North Luzon Championship 2024

Twenty-eight competitors took their places on September 29, 2024, bringing rapid pace and immense focus to the tables at SM City Urdaneta Central. Across 13 intense rounds and nine official events, the North Luzon Championship 2024 delivered an exceptional showcase of speedcubing talent in Urdaneta City, Philippines. The single-day tournament highlighted the relentless progress of rising talent, with rapid improvements across every discipline proving that the next wave of cubers is ready to challenge the status quo.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube event drew the largest field of the day, demanding three rounds of sharp execution. When the final 3x3 results were tallied, Gian Carlo C. Catambay emerged victorious with a stellar winning average of 9.44 seconds, backed by a best single of 8.70. Catambay was pushed to the wire by Xavier De Vera, who finished in the runner-up spot with an average of 9.48 seconds. Marco Sebastian B. Canasa took third on the podium with a 9.75-second average, capping an electrifying contest for the classic Rubik's Cube.

Richmond Mico Rigor produced a commanding display across the big cubes, capturing four individual titles during the competition. Rigor swept the 4x4x4 Cube with a 29.80 winning average and the 5x5x5 Cube in 55.06, securing decisive wins over Catambay and Louie Jay Quibote in both finals. His dominant form carried directly into the largest puzzles, taking gold in the 6x6x6 Cube with a 1:43.83 average and the 7x7x7 Cube with a 2:34.11 mark, where he edged Quibote's 2:35.67 average in a tight contest.

The shorter formats and side events saw equally fierce competition across the roster. Marc Arvinson J. Padilla captured top honors in the 2x2x2 Cube with a 3.22 average and a lightning single of 2.47, holding off Rigor's 3.56 average and De Vera's 3.64. In 3x3x3 One-Handed, Louie Jay Quibote topped the podium with a 14.42 average, while Renaud B. Manansala claimed the Clock championship with a 4.66 average, recording a best single of 3.41.

In the precision events, Gener Angelo S. Europa delivered an extraordinary run in the 3x3x3 Blindfolded final. Europa posted a winning average of 23.93 seconds and a best single solve of 18.48, requiring flawless memorisation and execution without sight. Gian Carlo C. Catambay secured second place on the blindfolded podium with an average of 3:14.83, followed by Francis Hero G. Ancho in third with 4:06.85, rounding out a demanding discipline that demands total concentration.

Beyond the title fights, the heart of this WCA competition belonged to the remarkable strides made by competitors pushing their personal limits. Jeriemy Siapno delivered massive improvements, trimming his 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best down to 32.04 seconds, which was 37.3 percent faster than before, while lowering his Clock mark by 17.3 percent to 9.05 and posting an official first attempt of 1:48.08 in 4x4x4 Cube. Clark Vince Doria Vicente made his first attempt in 3x3x3 One-Handed at 31.57, while slashing his Clock personal best by 30.5 percent to 10.66 and bettering his 5x5x5 Cube best to 1:30.96. Kent Andrew C. Catolico achieved a 4x4x4 Cube personal best of 36.71, an 8.4 percent improvement, alongside his first official attempts in 6x6x6 Cube at 3:33.96 and 7x7x7 Cube at 6:18.12.

The progress continued across all events as Benedict Secillano Gicanal secured a fourth-place finish in 3x3x3 One-Handed, registered his first Clock mark at 19.56, and improved his 3x3x3 Cube personal best to 9.26 seconds, an 8.7 percent drop. Jhon Edrian Capinpin logged an official first attempt in 3x3x3 One-Handed at 26.80 and dropped his 3x3x3 Cube personal best to 11.32. Mark Jasten Tabayoyong took on five events, earning a sixth-place finish in 3x3x3 One-Handed with an initial mark of 18.48, alongside first attempts in 5x5x5 Cube at 2:08.45 and 2x2x2 Cube at 4.60. Vincent Noel Dagdag tackled seven events, finishing sixth in 5x5x5 Cube and recording first marks in 3x3x3 One-Handed at 22.49, 2x2x2 Cube at 4.74, and 6x6x6 Cube at 2:50.58. Kelsey Kizz Grico also broadened his repertoire across five events, posting first attempts in 3x3x3 One-Handed at 25.80, 4x4x4 Cube at 1:17.61, and Clock at 14.08.

The vibrant atmosphere at North Luzon Championship 2024 underscored the rapid development happening at every tier of the regional speed cubing scene. With local athletes capturing all 27 available podium places across the day, the depth of skill on display in Urdaneta City signals a bright future as these solvers continue to raise the standard for the next cubing competition.

Tatlong subok lamang ang hawak ng bawat kalahok sa mga mean-of-3 format, kung saan ang isang maliit na pagkakamali o pagkaantala ay maaaring sumira sa buong laban nang walang tapong pinakamabagal na oras. Sa ganitong mahigpit na sistema sumabak ang mga kalahok sa malalaking puzzle tulad ng 6x6x6 Cube, kung saan kailangan ang ganap na pokus sa bawat pag-ikot. Sa gitna ng ganitong presyur ipinamalas ng mga manlalaro ang kanilang galing sa SM City Urdaneta Central sa Urdaneta City, Philippines noong September 29, 2024. Naging saksi ang entablado sa matinding tapatan ng bilis at tibay ng konsentrasyon sa buong araw ng paligsahan.

Ang North Luzon Championship 2024 ay nagtala ng 28 competitors na naglaban-laban sa 9 events at 13 rounds ng aksyon sa speedcubing. Sa 6x6x6 Cube, pinatunayan ni Richmond Mico Rigor ang kanyang husay matapos masungkit ang unang pwesto gamit ang winning average na 1:43.83 kasama ang best single na 1:34.21 sa hanay ng 8 competitors. Sa parehong disiplina ng malalaking puzzle, pinangunahan din ni Rigor ang 7x7x7 Cube sa pamamagitan ng winning average na 2:34.11 at single na 2:31.57, habang pumangalawa si Louie Jay Quibote na may 2:35.67 at pumangatlo si Gian Carlo C. Catambay na nagtala ng 2:57.02.

Hindi rito natapos ang pamamayagpag ni Richmond Mico Rigor dahil dinomina rin niya ang iba pang larangan ng mid-sized cubes. Sa 5x5x5 Cube na may 16 competitors at 2 rounds, nanguna siya tangan ang winning average na 55.06 at winning single na 49.96, kung saan sumunod sa podium sina Gian Carlo C. Catambay na may 1:01.32 at Louie Jay Quibote na may 1:02.15. Wagi rin si Rigor sa 4x4x4 Cube na nilahukan ng 25 competitors matapos magtala ng winning average na 29.80 at single na 26.55 laban kina Catambay na may 36.37 at Quibote na may 36.99.

Sa pangunahing kategorya ng 3x3x3 Cube na tradisyunal na pinakatampok na Rubik's Cube event, 28 competitors ang sumalang sa 3 rounds ng bakbakan. Nakamit ni Gian Carlo C. Catambay ang kampeonato sa pamamagitan ng winning average na 9.44 at best single na 8.70 sa isang napakadikit na labanan sa finals. Muntik na siyang maunahan ni Xavier De Vera na pumangalawa sa average na 9.48, habang nakuha naman ni Marco Sebastian B. Canasa ang ikatlong pwesto sa bilis na 9.75 sa pangkalahatang talaan ng World Cube Association.

Nagpakita rin ng kakaibang husay ang iba pang mga manlalaro sa mga natatanging kategorya ng cubing competition. Sa 3x3x3 One-Handed, nagwagi si Louie Jay Quibote sa average na 14.42 at single na 12.92, na sinundan nina Richmond Mico Rigor na may 16.50 at Gian Carlo C. Catambay na may 21.53. Sa Clock, nangibabaw si Renaud B. Manansala sa winning average na 4.66 at single na 3.41 kontra kina Angelo Siador na nagtala ng 7.38 at Marc Arvinson J. Padilla na may 8.65. Samantala, sa 3x3x3 Blindfolded kung saan kinakailangan ang pagsasaulo ng buong puzzle bago takpan ang mata, nagwagi si Gener Angelo S. Europa sa average na 23.93 at single na 18.48.

Sa likod ng mga nangunang pwesto sa North Luzon Championship 2024, nagtala ng mahahalagang tagumpay ang iba pang kalahok sa kanilang sariling mga laban. Si Mark Lawrence Ologenio na sumali sa 4 events ay nagtala ng 13.7 porsyentong bilis sa 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best na 39.16 mula 45.38 at nagsumite rin ng 1:53.47 sa 4x4x4 Cube na mas mabilis ng 3.5 porsyento. Si Jamel J. Galang ay nagtala ng 18.68 sa 3x3x3 Cube na 9.7 porsyentong mas mabilis kaysa sa dating 20.68, bukod pa sa 1:21.48 sa 4x4x4 Cube at ika-4 na pwesto sa Clock. Si Laurence Mark G. Colis ay nagtala ng 15.25 sa Clock na 4.9 porsyentong pag-unlad mula 16.03 at 47.74 sa 4x4x4 Cube na 4 na porsyentong mas mabilis. Si Theseus N. Abaclod naman ay sumubok sa unang pagkakataon sa 5x5x5 Cube sa oras na 2:32.08 at nagtala ng Clock personal best na 9.11 mula 9.39.

Naging espesyal din ang araw para sa mga bagong mukha na sumabak sa kanilang unang WCA competition sa entablado. Si Khing George O. Catubay ay nagtala ng mga unang opisyal na subok sa 3 events kabilang ang 15.19 sa 3x3x3 Cube, 29.09 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed kung saan nakuha niya ang ika-16 na pwesto, at 1:39.95 sa 4x4x4 Cube. Si King Zsionn L. Galleno ay nagtala ng kanyang unang subok sa 2x2x2 Cube na 11.13 at 26.67 sa 3x3x3 Cube. Si Gavin Prieto ay nagrehistro ng unang subok sa 2x2x2 Cube na 5.65 at 21.24 sa 3x3x3 Cube, habang si Kyo Zachary M. Samson ay nagtala ng unang opisyal na marka sa 3x3x3 Cube sa oras na 35.20.

Pumukaw din ng pansin ang labanan sa 2x2x2 Cube kung saan 26 competitors ang nagtagisan sa iisang round. Nakamit ni Marc Arvinson J. Padilla ang unang pwesto sa winning average na 3.22 at best single na 2.47, na sinundan nina Richmond Mico Rigor na may 3.56 at Xavier De Vera na may 3.64. Ang lahat ng 27 podium places sa buong kompetisyon ay napunta sa mga kinatawan ng Pilipinas, na nagtapos sa isang matagumpay at maaksyong araw ng paglutas ng mga puzzle sa taong 2024.