Ortigas Fair and Squares 2024

Inside Robinsons Galleria Ortigas, the distinct rhythmic clatter of turning plastic resonated across the floor as 68 competitors gathered on September 29, 2024. Stacking timers, focused stares, and brisk hand warmups set the tone for the single-day gathering in Quezon City, Philippines. The atmosphere was charged with the unique energy of a packed speedcubing meet, where established contenders and newcomers stood side by side preparing to test their skills over seven scheduled events spanning eleven total rounds.

A major theme of Ortigas Fair and Squares 2024 was the surge of competitors eager to expand their tournament horizons or test themselves for the first time. The cubing competition drew an active field featuring numerous participants taking on unfamiliar events and recording major breakthroughs across multiple puzzle types. This WCA competition highlighted how vibrant the local scene has become, as dozens of solvers stepped up to the official tables to post fresh marks alongside the region's seasoned title contenders.

The spotlight on personal milestones belonged to competitors who took on fresh challenges across the board. Franzen Rovic Ojenar tackled all seven events, recording a 9th place finish in Megaminx alongside first ever official attempts in the 6x6x6 Cube at 2:33.02, the 5x5x5 Cube at 1:27.95, and the 7x7x7 Cube at 3:26.58. Gino James B. Romero logged five events with an 18th place finish in Megaminx, notching first official marks of 59.14 in the 4x4x4 Cube, 2:12.12 in the 5x5x5 Cube, and 2:11.09 in Megaminx. Paige J. Carbonell contested six events, logging first attempts in the 6x6x6 Cube at 4:13.81 and Megaminx at 2:51.59, while dropping their 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 21.2 percent down to 7.63 seconds. Markus Wong produced a dramatic 83.1 percent improvement on their 2x2x2 Cube mark with a 2.44 single, taking 5th overall, while also lowering their 3x3x3 Cube best by 13 percent to 11.61 and their 5x5x5 Cube mark by 5.7 percent to 1:22.03.

The momentum continued across other brackets where competitors repeatedly improved their standing. Carl Joaqui Curutan entered three events, taking 12th in the 3x3x3 Cube with a personal best of 7.62 seconds that was 22 percent faster than before, while posting debut results of 38.55 in the 4x4x4 Cube and 4.30 in the 2x2x2 Cube. Steve Godoy achieved a 42 percent leap in the 2x2x2 Cube with a 2.35 single for 14th place, cut their 3x3x3 Cube best by 9.8 percent to 9.60, and logged a 1:12.30 in their first official 4x4x4 Cube round. Nile Pereira Apuntar posted initial marks of 5.56 on the 2x2x2 Cube and 1:04.40 on the 4x4x4 Cube, while lowering their 3x3x3 Cube time by 6.8 percent to 11.66. Lorenzo Santillan recorded a 3.8 percent cut to reach 14.36 in the 3x3x3 Cube, alongside inaugural attempts of 5.61 on the 2x2x2 Cube and 1:13.91 on the 4x4x4 Cube.

At the top of the standings, the classic Rubik's Cube drew a massive 67 participants through three intense stages of elimination. The 3x3 results culminated in a high-stakes final where Toby Litiatco secured first place with a winning average of 6.14 seconds, bolstered by a best single of 5.62 seconds. Brenton Angelo Lo Wong took second place with a 6.43 average, while Maverick Sua rounded out the podium in third with an average of 8.26 seconds, highlighting the sharp standard of speed cubing in the country.

In the 2x2x2 Cube, Brenton Angelo Lo Wong captured the gold medal by recording a 1.65 average, alongside a 1.48 single that led all 45 competitors. Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc earned the silver medal with a 2.27 average and a 1.89 single, while Jamila Raine C. Espiritu took bronze with a 2.82 average and a 2.16 single. Ortigas Fair and Squares 2024 also saw sub-three averages from Isaiah Benedict S. Feria at 2.95, while Markus Wong, Dale Palmares, John Paul Custodio, Skyeler Calaguas Valdez, Jaime Vergara, and Jacob Miko Tan registered personal best marks in the single-round event.

The big cube categories were completely dominated by Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc, who collected four separate victories over the course of the day. Palisoc claimed the 4x4x4 Cube title with a 26.66 winning average ahead of Brenton Angelo Lo Wong at 29.63 and Mark Aeron Santos at 32.89. Palisoc followed that with first place in the 5x5x5 Cube with a 48.98 average, outpacing Christian Naguio at 54.09 and Dale Palmares at 54.13. In the longer formats, Palisoc won the two-round 6x6x6 Cube event with a 1:30.98 average and topped the 7x7x7 Cube with a 2:17.53 average, sharing the podium steps with Naguio and Palmares.

Non-cubic puzzle action was showcased in the Megaminx division, which featured 23 entrants in a single decisive round. Nicole Jnus Macalalad delivered a commanding performance, securing the win with a 40.16 average and a fast single solve of 34.99 seconds. Enika Aubrey Maninang took second place with a 47.66 average, while Christian Naguio collected another podium placement with a third-place average of 50.13 seconds.

With 21 total podium positions swept by solvers from the Philippines, Ortigas Fair and Squares 2024 demonstrated both deep elite precision and an expanding base of dedicated competitors. From the headline victories on the main stage to the numerous personal milestones achieved across all disciplines, the gathering at Robinsons Galleria Ortigas reflected a thriving competitive community ready for the challenges of future tournaments.

Niyanig ni Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc ang entablado nang walisin niya ang apat na kategorya ng mas malalaking puzzle sa isang pambihirang araw ng paglalaro. Sa Robinsons Galleria Ortigas sa Quezon City, Philippines noong September 29, 2024, nagpakitang-gilas ang mga kalahok sa iba't ibang uri ng Rubik's Cube. Ang naturang araw ay naging tahanan ng matitinding labanan sa bilis at talas ng isip, kung saan 68 na manlalaro ang sumabak sa pitong kategorya at kabuuang 11 rounds ng paligsahan.

Para sa marami, ang Ortigas Fair and Squares 2024 ang nagsilbing unang hakbang sa entablado ng opisyal na cubing competition. Ang simoy ng kompetisyon, ang pagharap sa timer sa harap ng mga hurado, at ang pagsubok na maitala ang unang opisyal na resulta ay nagbigay ng natatanging sigla sa bulwagan. Mula sa mga batikang kampeon hanggang sa mga sumubok pa lamang sa kanilang unang WCA competition, naging patunay ang araw na ito sa patuloy na paglago ng komunidad ng speedcubing sa bansa.

Bumandera ang kahusayan ni Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc sa bawat kategoryang kanyang sinalihan. Nakamit niya ang unang puwesto sa 4x4x4 Cube na may winning average na 26.66 at pinakamabilis na single na 24.34, habang pumangalawa si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong sa 29.63 at pumangatlo si Mark Aeron Santos sa 32.89. Nagpatuloy ang kanyang pamamayagpag sa 5x5x5 Cube kung saan nagtala siya ng average na 48.98 laban kina Christian Naguio na may 54.09 at Dale Palmares na may 54.13.

Hindi rin nagpaawat si Palisoc sa mas malalaking kategorya. Sa 6x6x6 Cube na umabot sa dalawang rounds, kinuha niya ang ginto tangan ang average na 1:30.98 kasunod sina Dale Palmares sa 1:34.57 at Brenton Angelo Lo Wong sa 1:48.50. Tinapos niya ang kanyang dominasyon sa pamamagitan ng pagwawagi sa 7x7x7 Cube sa pamamagitan ng 2:17.53 average laban kina Christian Naguio na nagrehistro ng 2:21.58 at Dale Palmares na nagtala naman ng 2:26.12 sa podium.

Sa likod ng mga numero at podium, sumibol ang mga magagandang kwento ng pagsusumikap at pag-angat mula sa mga kalahok. Nagtala si Daniel Yanga ng 24.8 porsyentong bilis sa 7x7x7 Cube sa kanyang bagong personal best na 3:16.60, 19.8 porsyento sa 4x4x4 Cube sa 32.13, at sumubok sa unang pagkakataon sa 6x6x6 Cube sa 2:11.49. Ipinamalas din ni Ivan Joseph Reyes ang matinding pagsulong matapos ibaba ng 43.4 porsyento ang kanyang 2x2x2 Cube personal best tungong 2.53 at 23.5 porsyento sa 4x4x4 Cube na 55.86.

Malaking hakbang din ang ipinakita ni JZ Lyle Dexter Wamar na lumaban sa pitong kategorya at gumawa ng unang opisyal na tangka sa 7x7x7 Cube sa 9:32.81 kalakip ang 11.5 porsyentong bawas sa 3x3x3 Cube sa 13.57. Ibinaba naman ni Jaime Vergara ang kanyang personal best sa 2x2x2 Cube sa 3.11 na 30.1 porsyentong mas mabilis. Samantala, matagumpay na sumabak sa kanilang debut sina Matthew Dumas na may 7.37 sa unang subok sa 2x2x2 Cube at 3:31.81 sa Megaminx, Matthew R. Reyes na nagtala ng 12.46 sa 3x3x3 Cube, Kim Tae Yun mula sa Korea na may 3.83 sa 2x2x2 Cube at 11.76 sa 3x3x3 Cube, at Gil Carlos Mostoles III na nagtala ng 18.88 sa 2x2x2 Cube at 54.01 sa 3x3x3 Cube.

Sa pangunahing kategorya ng 3x3x3 Cube na tinampukan ng 67 kalahok sa tatlong rounds, itinanghal na kampeon si Toby Litiatco tangan ang winning average na 6.14 at best single na 5.62. Sumunod sa kanya si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong sa 6.43 habang pumuwesto sa ikatlo si Maverick Sua sa 8.26 matapos ang mahigpitang pag-ikot ng mga puzzle sa bawat round.

Bumawi naman si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong sa 2x2x2 Cube matapos manguna sa 45 kalahok gamit ang mabilis na winning average na 1.65 at winning single na 1.48, kung saan pumangalawa si Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc sa 2.27 at pumangatlo si Jamila Raine C. Espiritu sa 2.82. Sa Megaminx, pinangunahan ni Nicole Jnus Macalalad ang labanan sa kanyang winning average na 40.16 at best single na 34.99, habang pumangalawa si Enika Aubrey Maninang sa 47.66 at pumangatlo si Christian Naguio sa 50.13.

Ang buong maghapon sa Ortigas Fair and Squares 2024 ay nag-iwan ng magandang marka para sa bawat manlalaro, anuman ang kanilang naging puwesto. Lahat ng 21 posisyon sa podium ay nasungkit ng mga kinatawan mula sa Pilipinas, ngunit ang tunay na tagumpay ay ang ipinakitang determinasyon ng bawat isa na magsanay at lumaban sa opisyal na entablado hanggang sa susunod na yugto ng paligsahan.