Natal Mágico RioMar Kennedy Fortaleza 2024

The shopping floor at RioMar Kennedy transformed into a buzzing arena of turning plastic and digital timers as Natal Mágico RioMar Kennedy Fortaleza 2024 took over the venue on December 7 and December 8. Fifty-seven competitors gathered in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, filling the tables across thirteen rounds of action. Before the first official times flashed on the displays, solvers warmed up under the bright lights, testing tension, inspecting hardware, and preparing for two full days of high-intensity speedcubing across seven distinct disciplines.

While the standard cube always attracts a crowd, the spotlight quickly shifted toward the niche challenges that demand specialized skills. The complex twelve-sided Megaminx delivered one of the weekend highlights when Francisco Thales Rocha Sousa claimed victory with a winning average of 57.38 seconds, backed by a best single of 55.26 seconds. Lucas Cordeiro do Vale Menezes followed in second place with an average of 1:05.92, while Levi Cordeiro do Vale Menezes locked up the third step of the podium in 1:12.69.

Memory and composure were tested in the 3x3x3 Blindfolded discipline, where competitors must memorize the scrambled puzzle completely before pulling on an eye cover to execute their solution. Thiago de Oliveira Rodrigues emerged on top of the six-person field, taking gold with a winning single time of 1:22.61. Gabriel Nascimento Sousa captured the silver position with a successful attempt of 2:14.03, narrowly staying ahead of Mikael Ribeiro do Nascimento, who secured bronze with a time of 2:14.44.

The specialty events continued to deliver fast-paced drama in Skewb and Pyraminx. In Skewb, Mauro Vinicius de Moraes Mota Pereira dominated the final, posting a winning average of 4.23 seconds and a best single of 3.72 seconds to finish ahead of Francisco Thales Rocha Sousa at 6.10 and Levi Cordeiro do Vale Menezes at 6.42. The triangular Pyraminx final saw Levi Cordeiro do Vale Menezes take first place with a 4.80 average and an event-best single of 2.88 seconds, holding off Lucas Teixeira Holanda at 5.82 and Lucas Cordeiro do Vale Menezes at 8.37.

Behind the trophy presentations, individual progression defined the atmosphere of the cubing competition. Gustavo Fernandez de Sá e Silva tackled five events and delivered a massive Pyraminx personal best of 14.18 seconds, improving by 80.6 percent over his previous mark, while also setting a 3x3x3 Cube best of 21.11 seconds. Dharlysson Costa made his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Blindfolded to finish fifth in 6:00.72, while cutting his 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best down to 21.26 seconds, an improvement of 34.6 percent. Arthur de Sousa Fernandez achieved fifth place in Pyraminx and shaved 37.5 percent off his one-handed mark with a new personal best of 54.37 seconds, alongside a 25.18 single in the standard cube.

First-time event entries and sharp drops in personal bests continued across the board in this WCA competition. Miguel Martins Portela took on four events, logging his first ever attempt at Skewb in 24.32 seconds, his first attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 1:37.31, and a 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 8.32 seconds. João Pedro Vieira Dionizio Conceição secured ninth place in Skewb with a debut attempt of 10.87 seconds and debuted in Pyraminx with 12.47 seconds. William Lira Abreu made his first official attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed with 1:25.70 and trimmed 24.8 percent off his Rubik's Cube best to reach 40.96 seconds. João Felipe Teixeira Evangelista Paza earned eleventh in the 2x2x2 Cube with a 3.97 personal best, a 43.4 percent improvement, while Mauricio da Silveira Gomes finished ninth in Pyraminx with a 13.04 personal best, dropping 31.1 percent alongside a 9.40 Skewb best.

One-handed solving brought its own technical flavor to the stage, requiring precise fingertricks with a single hand. Lucas Cordeiro do Vale Menezes mastered the balance of speed and control to take the 3x3x3 One-Handed title with an average of 19.45 seconds and a single of 16.78 seconds. Levi Cordeiro do Vale Menezes took second place with a 20.92 average, while Mauro Vinicius de Moraes Mota Pereira completed the podium in third with 22.96 seconds.

The rapid-fire 2x2x2 Cube event proved to be one of the closest contests of the weekend, drawing thirty-six competitors over two rounds. Gabriel Nascimento Sousa captured the top spot with a winning average of 4.18 seconds and a single of 3.59 seconds. Lucas Cordeiro do Vale Menezes took silver just behind him at 4.22 seconds, with Levi Cordeiro do Vale Menezes closely trailing in bronze position with a 4.33 average.

The 3x3 results formed the centerpiece of the final afternoon, featuring fifty-one competitors through three rounds. Lucas Cordeiro do Vale Menezes completed a stellar individual weekend by winning the main event with an average of 9.08 seconds and a best single of 7.79 seconds. Victor Oliveira Saraiva earned second place with a 10.71 average, edging Levi Cordeiro do Vale Menezes, who took third in 10.78 seconds.

With twenty-one podium positions claimed by Brazilian competitors, Natal Mágico RioMar Kennedy Fortaleza 2024 concluded its 2024 run having showcased every facet of speed cubing. From the quiet concentration of blindfolded solving to the geometric complexities of the Megaminx and the pure pace of the main event, the tournament highlighted the depth of talent flourishing in Ceará.

Cinquenta e sete competidores entraram nas mesas de montagem para encarar treze rodadas decisivas em Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. O Natal Mágico RioMar Kennedy Fortaleza 2024, realizado nos dias 7 e 8 de dezembro de 2024 no RioMar Kennedy, testou a resistência e a precisão do cenário regional de speedcubing. Em um torneio com sete modalidades oficiais da World Cube Association, avançar pelas eliminatórias e garantir vaga em uma final exigiu velocidade absoluta desde os primeiros giros do fim de semana.

A modalidade principal de cubo mágico contou com 51 participantes distribuídos por três rodadas intensas até a definição do pódio. Lucas Cordeiro do Vale Menezes conquistou a vitória no 3x3x3 Cube com média de 9.08 segundos e a melhor marca de 7.79. A disputa pelas primeiras posições foi extremamente acirrada, com Victor Oliveira Saraiva garantindo o segundo lugar com média de 10.71, seguido de perto por Levi Cordeiro do Vale Menezes, que completou o pódio em terceiro lugar ao registrar 10.78.

Além do triunfo no evento tradicional, Lucas Cordeiro do Vale Menezes garantiu outro título de destaque ao vencer o 3x3x3 One-Handed. Com uma média de 19.45 segundos e single de 16.78 entre 18 competidores, ele superou Levi Cordeiro do Vale Menezes, segundo com 20.92, e Mauro Vinicius de Moraes Mota Pereira, terceiro colocado com 22.96. Lucas ainda obteve a prata no Megaminx com 1:05.92 e no 2x2x2 Cube com 4.22, consolidando participações de ponta em múltiplas categorias do evento.

No 2x2x2 Cube, que reuniu 36 atletas em duas fases classificatórias, Gabriel Nascimento Sousa garantiu o topo com média vitoriosa de 4.18 segundos e single de 3.59. A final foi decidida por centésimos, superando Lucas Cordeiro do Vale Menezes com 4.22 e Levi Cordeiro do Vale Menezes com 4.33. O evento de Pyraminx viu Levi Cordeiro do Vale Menezes vencer com média de 4.80 e single de 2.88, à frente de Lucas Teixeira Holanda com 5.82 e Lucas Cordeiro do Vale Menezes com 8.37.

As provas de rotações complexas também movimentaram a programação do Natal Mágico RioMar Kennedy Fortaleza 2024. No Skewb, Mauro Vinicius de Moraes Mota Pereira levou a medalha de ouro com média de 4.23 e melhor tempo de 3.72, superando Francisco Thales Rocha Sousa com 6.10 e Levi Cordeiro do Vale Menezes com 6.42. No Megaminx, Francisco Thales Rocha Sousa foi o campeão com média de 57.38 e single de 55.26, enquanto Thiago de Oliveira Rodrigues venceu a prova vendada do 3x3x3 Blindfolded com a marca de 1:22.61.

Longe do topo das tabelas, o torneio presenciou uma enorme quantidade de recordes pessoais e evoluções substanciais. Markus Iegor Souza Reis competiu em cinco categorias e obteve o sexto lugar no Pyraminx, reduzindo seu tempo no 3x3x3 Cube em 24% para 29.88 e no Skewb em 22.2% para 17.18. Davi de Sousa Fernandez participou de duas modalidades e fez sua estreia no 2x2x2 Cube com tempo de 12.01. Caio Lima do Nascimento garantiu marca pessoal de 8.18 no 2x2x2 Cube, 21.6% mais rápida que a anterior, enquanto Kaleb de Freitas Mota de Andrade superou sua marca no 3x3x3 Cube em 21.2% ao registrar 53.25.

Vários atletas também escolheram a competição para dar os primeiros passos em eventos oficiais. Morôni Victor Simões Santos encarou quatro modalidades em sua estreia, com 11º lugar no 3x3x3 Cube, além de tempos iniciais de 16.01 no Skewb, 4.69 no 2x2x2 Cube e 15.34 no Pyraminx. Eduardo Levi da Silva Botelho participou pela primeira vez de uma WCA competition e registrou 14.65 no 2x2x2 Cube, 46.21 no 3x3x3 Cube e 9.01 no Pyraminx, onde ficou em sétimo lugar. Isaque de Oliveira Freitas estreou com 8.96 no 2x2x2 Cube e 21.79 no 3x3x3 Cube, e Arthur Teles Costa marcou 3.05 no 2x2x2 Cube e 13.74 no 3x3x3 Cube, alcançando a 16ª posição.

A intensidade das eliminatórias no Natal Mágico RioMar Kennedy Fortaleza 2024 refletiu o excelente preparo técnico dos participantes no Ceará. Com todos os 21 lugares de pódio preenchidos por competidores do Brasil, o evento encerrou o calendário de 2024 demonstrando a força do speedcubing regional e a competitividade crescente necessária para alcançar as finais dos principais quebra-cabeças.