Pangasinan Puzzle Party 2024

The bustling corridors of City Mall Mayombo in Dagupan City, Pangasinan, Philippines filled with the unmistakable rhythm of turning layers and tapping stopwatches on February 25, 2024. Competitors gathered early around the staging tables, warming their fingers, aligning tensions, and taking in the atmosphere of an official WCA competition. For many present, the day represented an initiation into live speedcubing, transforming private practice at home into the shared energy of a bustling arena.

A total of 51 competitors arrived to contest 7 events across 12 fast-paced rounds at Pangasinan Puzzle Party 2024. The gathering captured the excitement of a vibrant cubing competition, drawing both seasoned contenders and fresh faces to the tables. Across the floor, solvers of all skill levels supported one another through tense solves and sudden milestones, demonstrating the unique spirit that defines live speed cubing in the region during the 2024 season.

The spotlight shone brightly on several determined solvers making notable strides and career firsts on the competition floor. Paul Jake Ferido took on 3 events, locking in a 12th-place finish in 3x3x3 One-Handed with a personal best of 20.47 seconds, which was 52.9 percent faster than his prior 43.49 mark, while also completing his first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:02.84. Victor Grant Velasco completed an ambitious seven-event slate, finishing 4th in Skewb while registering his first ever attempts in 4x4x4 Cube at 58.62, 3x3x3 One-Handed at 29.26, and Clock at 9.12. Almer John S. Masiglat entered 4 events, placing 7th in 3x3x3 One-Handed with an initial 18.82 attempt, while dropping his 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 45.9 percent to 2.72 and his 3x3x3 Cube best by 9.1 percent to 9.53. Gerzeus Selwyn S. Bendiro finished 8th in 3x3x3 Cube and sliced 53.7 percent off his 4x4x4 Cube personal best to finish in 47.05.

The breakthrough performances continued through the afternoon schedule. Joel Valerio De Guzman II entered 2 events, logging his first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:21.71 and cutting his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 21.6 percent down to 14.57. Theseus N. Abaclod tackled 4 events, improving his Clock personal best by 52.3 percent down to 12.73, while also taking his 4x4x4 Cube mark down 24.1 percent to 1:16.01 and setting a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 20.50. Phoenix Vitug Soriano placed 7th in 2x2x2 Cube, recorded a first attempt in 3x3x3 One-Handed of 25.31, and reduced his 3x3x3 Cube mark by 15.2 percent to 11.08. Rhaizel Justine B. Cuaresma finished 17th in 3x3x3 One-Handed with an opening mark of 24.00 and dropped his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 14.2 percent to 13.60.

At the top of the order, the classic Rubik's Cube drew a field of 48 competitors over 3 intense rounds. Crimson Arradaza delivered an exceptional performance to claim the title, securing the victory with a 6.50 winning average and the best single of the event at 6.17. Dale Palmares took second place with a 9.56 average, while Fergus Matthew Austria earned third place on the podium with an average of 9.92 to round out the 3x3 results.

Crimson Arradaza returned to the winner circle in 3x3x3 One-Handed, outperforming a field of 22 competitors in the single-round contest. Arradaza captured the win with a dominant 9.95 average and a tournament-best single of 8.72. Dale Palmares took the runner-up spot with an average of 17.30, followed closely by Richmond Mico Rigor, who earned third place with an average of 18.03.

Yuji Yoshida emerged as the day's most prolific champion at Pangasinan Puzzle Party 2024, securing three separate event victories. In the 2x2x2 Cube, Yoshida topped the 39-competitor field across 2 rounds with a 2.66 winning average, finishing ahead of Richmond Mico Rigor at 3.73 and Denver Janry M. Mendoza at 4.37. Yoshida also dominated Clock with a 7.95 winning average over 2 rounds, beating Angelo Siador at 8.70 and Kyle Capiral at 9.13, before capturing the Skewb title with a 5.37 average ahead of Dylan Arteims N. Fernandez at 5.62 and Rigor at 6.22.

The 4x4x4 Cube competition produced a brilliant display of speed over 2 rounds among 34 competitors. Richmond Mico Rigor claimed top honors with a 29.01 winning average and the event single of 26.03. Yuji Yoshida secured the silver step with an average of 35.35, while Dale Palmares took the bronze step with a 37.96 average. In the Pyraminx event, Ross Anthony Dizon Javier won the single-round battle with a 5.00 average and a best single of 3.11, finishing ahead of Marc Arvinson J. Padilla at 5.62 and Zian Principe at 5.76.

By the close of Pangasinan Puzzle Party 2024, all 21 available podium places belonged to competitors from the Philippines. From the seasoned champions sweeping multiple disciplines to the newcomers achieving major personal time drops, the single-day tournament demonstrated the depth and passion of the local cubing community as solvers look ahead to the next challenge.

May kabuuang 51 kalahok ang nagtipon sa City Mall Mayombo para sa Pangasinan Puzzle Party 2024 noong February 25, 2024, kung saan sumabak ang mga speedcubers sa 12 rounds ng matitinding tapatan. Sa buong araw ng paligsahan sa Dagupan City, Pangasinan, Philippines, ipinamalas ng bawat kalahok ang kani-kanilang bilis sa pitong opisyal na dibisyon. Mula sa pinakabatikan hanggang sa mga baguhan, naging sentro ng usapan ang malalaking ibinaba sa mga personal best at ang determinasyon ng mga manlalaro sa bawat pag-ikot ng puzzle.

Bumandera si Crimson Arradaza sa pangunahing 3x3x3 Cube matapos magtala ng winning average na 6.50 at best single na 6.17 laban sa 48 iba pang katunggali sa tatlong rounds. Sumunod sa kaniya sa podium ng tradisyunal na Rubik's Cube si Dale Palmares na pumangalawa sa average na 9.56, habang nakuha naman ni Fergus Matthew Austria ang ikatlong puwesto sa bilis na 9.92. Ang tagumpay na ito ay nagpatunay sa mataas na antas ng husay ng bansa sa pinakatampok na labanan.

Hindi nagpaawat si Crimson Arradaza dahil dinomina rin niya ang 3x3x3 One-Handed sa pamamagitan ng winning average na 9.95 at pinakamabilis na solong oras na 8.72 mula sa 22 kalahok. Pumangalawa muli si Dale Palmares na nagrehistro ng 17.30 average, samantalang nakuha ni Richmond Mico Rigor ang ikatlong puwesto sa 18.03. Ipinakita ng naturang dibisyon ang pambihirang kontrol at taktika gamit ang iisang kamay lamang sa ibabaw ng tournament mat.

Naging maningning din ang pagtatanghal ni Yuji Yoshida na nag-uwi ng tatlong magkakahiwalay na kampeonato sa speedcubing event na ito. Nagwagi si Yoshida sa 2x2x2 Cube taglay ang 2.66 average at 1.82 single laban sa 39 kalahok, at nanguna rin sa Clock na may winning average na 7.95 at 7.18 single sa 14 na manlalaro. Kinumpleto niya ang kaniyang triple crown sa Skewb sa pamamagitan ng 5.37 average mula sa 12 kalahok.

Sa kategoryang 4x4x4 Cube, nakuha ni Richmond Mico Rigor ang unang gantimpala matapos magsumite ng winning average na 29.01 at mabilis na solong oras na 26.03 sa 34 na kalahok. Sumunod sa kaniya si Yuji Yoshida na nagtala ng 35.35 para sa ikalawang puwesto, habang si Dale Palmares ang pumangatlo sa oras na 37.96. Sa Pyraminx naman, si Ross Anthony Dizon Javier ang naghari bitbit ang 5.00 winning average at 3.11 best single laban sa 16 na katunggali.

Sa likod ng mga panalo sa entablado, sumiklab ang mga pambihirang pag-unlad ng oras mula sa mga kalahok. Pinangunahan ito ni Niko Jose Palengaoan-Dela Cruz na nagbaba ng kaniyang personal best sa Clock sa 15.89 mula sa dating 26.46, na halos 39.9 porsyentong mas mabilis sa tatlong event na sinalihan. Si Simon Jude Tirona ay nagpakitang-gilas din sa 4x4x4 Cube matapos magtala ng 53.53 mula sa dating 1:23.14 o 35.6 porsyentong bilis, bukod pa sa kaniyang ika-21 na puwesto sa one-handed. Malaki rin ang inasenso ni Chris Jacob A. Ramirez na nagtala ng 14.03 sa 3x3x3 Cube mula sa dating 20.67, habang si Mark Lawrence Ologenio ay umukit ng 1:57.58 sa 4x4x4 Cube mula sa lumang 2:45.50.

Naging kapansin-pansin din ang mga bagong sumabak sa kanilang pinakaunang WCA competition sa Pangasinan Puzzle Party 2024. Si Ralph Ryan Lambino Fernandez ay sumabak sa apat na kategorya, pumang-sampu sa Pyraminx sa bilis na 6.33, at nagtala ng 1:01.27 sa 4x4x4 Cube at 12.72 sa 3x3x3 Cube. Si Khaixer O. Lim ay lumaban sa apat na event at nagtala ng 4.05 sa 2x2x2 Cube, 10.43 sa Pyraminx, at 2:07.00 sa 4x4x4 Cube. Nagtala naman si Renz Marc A. Dimarucut ng ikaanim na puwesto sa 3x3x3 Cube gamit ang 8.66, bukod sa 20.11 sa one-handed at 46.26 sa 4x4x4 Cube. Samantala, si Jericho Fonseca Ras ay lumahok sa apat na dibisyon kung saan nakuha niya ang ika-11 na puwesto sa Skewb sa oras na 9.76, kasabay ng 12.98 sa 3x3x3 Cube at 4.39 sa 2x2x2 Cube.

Ang buong cubing competition ay nagtapos na may 21 kabuuang podium finishes para sa Pilipinas, patunay ng malalim na talento sa rehiyon. Ang bawat round at bawat puzzle na nilaro sa City Mall Mayombo ngayong taong 2024 ay nag-iwan ng matibay na pundasyon para sa patuloy na pag-asenso ng bawat manlalaro. Sa pagtatapos ng Pangasinan Puzzle Party 2024, ang mga personal best at mga bagong karanasang naitatag ang magsisilbing inspirasyon sa paghahanda sa susunod na yugto ng paligsahan.