres categorías por primera vez, logrando 13.70 en 3x3x3, 2:38.64 en 5x5x5 y un trigésimo puesto en Megaminx con 4:31.32. Jonathan Adrián Barraza Pantoja encaró cuatro pruebas en su debut, logrando la decimosexta plaza en Megaminx con 1:32.03, además de 11.41 en 3x3x3 y 2:09.65 en 5x5x5. Giovanna Arisbeth Mesa Gonzalez debutó con 56.69 en 3x3x3 y finalizó vigesimonovena en Megaminx con 4:19.27. Asimismo, Ruy Alesio Escobedo Portillo completó sus primeros registros oficiales con 23.05 en 3x3x3 y 4:53.20 en 5x5x5, ocupando el puesto 31.

El progreso técnico en el cubo clásico quedó patente en las rondas clasificatorias y finales, donde múltiples participantes alcanzaron marcas personales de gran calibre. Destacaron los registros individuales y promedios logrados en la prueba principal por Josué Vidal Melchor Ruiz con un mejor intento de 7.73 y media de 9.58, Alvaro Perez Posas con 9.50 y 10.16, Isaac Vergara Castillo con 8.95 y 10.53, Gerardo Villavicencio Gutierrez con 10.26 y 11.30, Luis Gerardo Ramirez Hernandez con 10.37 y 11.59, y Hugo Francisco Ocampo González con 9.13 y 11.61.

Con un total de 18 plazas de podio ocupadas íntegramente por competidores locales, Mini Tunas 2023 demostró la solidez del circuito en la región y la continua superación de su comunidad. Los registros alcanzados y las marcas personales batidas consolidan el avance deportivo en cada una de las modalidades celebradas en San Luis Potosí, cerrando una jornada memorable que marca el camino de cara a la próxima temporada de competiciones.