Novaliches Speedcubing Open 2025

Inside Robinsons Novaliches, the persistent clatter of twisting plastic echoed across the hall as timers blinked to life. Competitors adjusted their mats, inspected scrambled puzzles, and settled into the rhythm of a packed single-day schedule. Beyond the local contingent filling the venue in Quezon City, Philippines, the tournament drew dedicated solvers from across borders, including participants representing Taiwan, China, and Singapore. The shared journey to the tables brought international flavor to the gathering, uniting 47 puzzle enthusiasts under one roof on May 4, 2025.

The Novaliches Speedcubing Open 2025 featured a diverse program spanning 8 events and 10 rounds of high-intensity action. For traveling cubers and local contenders alike, every trip to the competition floor tested months of preparation across classic speedcubing formats and niche puzzles. The breadth of the schedule gave solvers of varying specialties the chance to make their marks across small cubes, large NxN puzzles, and irregular twisty challenges, turning the venue into a vibrant showcase of regional speed cubing talent.

The classic Rubik's Cube drew the largest field of the day with 45 competitors lining up for the standard 3x3x3 Cube contest. Across two competitive rounds, the 3x3 results culminated in a commanding display at the top of the leaderboard. Brenton Angelo Lo Wong captured the title with a winning average of 6.11 seconds, which included the weekend's best single time of 5.51 seconds. Stephen Mark V. Mariñas claimed second place with an average of 7.60 seconds, edging out Karl Matthew Angeles, who took third on the podium with an average of 7.62 seconds.

Karl Matthew Angeles delivered a standout multi-event performance by securing two victories on the day. In the Pyraminx, Angeles led a field of 29 solvers, posting a winning average of 3.51 seconds alongside a single of 3.10 seconds to finish ahead of Stephen Mark V. Mariñas at 3.58 and Ivan Keith Cariaga at 4.80. Angeles then showcased one-handed dexterity in the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, topping 25 competitors with an average of 13.29 seconds. Brenton Angelo Lo Wong took second place with a 13.55 average, while Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes secured third with 14.18 seconds.

Brenton Angelo Lo Wong further expanded his medal haul across the larger cubes, securing victory in the 6x6x6 Cube. He captured first place with an average of 1:54.76 and a best single of 1:49.60, outlasting Yuji Yoshida, who took second in 2:00.30, and Niño Francis S. Reyes in third at 2:01.05. Meanwhile, the 7x7x7 Cube went to Taiwan traveler Rui Yu, who completed two rounds to win with an average of 2:20.99 and a best single of 2:16.14. Lo Wong followed in second at 2:47.61, while Yoshida claimed another podium spot in third with 2:55.29.

Away from the top steps of the podium, the Novaliches Speedcubing Open 2025 offered meaningful milestones and immense progression across the wider field. Berna Grace Tonido entered 4 events and made significant leaps, cutting her 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 6.52 seconds, an improvement of 88.3 percent over her previous 55.61 mark, while also taking on her first ever official attempts in Pyraminx at 12.33 seconds and Skewb at 18.75 seconds to secure a best finish of 20th. Jan Farrell A. Pajate entered the 3x3x3 Cube and carved 46 percent off his personal best with a 19.59 mark, down from 36.25. Caleb Zachary V. Torres improved his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 35.2 percent to 15.52 seconds from 23.94, while earning 19th in the 2x2x2 Cube. Johann Wesley R. Martin tackled 5 events and lowered his 3x3x3 One-Handed mark to 34.31 seconds from 52.59, improved his Pyraminx single by 29.2 percent to 9.70 seconds, and registered a 9.69 single in Skewb for a 16th-place finish.

The personal breakthroughs continued across multiple disciplines. Rune Caelum Martinez took 34.3 percent off his 3x3x3 Cube mark to record a personal best of 30.06 seconds, down from 45.75. Sebastian Dancel entered 4 events, earning 14th in the 2x2x2 Cube while cutting his personal best in that event by 32.6 percent to 4.36 seconds, alongside his first official appearances in Pyraminx at 8.61 seconds and Clock at 21.79 seconds. Gino James B. Romero took 8th in the 2x2x2 Cube, recorded his first 3x3x3 One-Handed attempt at 25.73 seconds, trimmed his 2x2x2 mark by 9.6 percent to 4.03 seconds, and improved his 3x3x3 Cube best by 12.4 percent to 11.05 seconds. Canxing Gao completed 5 events, earning 14th in Clock while logging first-ever attempts in Clock at 14.70 seconds, Pyraminx at 7.15 seconds, and 3x3x3 One-Handed at 26.71 seconds.

The remaining short-format events generated fast-paced conclusions across the arena floor. Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes won the 2x2x2 Cube with a rapid average of 2.22 seconds, finishing ahead of Brenton Angelo Lo Wong at 2.45 and Karl Matthew Angeles at 2.47. In the Skewb final, Javier Ignacio took the crown with an average of 3.80 seconds, followed by Ivan Keith Cariaga at 4.02 and Yuji Yoshida at 4.90. Zian Principe led the Clock field with a 4.71-second average, topping Zoei Principe at 5.02 and Javier Ignacio at 5.65.

As competitors packed their bags and began their journeys home from Quezon City, the Novaliches Speedcubing Open 2025 concluded a full slate of competitive puzzles. Across 23 podium finishes for local solvers and an international victory from Taiwan, the WCA competition delivered sharp benchmarks, new records, and notable personal achievements. With the day wrapped up, solvers from near and far carry their latest times back to practice tables as they prepare for the next cubing competition.

May 47 na kalahok ang nagtipon sa Robinsons Novaliches sa Quezon City, Philippines noong May 4, 2025 para sa Novaliches Speedcubing Open 2025. Sa kabuuan ng 10 rounds sa 8 magkakaibang kategorya, nasaksihan ng madla ang husay ng mga manlalaro hindi lamang sa karaniwang Rubik's Cube kundi pati na rin sa mga espesyalistang puzzle. Ang kumpetisyon ay nagbigay-diin sa galing ng mga kalahok sa mga hindi pangkaraniwang sangay ng speedcubing tulad ng Clock, Skewb, Pyraminx, at ang malalaking cubes.

Isa sa mga kapansin-pansing laban sa torneo ay naganap sa kategoryang Clock, kung saan nagrehistro si Zian Principe ng winning average na 4.71 at pinakamabilis na single na 3.28 upang angkinin ang unang pwesto laban sa 16 na kalahok. Pumangalawa si Zoei Principe na may 5.02 average, habang si Javier Ignacio naman ang sumungkit sa ikatlong pwesto sa bilis na 5.65. Nagpakita rin ng kakaibang liksi si Javier Ignacio sa Skewb matapos manguna sa 20 kalahok tangan ang 3.80 average laban kina Ivan Keith Cariaga na nagtala ng 4.02 at Yuji Yoshida na nagtala ng 4.90.

Sa Pyraminx, namayagpag si Karl Matthew Angeles nang maabot ang 3.51 average mula sa 29 na kalahok, kasunod si Stephen Mark V. Mariñas na nagtala ng 3.58 at Ivan Keith Cariaga na may 4.80. Hindi pa natapos doon ang magandang araw ni Karl Matthew Angeles dahil kinuha rin niya ang tagumpay sa 3x3x3 One-Handed sa pamamagitan ng 13.29 average sa 25 na kalahok, habang pumangalawa si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong sa 13.55 at tumersera si Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes sa 14.18.

Sa malalaking cubes, nagpamalas ng pambihirang bilis si Rui Yu mula sa Taiwan sa 7x7x7 Cube matapos magtala ng panalong 2:20.99 average laban sa 8 kalahok sa dalawang rounds, kung saan pumangalawa si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong sa 2:47.61 at pumangatlo si Yuji Yoshida sa 2:55.29. Bumabawi naman si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong sa 6x6x6 Cube kung saan siya ang nagwagi tangan ang 1:54.76 average laban kina Yuji Yoshida na nagtala ng 2:00.30 at Niño Francis S. Reyes na nagsumite ng 2:01.05.

Sa labas ng mga podium, marami ring personal na tagumpay ang naitala sa likod ng opisyal na resulta ng cubing competition. Si Liam Daniele M. Villaflores ay sumabak sa dalawang kategorya at nagtala ng 2x2x2 Cube personal best na 3.85 na 27.4 porsyentong mas mabilis kaysa dati, pati na 3x3x3 Cube personal best na 13.16 na 9.7 porsyentong bilis. Si Rain David Malicsi naman ay lumahok sa apat na kategorya at nagrehistro ng 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best na 1:06.17 na 22.3 porsyentong bawas sa dating oras, 2x2x2 Cube personal best na 6.23 na 15.4 porsyentong mas mabilis, at 3x3x3 Cube personal best na 16.90. Nagpakitang-gilas din si Francis Ezekiel Fernandez sa tatlong kategorya kung saan binasag niya ang 3x3x3 Cube personal best sa 8.53 na 15.4 porsyentong mas maigi, kasama ang 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best na 27.68.

Malaking hakbang din ang ginawa ng mga sumabak sa kanilang unang pagsubok sa iba't ibang kaganapan. Si Moises Isaac Cuello ay nagtala ng 12.35 sa kanyang unang pagsubok sa Pyraminx. Sa kanilang unang WCA competition, sinubukan ni Neil A. Corsanes ang tatlong kategorya kabilang ang unang Pyraminx sa 6.95, unang Skewb sa 6.59, at unang 3x3x3 Cube sa 25.74. Si Evan Dwayne F. Sangcajo ay nagtala ng 1:00.62 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed, 22.40 sa 3x3x3 Cube, at 15.34 sa Pyraminx sa kanyang tatlong sinubukang kategorya. Si Shengxuan Gao ay nagtala ng 15.39 sa Clock, 21.18 sa 2x2x2 Cube, at 54.65 sa 3x3x3 Cube sa kanyang tatlong laban. Samantala, si John Micaelle B. Dismas ay nagtala ng 33.81 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed, 6.48 sa 2x2x2 Cube, at 10.91 sa 3x3x3 Cube.

Sa kategoryang 2x2x2 Cube, si Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes ang nanguna sa 31 kalahok matapos magsumite ng winning average na 2.22. Pumangalawa si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong sa 2.45 habang pumangatlo si Karl Matthew Angeles sa 2.47. Naging kapana-panabik din ang naturang kategorya dahil sa dami ng mga bagong personal na talaan at opisyal na resulta na naipasok ng maraming kalahok sa buong araw ng paligsahan.

Pormal na nagtapos ang Novaliches Speedcubing Open 2025 sa pangunahing 3x3x3 Cube kung saan naghari si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong tangan ang pambihirang 6.11 winning average sa 45 kalahok at dalawang rounds, kasunod sina Stephen Mark V. Mariñas na may 7.60 at Karl Matthew Angeles na may 7.62. Sa kabuuan ng araw, nakapag-uwi ang Pilipinas ng 23 podium places at 1 podium place naman ang naiuwi ng Taiwan, patunay ng mataas na antas ng husay at dedikasyon sa buong kaganapan.