Panama Nationals 2024

Fourteen competitors lined up for the 5x5x5 Cube, marking the start of a gruelling sequence of big cube events in Boquete, Chiriquí, Panama. Over the weekend of August 16 to 18, the Feria de Boquete hosted thirty-five solvers from across the region for Panama Nationals 2024, a major WCA competition that tested stamina and precision across fifteen events and twenty-six rounds. The focus quickly settled on the seasoned competitors returning to form, with established speedcubers dominating the top steps of the podium. Among them, Miguel Ángel Hernández established a firm grip on the complex hardware, navigating the larger layers with an efficiency that left the field trailing.

Hernández claimed the 5x5x5 Cube title with a winning average of 1:10.73, comfortably ahead of Egdar Castillo, who managed 1:19.84. He then extended his dominance to the 6x6x6 Cube, securing victory with a 2:36.70 average. The sweep of the big puzzles was completed in the 7x7x7 Cube, where Hernández posted a 3:38.91 average to take the crown. His control was not limited to the largest puzzles; he also took the 4x4x4 Cube with a 42.92 average, edging out Leonardo Neptalí Alicastro Palma by a mere thirteen hundredths of a second. To round off a spectacular weekend, Hernández triumphed in the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, averaging 16.46 seconds.

In the classic Rubik's Cube, David Montenegro set the pace in a field of thirty-four competitors across three rounds of intense speedcubing. Montenegro secured the 3x3x3 Cube title with a winning average of 10.77, supported by a best single solve of 9.21 seconds. The shorter 2x2x2 Cube event saw Luciano Rocha take the top spot, averaging 3.20 seconds to edge out a competitive group. The Pyraminx crown went to Egdar Antonio Castillo Gonzalez, who averaged a swift 3.48 seconds. Meanwhile, Arturo Andrés Buckley Nieto handled the tricky shape-shifting mechanics of the Square-1 to win with a 15.34 average.

Away from the headline 3x3 results, the schedule demanded versatility. Andres Sanchez Ponce claimed victory in both the Skewb and Megaminx. He averaged 5.39 seconds on the Skewb and conquered the twelve-sided Megaminx with a 58.46 average, taking the gold for Costa Rica. The blindfolded events, which require intense concentration and memorisation, were led by Jerónimo Espinosa. The Colombian solver won the 3x3x3 Blindfolded with a best single of 2:06.02, while Juan David Pérez took the marathon 3x3x3 Multi-Blind event, successfully memorising and solving ten out of twelve cubes in 52 minutes and 33 seconds. Espinosa also demonstrated extreme efficiency by winning the 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with a 36-move solution.

The depth of the field was evident in the personal milestones achieved throughout the weekend. Joseph Paul Castillo Vega took on twelve events, dropping his Skewb personal best to 5.70 seconds, an improvement of nearly forty percent, and shaving twenty-six percent off his Clock best to reach 14.94. Jonathan David González Araúz tackled seven events, logging his first ever attempt at the 4x4x4 Cube with a 1:52.88 finish, while also dropping his Clock best by twenty-seven percent to 8.41 seconds. Ezequiel Cedeño improved his Megaminx personal best by over twenty-six percent down to 1:17.23, and Joel Venegas saw a twenty-three percent gain in the 3x3x3 Cube, bringing his best down to 12.04 seconds.

For several competitors, the weekend was about testing new waters. Milo Vander Wilt tackled nine events, putting up a first ever attempt at the 6x6x6 Cube in 6:36.58 and taking on the Skewb for the first time. Ocean Alejandro Brandt-Hernandez made his debut in the Skewb, Pyraminx, and 2x2x2 Cube, logging a 13.18 in the latter. Diego Alejandro De Las Casas entered nine events in his first WCA competition, including a first ever attempt at the 3x3x3 One-Handed in 58.44 seconds. Fabián García, competing in eight events, took on the 4x4x4 Cube for the first time, crossing the line in 1:47.14.

The clock event brought its own distinct challenge to the floor, requiring solvers to manipulate dials on both sides of the puzzle simultaneously. Jerónimo Espinosa proved to be the most adept, taking the win with an 8.45 average over two rounds, beating out fifteen other competitors. The weekend also featured a flurry of national records in the 2x2x2 Cube. Andres Sanchez Ponce set Costa Rican records with a 2.79 single and a 3.19 average, while Luciano Rocha established Bolivian marks at 3.17 and 4.41. Leonardo Neptalí Alicastro Palma added Venezuelan records of 4.16 and 5.23, and Milo Vander Wilt set marks for the USA at 4.14 and 5.37.

By the close of Panama Nationals 2024, the results reflected a robust showing from the local talent, with competitors representing Panama claiming thirty-two podium places across the fifteen events. The competition highlighted the technical skill and enduring focus required in modern speed cubing, particularly in the longer format puzzles. As the hardware was packed away in Boquete, the established names had reaffirmed their standing, while the broader field walked away with a collection of new personal bests and first-time solves, setting the baseline for the months ahead.