Paraguay Nationals 2025

Kenji Julián Cáceres Matsumoto delivered a staggering sweep of eleven titles across thirteen disciplines at Paraguay Nationals 2025, but the spirit of the weekend was defined by the influx of fresh talent taking their very first official turns. Hosted at Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola in Asunción, Paraguay, from December 12 to December 14, the three-day WCA competition brought together 30 competitors contesting 22 rounds. For newcomers stepping into the official speedcubing arena for the first time, the tournament provided the ultimate stage to test their practice under strict timing conditions.

Stepping onto the competition floor for an official debut carries a unique energy, as competitors balance nerves against the ticking stackmat timer. Four cubers launched their official careers in Asunción during the 2025 season closer, taking on classic puzzles before an attentive assembly of judges and peers. From initial solves on the iconic Rubik's Cube to tackling complex, multi-layered geometry, these opening attempts marked the crucial transition from solitary home practice to registered international ranking, anchoring the entire atmosphere of the tournament.

In the flagship 3x3x3 Cube event, the 3x3 results culminated in an authoritative victory for Kenji Julián Cáceres Matsumoto. Leading a field of 29 competitors through three rounds of speed cubing, Cáceres Matsumoto secured the national title with a winning average of 7.96 seconds, backed by a tournament-best single solve of 6.82 seconds. Manuel Ferreira de Cordoue claimed the second step of the podium with an average of 12.43 seconds, while Diego Andres Ferreira Cuellar secured third place with a 13.91 average.

Beyond the premier puzzle, Cáceres Matsumoto proved virtually unstoppable across diverse categories, demonstrating mastery over compact mechanical challenges and massive rotating layers. He captured the 2x2x2 Cube with a 2.53 average and the 3x3x3 One-Handed title in 13.63 seconds. Expanding into side events, he claimed gold in Pyraminx at 5.52, Skewb at 5.09, and Megaminx with an average of 47.33, while also mastering the 4x4x4 Cube in 31.09 seconds, the 5x5x5 Cube in 1:06.80, the 6x6x6 Cube in 3:02.26, and the 7x7x7 Cube in 4:42.82. In the 3x3x3 Blindfolded event, which requires complete memorisation of the pieces prior to solving under a blindfold, Cáceres Matsumoto took top honours with an average of 3:37.53.

The spotlight behind the headline podiums reveals a wealth of personal breakthroughs from competitors expanding their repertoires. Angel Isaac Holowaty delivered an outstanding jump in the Pyraminx, registering a personal best single of 9.48 seconds that improved upon his previous best of 1:10.05 by 86.5 percent, while also logging his first official attempt at Skewb with a 27.72. Franco Cattebeke Macchi entered three events, recording his first official attempts in 3x3x3 One-Handed at 37.05 and 2x2x2 Cube at 4.96, alongside a 3x3x3 personal best of 15.04 that was 17 percent faster than his previous mark. Eduardo David González Ortellado cut 68 percent off his Skewb record to post a 4.47 and finish seventh, while Lucas Daniel Ramirez Acuña took on Clock for the first time at 25.07 and dropped his Skewb personal best by 38.3 percent down to 7.74 seconds.

The drive to expand into uncharted events continued across the floor as Ian Xavier Brice tackled five categories, logging his first Megaminx solve at 2:24.72, his first Skewb attempt at 13.01, and taking sixth place in Pyraminx with a personal best of 8.46 seconds. Marcelo Adrian Leiton Cabral entered Pyraminx for the first time, earning fourth place with a 5.56 solve while also setting a 3x3x3 personal best of 14.01 seconds. Jonas Gauto recorded his first official 2x2x2 Cube mark of 7.53 while slicing 29.9 percent off his 3x3x3 best with a 21.68. Meanwhile, Eric Gael Portillo Vazquez completed his first tournament appearance across three disciplines, logging maiden marks of 1:08.52 in 3x3x3, 21.32 in 2x2x2, and 7:09.82 on the Megaminx.

Only two events managed to elude the dominant run of the multi-event champion. In Square-1, Gustavo Adolfo Ortega Gomez of Venezuela secured the title with an average of 15.42 seconds and a best single of 13.29, besting Cáceres Matsumoto who finished second in 29.50, followed by Damian Britez Etcheverry in third at 35.80. The Clock event produced another distinct champion as Carlos Benjamin Mereles Martinez of Paraguay took gold with a 9.00 average, leaving Cáceres Matsumoto in second at 11.29 and Argentina's Felipe Julián Pellerano in third at 15.36 seconds.

Across the 22 completed rounds, host nation Paraguay earned 28 podium positions, alongside seven podium finishes for Venezuela and four for Argentina. The collective efforts of seasoned champions and ambitious first-timers created a balanced showcase of speedcubing skill, setting personal benchmarks that establish a strong foundation for the upcoming competitive year as Paraguay Nationals 2025 concluded in Asunción.