Nacionales Uruguayas 2023

Inside the spacious hall of Espacio DINAMO in Atlántida, Canelones, Uruguay, rows of competition tables stood surrounded by timers, displays, and an extensive variety of twisty puzzles. Across three days from October 6 to October 8, Nacionales Uruguayas 2023 brought together 76 competitors to tackle a grueling schedule of 17 distinct events across 32 rounds. While the standard Rubik's Cube always draws attention, this particular WCA competition offered an extraordinary platform for niche specialists and multi-puzzle endurance testers to shine.

The blindfolded disciplines delivered some of the weekend's most intense focal points, demanding immense concentration and precise memory. Nicolas Campanario commanded the blind events, securing victory in 3x3x3 Blindfolded with a 23.90 winning average and a single of 23.50. Campanario also conquered 5x5x5 Blindfolded with a single of 9:54.76 and produced a stunning performance in 3x3x3 Multi-Blind, resolving 31 of 35 cubes within a time limit of 59:52. In 4x4x4 Blindfolded, Bruno Lezama captured top honors with a successful single solve of 7:33.92.

Mechanical variety defined the middle rounds as non-standard geometric puzzles tested unique algorithmic proficiencies. Felipe Maierowicz showed exceptional precision in Square-1, taking the title with a 6.84 winning average and an event-best 4.60 single. Mateo de León navigated the intricate dials of Clock to secure first place with a 5.51 average, backed by a quick 5.13 single. Meanwhile, the dodecahedral Megaminx event saw Brian Hambeck emerge on top, clocking a 42.92 winning average alongside a best single of 39.75 across two rounds of play.

The speed cubing action remained equally fierce in the short-form twisty events, where milliseconds decided podium spots. Sebastiano Benato claimed victory in Pyraminx with a sharp 2.49 winning average and a 2.30 single, leading a final podium alongside Gael Augusto Lapeyre and Santiago Cabral. In Skewb, Lapeyre took the crown with a 3.06 winning average and a 2.78 single across three packed rounds. The deliberate pace of 3x3x3 Fewest Moves offered a stark contrast, where Lapeyre also topped the field by finding an optimal solution in just 29 moves.

Beyond the title fights, Nacionales Uruguayas 2023 showcased massive personal progression for competitors expanding their repertoires across different disciplines. Joaquín Volpi Yemini took on six events and shattered his personal best in 2x2x2 Cube with a 5.64, an improvement of 57.7 percent, while logging a first ever attempt at Clock in 12.38 and 4x4x4 Cube in 57.40. Mateo Damian Coitinho Gabarain tackled 11 events, cutting his Skewb best by 50.2 percent to 5.79, trimming his 3x3x3 One-Handed best by 30.7 percent down to 44.62, and recording a first ever attempt at 6x6x6 Cube in 6:26.07. Maximiliano Rodríguez Ferreira dropped his 4x4x4 Cube mark by 47.1 percent to 1:12.38 and logged a first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube of 4.18. Camilo Adonaí Suárez Rodríguez cut 45.8 percent off his 3x3x3 Cube best with a 20.83 and posted a 6.38 on his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube.

That same drive was evident throughout the roster as competitors embraced new formats and huge milestone drops. Mateo Blois Escobar entered 12 events, shaving 38.9 percent off his Megaminx mark down to 1:41.42, taking seventh in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, and registering a first ever attempt at Square-1 of 46.58. Ayan Valadao Lima improved his 4x4x4 Cube mark by 38.4 percent to 54.85 while posting a first ever attempt at Megaminx in 1:44.78 and Clock in 14.31. Agustín Márquez dropped his Pyraminx best by 35.7 percent to 6.12 and recorded a first ever attempt at Skewb in 3.80. In his first WCA competition, Duncan Gutiérrez contested 13 events, earning a tenth-place finish in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves while logging a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Cube in 11.67 and Megaminx in 1:10.53.

Big cube mastery was on full display as Gael Augusto Lapeyre orchestrated a dominant sweep of the multi-layered puzzles. In 4x4x4 Cube, Lapeyre won with a 31.21 average, followed by Octavio Arocena at 32.97 and Víctor Gálvez at 35.28. Lapeyre then secured the 5x5x5 Cube title with a 55.50 average over Agustín Diano and Arocena. The Argentine standout extended his command into the largest puzzles, taking the 6x6x6 Cube with a 1:43.01 average and winning the 7x7x7 Cube with a 2:45.53 average, leading podiun finishes over Diano, Gálvez, and Arocena.

The 3x3 results formed the centerpiece of the final afternoon, capping three competitive rounds with 74 entrants. Gael Augusto Lapeyre earned first place with a 7.59 winning average and a 6.13 single, leading a podium that included Agustín Diano in second with 8.95 and Bolivar Chafla in third with 9.43. Lapeyre also proved unstoppable in 3x3x3 One-Handed, winning with an 11.62 average, and clinched the 2x2x2 Cube final in 2.35 ahead of Felipe Maierowicz and Bruno Lezama, bringing a spectacular close to an extensive cubing competition.

As the final timers stopped and equipment was packed away, the medal count reflected regional excellence, with Argentina collecting 25 podium places, Uruguay earning 24, and Ecuador taking one. The 2023 edition highlighted both the breadth of speedcubing talent and the dedication required to conquer seventeen distinct challenges under official conditions. Nacionales Uruguayas 2023 stands as a benchmark for versatility and technical solving, setting a high standard for competitors as they look forward to the next season.