Pangasinan Speedcubing Open 2023

Philippine cubers asserted total authority at City Mall Mayombo, securing 17 of the 18 available podium spots across six disciplines during an intense day of solving. The Pangasinan Speedcubing Open 2023 gathered 56 competitors in Dagupan City, Philippines on August 13, 2023, delivering high-level drama and remarkable consistency from the host nation across 11 rounds of official action. The standout performance of the day came in the classic Rubik's Cube, where the home nation swept the top three positions in a tightly contested final round.

The premier 3x3 results crowned Xavier De Vera as champion after three rounds of cutthroat competition. De Vera posted a winning average of 8.81 seconds, backed by a best single solve of 7.45 seconds, to take the top step of the podium. He was pushed hard by Stephen Mark V. Mariñas, who secured second place with an 8.95 average. Fergus Matthew Austria earned the third spot with a 9.95 average, completing an all-Philippine podium in the flagship event of the WCA competition.

Richmond Mico Rigor produced a masterclass in the big cube categories, securing two gold medals in single-round shootouts. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Rigor captured the title with a winning average of 32.78 seconds and an event-best single of 27.67 seconds, finishing ahead of Austria who took second with 34.29 seconds. Brandon Poulton of the United Kingdom claimed third place with a 35.77 average, the only international podium finish of the event. Rigor returned to the tables for the 5x5x5 Cube, triumphing with an average of 58.17 seconds and a best single of 54.33, while Cairon Sumadchat took second in 1:01.11 and Louie Jay Quibote finished third in 1:02.25.

The short-format puzzles saw equally rapid times as Jamila Raine C. Espiritu navigated two rounds of the 2x2x2 Cube to win with an average of 3.25 seconds and a single solve of 2.60. Mariñas added another silver to his tally with a 3.50 average, followed closely by Justin Andrew Dee in 3.59. Espiritu also claimed a podium spot in Skewb, where Iya Franzene L. Hufancia took the victory with a 5.96 average and a single of 5.09, outpacing Dylan Arteims N. Fernandez at 6.80 and Espiritu at 6.84.

Mariñas found his way to the top step in the Pyraminx, claiming gold with a sharp 2.63 winning average and a best single of 2.25 across two rounds. Justin Andrew Dee took second place with an average of 3.08, while Jayden Allen T. Dee claimed third place with 4.51. The speed cubing action demonstrated depth across all events, but the tournament was just as notable for breakthrough performances further down the running order.

Beyond the championship trophies, the Pangasinan Speedcubing Open 2023 showcased massive strides from dedicated solvers taking on new challenges. Tristan Oliver R. Lopez competed in four events and slashed 66.9 percent off his 2x2x2 Cube personal best with a 5.95, while improving his Skewb mark by 20.4 percent to 20.19 and his 3x3x3 Cube best by 19.1 percent to 31.59. Enrico Gabriel F. Manangan tackled four events, making his first ever attempt at the 5x5x5 Cube in 1:39.23 to finish 12th, while cutting 25.8 percent from his 2x2x2 Cube time to 3.36 and improving his 4x4x4 Cube mark by 19.2 percent to 40.52. Justin Ahron De Guzman Cadacio also took on four events, finishing 8th in the 3x3x3 Cube, posting a first attempt of 4.38 on the 2x2x2 Cube and 1:36.16 on the 5x5x5 Cube, alongside a 21.6 percent improvement in 4x4x4 Cube to 39.27.

Other competitors delivered excellent milestones across the schedule. Phoenix Vitug Soriano entered three events, taking 5th in the 2x2x2 Cube with a first attempt of 2.80, recording a first 5x5x5 Cube solve of 1:42.03, and trimming his 3x3x3 Cube best to 13.07 by 4.1 percent. Karl Daniel C. Valdez logged a first attempt of 5.21 in the 2x2x2 Cube and dropped his 3x3x3 Cube best by 13.8 percent to 10.28. Chris Jacob A. Ramirez logged a first 2x2x2 Cube solve of 8.18 and improved his 3x3x3 Cube best by 5.5 percent to 20.67. Marcel Hinnbert B. Fernandez focused on the 3x3x3 Cube, lowering his best mark by 5 percent to 10.12, while Michelle Grace Aquino secured 15th in the 5x5x5 Cube and cut 3 percent from her 4x4x4 Cube best to 55.09.

The full day of speedcubing at City Mall Mayombo closed out a memorable gathering in Dagupan City, highlighting the expanding depth of Philippine puzzle talent across both legacy and side disciplines. With 56 competitors testing their limits, the Pangasinan Speedcubing Open 2023 proved to be a resounding success for the local community as solvers look ahead to the next stops on the national calendar.

May kabuuang 56 na kalahok ang nagtipon-tipon sa City Mall Mayombo sa Dagupan City, Philippines noong August 13, 2023 upang magtagisan sa Pangasinan Speedcubing Open 2023. Sa loob ng 11 rounds sa anim na kategorya, nasaksihan ang matinding labanan ng mga pambato mula sa iba't ibang panig ng bansa pati na rin ang partisipasyon mula sa ibang bansa. Ang buong araw ng speedcubing ay nagbigay-daan sa mga tapatan ng mga paboritong atleta sa rehiyon na nag-agawan para sa bawat podium finish.

Sa pangunahing kategorya ng 3x3x3 Cube, ipinamalas ni Xavier De Vera ang kanyang husay matapos masungkit ang unang pwesto laban sa mahigpit na karibal. Nagtala si Xavier De Vera ng winning average na 8.81 kalakip ang best single na 7.45 sa loob ng tatlong rounds upang pangunahan ang larangan ng 56 competitors. Sumunod sa kanya sa ikalawang pwesto si Stephen Mark V. Mariñas na nagtala ng average na 8.95, habang nakuha naman ni Fergus Matthew Austria ang ikatlong pwesto sa bilis na 9.95.

Naging sentro rin ng aksyon ang labanan sa mas malalaking Rubik's Cube kung saan naghari si Richmond Mico Rigor. Sa 4x4x4 Cube na nilahukan ng 29 competitors sa isang round, nakuha ni Richmond Mico Rigor ang tagumpay sa pamamagitan ng winning average na 32.78 at best single na 27.67. Pumangalawa si Fergus Matthew Austria sa bilis na 34.29, habang pumangatlo ang kinatawan ng United Kingdom na si Brandon Poulton na may 35.77.

Hindi pa roon natapos ang dominasyon ni Richmond Mico Rigor dahil nasungkit din niya ang unang pwesto sa 5x5x5 Cube. Tinalo niya ang 18 competitors matapos magrehistro ng winning average na 58.17 at best single na 54.33 sa nag-iisang round. Nakamit ni Cairon Sumadchat ang ikalawang pwesto sa oras na 1:01.11, samantalang naitarak naman ni Louie Jay Quibote ang ikatlong pwesto sa pamamagitan ng 1:02.25.

Sa mas maliliit na kategorya, namukod-tangi ang tagisan sa 2x2x2 Cube kung saan nanguna si Jamila Raine C. Espiritu na may winning average na 3.25 at best single na 2.60 laban sa 39 competitors sa loob ng dalawang rounds. Pumangalawa si Stephen Mark V. Mariñas na nagtala ng 3.50, at pumangatlo si Justin Andrew Dee na may 3.59. Sa Pyraminx, nangibabaw si Stephen Mark V. Mariñas na may 2.63 winning average laban kina Justin Andrew Dee na may 3.08 at Jayden Allen T. Dee na may 4.51. Sa Skewb naman, nanguna si Iya Franzene L. Hufancia na may winning average na 5.96 kontra kina Dylan Arteims N. Fernandez na may 6.80 at Jamila Raine C. Espiritu na may 6.84.

Sa likod ng mga labanan sa podium, marami ring manlalaro ang nagtala ng mahahalagang tagumpay sa kanilang sariling mga talaan. Gumawa ng malaking hakbang si Angelo Siador sa kanyang anim na kategorya matapos magtala ng personal best sa 5x5x5 Cube na 2:01.30 na mas mabilis nang 22.6 porsyento mula 2:36.74, sa 2x2x2 Cube na 5.16 na 18.5 porsyentong mas mabilis mula 6.33, at sa 4x4x4 Cube na 50.16 na 15.5 porsyentong bawas mula 59.35, habang nakuha ang ika-16 na pwesto sa 5x5x5 Cube. Ipinamalas din ni Leonard Wayne Lee J. Mensigos ang kanyang galing sa 3 events kung saan nakamit niya ang ika-5 pwesto sa 3x3x3 Cube at nagtala ng personal best na 1:50.55 sa 5x5x5 Cube. Naging matatag din ang kampanya nina Neil Joseph D. Prudencio na pumasok sa 5 events at nakuha ang ika-6 na pwesto sa 2x2x2 Cube, at Dexter James De Guzman na sumabak sa 5 events at nakuha ang ika-17 na pwesto sa 4x4x4 Cube.

Naging espesyal din ang araw para sa mga sumabak sa kanilang pinakaunang WCA competition upang magtatag ng sarili nilang mga marka. Unang sumabak si Adrian Nicolas Lim sa tatlong kategorya kung saan nagtala siya ng 7.19 sa Pyraminx, 6.29 sa 2x2x2 Cube, at 12.13 sa 3x3x3 Cube. Sa kanyang debut, sumabak din sa tatlong events si Josh Riegel V. Untalan kung saan naitala niya ang ika-27 pwesto sa 4x4x4 Cube sa bilis na 1:25.77 kasabay ng 7.77 sa 2x2x2 Cube at 15.77 sa 3x3x3 Cube. Nilahukan din ni Reign Clive C. Cruz ang tatlong events na may ika-28 pwesto sa 4x4x4 Cube sa oras na 2:01.93, 5.20 sa 2x2x2 Cube, at 25.32 sa 3x3x3 Cube. Samantala, matagumpay ring tinapos ni Blais Angelo Peligman Dao-anis ang tatlong kategorya na may 13.83 sa Pyraminx, 6.80 sa 2x2x2 Cube, at 32.18 sa 3x3x3 Cube.

Naging matagumpay ang buong takbo ng Pangasinan Speedcubing Open 2023 sa pagbibigay ng entablado sa iba't ibang manlalaro mula sa bansa at ibayong dagat. Mula sa mga pambihirang panalo nina Xavier De Vera, Jamila Raine C. Espiritu, Stephen Mark V. Mariñas, Richmond Mico Rigor, at Iya Franzene L. Hufancia hanggang sa mga bagong manlalaro, napatunayan ng bawat kalahok ang mataas na antas ng husay sa bawat round ng nasabing cubing competition bago sumapit ang susunod na yugto ng paligsahan.