Pangasinan Speedcubing Open 2024

40 competitors gathered at SM City Dagupan on July 21, 2024, trading quiet calculation for high-tempo turns at the Pangasinan Speedcubing Open 2024. While disciplines like Fewest Moves demand a deliberate, pen-and-paper approach where solvers spend an hour searching out the shortest possible solution, this gathering in Dagupan City, Philippines showcased the opposite end of the spectrum. Over 12 action-packed rounds, the single-day WCA competition prioritized explosive reflexes, turning speed, and immediate pattern recognition.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube event drew 39 competitors through three rounds of intense action. In the final round of the classic Rubik's Cube, Xavier De Vera secured first place with a winning average of 8.17 seconds, backed by a best single of 6.93 seconds. Dale Palmares took the runner-up position with an average of 8.85 seconds, while Richmond Mico Rigor claimed third place with a 9.48 average. These 3x3 results marked the peak of a high-standard day of speedcubing across the region.

Richmond Mico Rigor enjoyed a standout competition by capturing victories in both large cube disciplines. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Rigor bested a 29-competitor field with a winning average of 30.73 seconds and a sharp single of 27.55 seconds across two rounds. Dale Palmares followed closely in second with an average of 32.04 seconds, and Louie Jay Quibote earned third place averaging 35.90 seconds.

The big-cube master repeated his success in the 5x5x5 Cube, where 19 entrants contested a direct final round. Richmond Mico Rigor produced a 53.38 winning average and the best single of the event at 48.71 seconds. Dale Palmares collected another silver finish with a 54.09 average, while Louie Jay Quibote rounded out the podium positions with a mark of 58.75 seconds to finalize the top three.

Beyond the podium finishes, the Pangasinan Speedcubing Open 2024 was defined by remarkable individual progressions throughout the roster. Kelsey Kizz Grico delivered massive strides, cutting their 3x3x3 Cube personal best to 12.55 seconds, which was 47.3 percent faster than their previous mark, alongside a 29.7 percent drop in Pyraminx to 8.27 seconds and a 23.3 percent improvement in 2x2x2 Cube to 6.34 seconds. Kent Andrew C. Catolico took on four events, securing eighth in 2x2x2 Cube while lowering their 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 26.5 percent to 9.22 seconds, their 4x4x4 Cube best by 21.2 percent to 40.08 seconds, and their 5x5x5 Cube best by 19.3 percent to 1:14.99. Jeriemy Siapno logged first-ever attempts in both the 2x2x2 Cube with a 3.94 single and the Pyraminx with a 10.61 single, while dropping their 3x3x3 Cube mark by 17.5 percent to 14.02 seconds. Francis Hero G. Ancho tackled six events, finishing fifth in 3x3x3 Blindfolded, trimming 16.7 percent off their Clock personal best to reach 9.39 seconds, and lowering their 4x4x4 Cube time by 7.9 percent to 49.54 seconds.

Several other competitors expanded their event repertoires and established new benchmarks during the tournament. LJ Palaganas entered five events at the competition, securing 20th in Pyraminx while making their first-ever career attempts in the 4x4x4 Cube with a 1:20.56 single and Clock with an 18.91 single. Ralph Jemuel R. Gorospe registered their first official 4x4x4 Cube attempt with a 1:24.58 single, earned 14th in Pyraminx, and improved their 3x3x3 Cube best by 7.3 percent to 13.94 seconds. Jericho Fonseca Ras took on three events and delivered their first official attempt in Pyraminx with an 11.88 single to claim 19th place. Meanwhile, Leonard Wayne Lee J. Mensigos contested three disciplines, securing fourth place in the 3x3x3 Cube with a personal best single of 7.87 seconds and lowering their 5x5x5 Cube best by 6.5 percent to 1:43.31.

The shorter events yielded rapid results in the afternoon sessions. In the 2x2x2 Cube, Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes took the title with a 2.56 winning average and a 1.69 single, leading Almer John S. Masiglat in second at 2.74 and Marc Arvinson J. Padilla in third at 3.05. In Clock, Zoei Principe won comfortably with a 4.38 average and a best single of 3.58 seconds, leaving Dale Palmares in second place at 6.83 and Renaud B. Manansala in third at 7.29.

Ross Anthony Dizon Javier secured the Pyraminx title with a 4.77 winning average and a best single of 3.64 seconds, finishing ahead of Zian Principe at 5.47 and Clark Vince Doria Vicente at 5.78. In the 3x3x3 Blindfolded event, where solvers rely entirely on memorization before executing their turns without sight, Victor Grant Velasco claimed top honors with a successful 1:11.32 single. Gian Carlo C. Catambay took second place in 3:26.26, and Marc Arvinson J. Padilla earned third with a time of 3:30.77.

Across the seven events staged at the Pangasinan Speedcubing Open 2024, competitors from the Philippines secured all 21 available podium places. The efficient execution of 12 rounds in a single day demonstrated the vibrant growth of speed cubing in Pangasinan. With strong personal milestones achieved and competitive marks posted across diverse puzzles, this cubing competition in Dagupan City established an inspiring standard for the rest of the 2024 season.

Apatnapung kalahok ang nagtipon para sa Pangasinan Speedcubing Open 2024 noong Hulyo 21, 2024 sa SM City Dagupan sa Dagupan City, Philippines upang subukin ang kanilang bilis sa labindalawang rounds sa pitong opisyal na events. Sa bawat round ng paligsahan, naging mahalaga ang bawat pag-ikot upang makapasok sa susunod na yugto at maabot ang minimithing pwesto sa podium. Ang bilis ng mga kalahok sa Rubik's Cube at iba pang mga puzzle ay sumubok sa kanilang husay at konsentrasyon sa buong araw ng bakbakan.

Sa pangunahing kategorya na 3x3x3 Cube, tatlumpu't siyam na kalahok ang sumalang sa tatlong rounds upang salain ang pinakamahusay. Nakamit ni Xavier De Vera ang unang pwesto matapos magtala ng winning average na 8.17 kasama ang pinakamabilis na best single na 6.93. Sumunod sa kanya si Dale Palmares na nakakuha ng average na 8.85 para sa ikalawang pwesto, habang si Richmond Mico Rigor naman ang pumangatlo tangan ang average na 9.48 sa matinding labanan sa final round.

Nagpakitang-gilas din si Richmond Mico Rigor sa mas malalaking puzzle kung saan nagwagi siya ng dalawang gintong medalya sa iisang araw. Sa 4x4x4 Cube na may dalawampu't siyam na kalahok at dalawang rounds, pinangunahan niya ang laban sa pamamagitan ng winning average na 30.73 at best single na 27.55. Sa kategoryang 5x5x5 Cube naman na dumaan sa isang direktang final round kasama ang labing-siyam na manlalaro, muling nanguna si Richmond Mico Rigor tangan ang 53.38 winning average at 48.71 best single.

Pumangalawa si Dale Palmares sa 4x4x4 Cube na may 32.04 average at sa 5x5x5 Cube na may 54.09 average, habang nakuha naman ni Louie Jay Quibote ang ikatlong pwesto sa dalawang kategoryang ito sa pamamagitan ng mga average na 35.90 at 58.75. Sa mabilisang 2x2x2 Cube na may dalawampu't pitong kalahok sa dalawang rounds, nagkampeon si Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes na nagtala ng 2.56 winning average at 1.69 best single, habang sumunod sina Almer John S. Masiglat na may 2.74 at Marc Arvinson J. Padilla na may 3.05.

Sa kabilang banda, naging makulay ang mga natatanging kwento ng mga manlalaro sa ilalim ng entablado ng Pangasinan Speedcubing Open 2024. Pinatunayan ni Theseus N. Abaclod ang kanyang pagsisikap sa apat na sinalihang events nang magtala siya ng Clock personal best na 10.53 na 9.1 porsyentong mas mabilis kaysa sa dati niyang 11.59, bukod pa sa 17.92 personal best sa 3x3x3 Cube at ika-10 pwesto sa Clock. Si Dexter James De Guzman ay sumabak din sa apat na laro at nakamit ang ika-17 pwesto sa Pyraminx. Samantala, si Clifford Orcales ay lumaban sa apat na kategorya at nagtala ng 4x4x4 Cube personal best na 32.44 na 5.6 porsyentong mas mabilis kaysa sa dati niyang 34.35, kasabay ng ika-5 pwesto sa 5x5x5 Cube, habang si Fergus Matthew Austria ay nagpakitang-gilas sa kanyang apat na events at nakuha ang ika-4 na pwesto sa 4x4x4 Cube.

Marami ring bagong mukha ang sumabak sa kanilang pinakaunang WCA competition ngayong taon. Si Jhon Edrian Capinpin ay sumali sa tatlong kategorya at naitala ang kanyang unang opisyal na subok sa 2x2x2 Cube na may 6.11, 4x4x4 Cube na may 1:51.00, at 3x3x3 Cube na may 11.57. Sa kanyang debut, si Steven Cyrell Ungson ay sumalang sa dalawang events na nagtala ng 14.53 sa 3x3x3 Cube at 6.92 sa 2x2x2 Cube. Si Mark Jasten Tabayoyong ay nagrehistro ng 42.42 sa 4x4x4 Cube para sa ika-11 pwesto at 8.75 sa 3x3x3 Cube sa kanyang unang subok sa dalawang events, samantalang si Vincent Noel Dagdag ay lumaban sa dalawang kategorya upang makuha ang ika-10 pwesto sa 4x4x4 Cube sa oras na 36.89 at 1:40.27 sa 5x5x5 Cube.

Nagpatuloy ang aksyon sa iba pang mga laro kung saan nagtagisan ang labing-siyam na kalahok sa dalawang rounds ng Clock. Si Zoei Principe ang nagwagi sa kaganapang ito gamit ang napakabilis na winning average na 4.38 at best single na 3.58, habang pumangalawa si Dale Palmares sa 6.83 average at pumangatlo si Renaud B. Manansala sa 7.29 average. Sa Pyraminx na dumaan sa isang round kasama ang dalawampung kalahok, naghari si Ross Anthony Dizon Javier na nagtala ng 4.77 average at 3.64 best single, kasunod sina Zian Principe na may 5.47 at Clark Vince Doria Vicente na may 5.78.

Sa kategoryang 3x3x3 Blindfolded na nangangailangan ng masusing memorisasyon bago simulan ang pag-ikot nang nakapiring, limang manlalaro ang sumubok sa solong round. Si Victor Grant Velasco ang nag-uwi ng panalo matapos magtala ng winning single na 1:11.32 kahit nagtala ng DNF average. Pumangalawa si Gian Carlo C. Catambay sa pamamagitan ng kanyang 3:26.26 single, habang nakuha ni Marc Arvinson J. Padilla ang ikatlong pwesto tangan ang 3:30.77 single.

Ang buong cubing competition ay nagpakita ng mataas na antas ng husay sa bansa kung saan ang lahat ng dalawampu't isang podium places ay nakamit ng mga kinatawan mula sa Pilipinas. Matagumpay na natapos ang Pangasinan Speedcubing Open 2024 bilang patunay ng lumalagong galing ng komunidad sa speedcubing sa iba't ibang panig ng kapuluan para sa taong 2024.