Mix-up in Lucena 2024

Dale Palmares claimed the premier title at Mix-up in Lucena 2024 with a blistering 8.65 second average, edging out Jansen Alvarez by four hundredths of a second in an electrifying final round. Speedcubers made their way across regions to assemble at Puerto Veranda in the City of Lucena, Philippines, turning October 27, 2024, into a concentrated showcase of top-tier talent. The single-day tournament tested endurance across 13 rounds of play, drawing 26 competitors who journeyed to Lucena to put their preparation to the test under strict tournament conditions.

The journey to the City of Lucena, Philippines, paid major dividends across ten events on the official slate. For competitors travelling from near and far, the bustling venue delivered a relentless pace from the opening rounds of the standard Rubik's Cube to the complexities of large cubes and side events. Palmares set an imposing standard early, logging a best single of 7.46 seconds in the main event before sealing his victory in the 3x3 results with an 8.65 mark, while Alvarez took second at 8.69 and Yuji Yoshida secured third at 9.79.

Palmares extended his dominance across multiple disciplines throughout Mix-up in Lucena 2024, proving his versatility on puzzles of every size. In 3x3x3 One-Handed, Palmares captured the top spot with a 15.30 average, once again besting Alvarez who took silver at 17.82 and Yoshida who earned bronze at 18.74. Moving to the heavy hardware, Palmares secured victories in both big cube categories, taking the 6x6x6 Cube title with a 1:35.17 average and the 7x7x7 Cube with a 2:19.31 average, creating a remarkable four-title haul at the tournament.

Yoshida answered with his own masterclass in speed and precision, dominating the faster rotations. In 2x2x2 Cube, Yoshida topped the standings with a 3.04 average across two rounds, holding off Alvarez at 3.07 and John Paul Custodio at 3.63. Yoshida doubled his gold tally in the 4x4x4 Cube, posting a winning 32.67 average to narrowly defeat Alvarez at 32.76 and Palmares at 35.48, making this speed cubing showcase an intense three-way contest between the podium leaders.

Beyond the familiar names atop the podium, the tournament floor was full of breakthrough moments that defined the competitive spirit. Jerome P. Castro Jr. tackled seven events and slashed his personal best on the 2x2x2 Cube by 45.6 percent down to 3.06 seconds, alongside a 19.2 percent improvement on the 3x3x3 Cube to 11.00 seconds and a debut Megaminx result of 2:19.64. Marc Benedict Belleza Alfuerte took on four events, completing his first ever official 4x4x4 Cube solve in 1:48.73 while taking 33.6 percent off his 2x2x2 mark to reach 4.52. Karlo Miguel M. del Mundo cut his 3x3x3 single to 8.21, a 26.9 percent jump, while also shedding 23.2 percent in One-Handed to 17.58 and 21.2 percent in 4x4x4 Cube to 38.26.

That forward momentum continued throughout the field at Mix-up in Lucena 2024. Jan Michael U. Quiling took fourth in the 3x3x3 Cube and carved 34.5 percent off his Skewb mark to finish at 8.19 seconds. Joshua Adrian Don marked his first official attempt at Skewb with a 7.89 single and notched a 4.57 personal best in 2x2x2 Cube. Julian Drake Villanueva cut 22.5 percent from his 3x3x3 Cube personal record down to 17.90 while recording a 6.93 in 2x2x2. Elvin Bartolo reached fourth place in 4x4x4 Cube with a personal best of 37.75, also posting a 17.82 in One-Handed and 3.58 in 2x2x2. Rainier Marlo Durana advanced his Skewb mark by 19.5 percent, registering a sharp 9.69 single.

Specialist categories added further depth to the program at this WCA competition. Alvarez delivered commanding performances in short-format puzzles, winning the Pyraminx title with a 2.48 average and a 1.42 best single, before securing the Skewb gold with a 4.09 average. In Clock, Karl Abarquez proved untouchable, winning with an average of 4.70 seconds over Kyle Capiral at 6.04 and Giovanni Sy at 7.66. Meanwhile, Nicole Jnus Macalalad conquered the Megaminx event, clocking an impressive 44.58 average to finish well ahead of Alvarez and Abarquez.

As the final timers stopped, the 2024 gathering in Lucena stood out as an action-packed chapter in regional speedcubing. With thirty podium positions shared among Filipino competitors, the depth of talent across all categories was on full display. The shared journey to the venue yielded major personal bests and gripping final rounds, setting an ambitious benchmark for every solver looking toward the next competitive season.

May 26 na kalahok ang nagtipon sa Puerto Veranda para sa Mix-up in Lucena 2024 noong ika-27 ng Oktubre 2024. Ang torneo sa City of Lucena, Philippines ay naging entablado para sa labintatlong rounds ng mabilisang paglutas kung saan marami sa mga lumahok ay sumabak sa kanilang pinakaunang WCA competition. Sa kabuuan ng maghapong labanan sa iba't ibang kategorya, pinatunayan ng komunidad ng speedcubing sa lalawigan ang kanilang sigasig at galing sa pagsulong ng bawat round.

Sa pangunahing kategorya ng 3x3x3 Cube, ipinamalas ni Dale Palmares ang bilis matapos magtala ng winning average na 8.65 sa finals laban sa dalawampu't apat na katunggali. Pumangalawa si Jansen Alvarez na may 8.69 average habang pumangatlo naman si Yuji Yoshida sa kanyang 9.79 average. Ang pinakamabilis na single solve sa naturang event ay naitala rin sa bilis na 7.46. Umani ng tagumpay ang mga pambato ng Pilipinas sa harap ng kanilang masugid na mga tagasuporta.

Hindi lang sa tradisyunal na Rubik's Cube nagpasiklab si Dale Palmares kundi maging sa iba pang dibisyon ng kompetisyon. Naghari siya sa 3x3x3 One-Handed sa average na 15.30 kasunod sina Jansen Alvarez na may 17.82 at Yuji Yoshida na may 18.74. Pagdating sa malalaking puzzle, nakuha muli ni Palmares ang kampeonato sa 6x6x6 Cube na may average na 1:35.17 at 7x7x7 Cube sa bilis na 2:19.31, kung saan tinalo niya ang mga kapwa finalist sa bawat talahanayan.

Nagpakitang-gilas din si Yuji Yoshida sa iba pang mga kategorya sa Mix-up in Lucena 2024. Nasungkit ni Yoshida ang unang puwesto sa 2x2x2 Cube taglay ang winning average na 3.04 laban sa 3.07 ni Jansen Alvarez at 3.63 ni John Paul Custodio. Sa 4x4x4 Cube, nanguna muli si Yoshida na may average na 32.67 upang talunin ang 32.76 ni Alvarez at 35.48 ni Palmares sa isang dikit na labanan ng mga dalubhasa.

Sa mga side events ng Mix-up in Lucena 2024, nagpakitang-gilas si Jansen Alvarez sa Pyraminx nang makuha ang unang puwesto sa 2.48 average at sa Skewb na may 4.09 winning average. Sa kategoryang Clock, si Karl Abarquez ang nangibabaw sa bilis na 4.70 average habang pumangalawa si Kyle Capiral sa 6.04 at pumangatlo si Giovanni Sy sa 7.66. Samantala, pinangunahan ni Nicole Jnus Macalalad ang Megaminx matapos magtala ng winning average na 44.58 kasunod sina Alvarez at Abarquez.

Sa likod ng mga nagwagi sa podium, kapansin-pansin ang mga personal na tagumpay ng iba pang manlalaro sa torneo. Si Frex Cuadillera, na sumabak sa ika-7 kompetisyon sa kanyang karera sa apat na kategorya, ay nagtala ng personal best sa 4x4x4 Cube na 1:17.13 mula sa dating 1:23.48 na naging 7.6 porsyentong mas mabilis upang makuha ang ika-10 puwesto. Sumabak naman si Joseph Capistrano sa tatlong kategorya at nakamit ang ika-7 puwesto sa Pyraminx, samantalang si John Angelo Cordon ay nakipagtagisan sa tatlong events at nagtapos sa ika-12 puwesto sa 4x4x4 Cube. Si Renard Matthew Regodon ay sumalang sa kanyang unang opisyal na laban at gumawa ng mga unang marka sa 2x2x2 Cube na 3.99, 3x3x3 Cube na 15.74, at 3x3x3 One-Handed na 32.05 kung saan nakuha niya ang ika-14 na puwesto.

Marami pang bagong manlalaro ang sumabak sa kanilang mga unang opisyal na solve sa naturang cubing competition. Si Nythan Clark Orozco ay lumaban sa kanyang unang paligsahan sa tatlong events, nagtala ng unang marka sa Pyraminx na 19.00 at Skewb na 34.06, at nagtapos sa ika-11 puwesto sa Skewb. Sa kanyang unang torneo rin, nagrehistro si Prince Ashler R. Tabirao ng unang subok sa 3x3x3 Cube na 8.89 tungo sa ika-7 puwesto at 15.64 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed. Si Antonio Miguel G. Balaguer ay lumahok sa dalawang events taglay ang unang marka sa 2x2x2 Cube na 9.76 at 3x3x3 Cube na 26.82, habang si Allen Kristoff Fajarillo ay sumabak din sa dalawang kategorya na may 5.79 sa 2x2x2 Cube at 12.43 sa 3x3x3 Cube.

Nagtapos ang Mix-up in Lucena 2024 nang may tatlumpung kabuuang podium finishes para sa mga kinatawan ng bansa sa buong sampung opisyal na kategorya. Ang tagumpay ng mga beterano kasama ang pagdagsa ng mga bagong manlalaro sa Puerto Veranda ay nagpapakita ng patuloy na paglawak ng komunidad ng speedcubing sa rehiyon para sa mga darating na panahon.