Pinoy Big Cubes Open 2024

Inside Robinsons General Trias, the hum of mechanical rotations and the rhythmic slap of hands resetting timers filled the hall as competitors gathered for a day of intense puzzle solving. The bustling shopping center setting in General Trias, Cavite, Philippines provided an energetic backdrop for the gathering on January 14, 2024. A field of 51 competitors assembled to test their dexterity and mental endurance across ten rounds spanning seven official puzzle disciplines. With big cubes taking center stage, the tournament demanded immense technical precision and physical stamina from early morning through the closing rounds.

Veteran competitors brought their seasoned composure to the tables, demonstrating the enduring value of technical refinement at this major WCA competition. Brenton Angelo Lo Wong showcased his mastery in the marquee 3x3x3 Cube event, putting together a commanding 6.95 winning average across the field of 50 solvers. Wong also logged the fastest single solve of the event at 6.20 on his way to the top of the podium. His smooth execution across the classic Rubik's Cube format proved decisive, as Jaden Lim secured second place with an average of 8.05 and Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc earned third with an 8.55 average.

Palisoc was an unstoppable force across the larger mechanisms, mounting an exceptional campaign that highlighted his long-standing pedigree in heavy puzzle categories. In the 5x5x5 Cube, Palisoc navigated two grueling rounds to claim first place with a 50.34 average and the fastest single of 41.86, finishing ahead of Lim at 53.45 and Wong at 54.65. Palisoc then doubled his gold tally in the 6x6x6 Cube, recording a winning average of 1:32.33 and an event-best single of 1:25.86. Lim took runner-up honors in that event with a 1:39.27 average, while Dale Palmares took third in 1:43.07.

The 7x7x7 Cube tested the utmost limits of stamina, requiring solvers to manage hundreds of moving pieces under strict time constraints. Dale Palmares rose to the occasion with brilliant tactical pacing, capturing the championship with a winning average of 2:20.85 and a rapid single of 2:15.95 over two competitive rounds. Palisoc claimed his third big-cube podium finish of the day by taking second place with a 2:27.83 mark, while Louie Jay Quibote rounded out the top three with an average of 2:40.20.

The tournament atmosphere reached a rapid tempo in the shorter formats, where fractions of a second separated the contenders. In the 2x2x2 Cube, Lorenzo Layug claimed victory with a swift 2.80 average alongside a 1.88 single in a single-round sprint of 39 competitors. Yuji Yoshida followed closely in second with 3.26, while Palisoc earned another podium spot in third with 3.30. In Pyraminx, Chris Padua secured top honors with an average of 3.39 and a single of 2.73, holding off Karl Matthew Angeles at 3.76 and Wong at 4.26. Meanwhile, Elijah Francis Jagonio captured the Clock title with a decisive 5.44 average, besting Wong at 7.51 and Zoei Principe at 7.82.

Beyond the championship trophies, the true heart of this speedcubing meeting came from competitors pushing their personal boundaries across multiple disciplines. Joseph Alonzo Dimitri Y. Nicolas took on five events, earning a 12th-place finish in Pyraminx while lowering his personal best by 29 percent to 6.86 and making his first official attempts at 5x5x5 Cube in 2:09.66 and Clock in 18.52. James B. Ganotisi tackled four events, registering his first official marks in both the 6x6x6 Cube with 2:23.94 and the 7x7x7 Cube with 2:45.87, which propelled him to a career-best fifth place in the 7x7x7, alongside a 5x5x5 personal best of 1:17.29. Jose Emmanuel P. Azna delivered a massive 49.8 percent improvement in Clock to record a 16.11 personal best and a 14th-place finish, while Francis Dave R. Andrada completed his first official 2x2x2 Cube solve in 4.33 and improved his 3x3x3 Cube best by 15.1 percent to 21.18.

The momentum continued as Pocholo Comanda posted impressive strides across three puzzles, improving his Pyraminx personal best by 27 percent to 7.15 for a 13th-place finish, cutting 20.6 percent from his 3x3x3 Cube best with 19.66, and recording 4.51 in 2x2x2 Cube. John Christian Timothy D. Rasay achieved a 34.1 percent drop in his 2x2x2 Cube mark with a new personal record of 5.65. Quiel Antonio C. Valera made his first official attempt at Pyraminx with a 9.04 mark to finish 21st while also trimming his 3x3x3 Cube best by 4.2 percent to 11.74. Ramon Antonio Simon Valdestamon completed a busy slate of six events, logging personal records of 6.48 in Pyraminx for a 14th-place result, 1:31.23 in 5x5x5 Cube, and 3.39 in 2x2x2 Cube.

The depth of talent across all age groups and puzzle categories made this speed cubing gathering an unmistakable highlight on the regional calendar. All 21 podium positions across the seven official events were claimed by competitors representing the Philippines, highlighting the country's formidable standing across both classic and complex disciplines. From the tactical precision in the big cubes to the dramatic 3x3 results, Pinoy Big Cubes Open 2024 offered an unforgettable demonstration of focus and dexterity.

As competitors packed their timers and lubricated puzzles at the conclusion of the final rounds, the community celebrated a full day of personal milestones and elite executions. The blend of seasoned veterans finding top form and rising solvers reaching new personal heights defined the spirit of the cubing competition. The successful completion of this event sets a high competitive benchmark as solvers across the Philippines look forward to the challenges of the next season.

6.95 segundo ang naging opisyal na winning average ni Brenton Angelo Lo Wong upang selyuhan ang unang puwesto sa 3x3x3 Cube sa pagtatapos ng torneo. Sa Robinsons General Trias sa General Trias, Cavite, Philippines, ipinamalas ng mga kalahok ang kanilang bilis sa paglutas ng Rubik's Cube sa loob ng iisang araw ng tapatan noong January 14, 2024. Matinding labanan ang naganap sa huling bahagi ng pabilisan kung saan tinalo ni Brenton Angelo Lo Wong ang 49 na iba pang katunggali sa pangunahing dibisyon.

Sa kabuuan ng Pinoy Big Cubes Open 2024, umabot sa 51 na kalahok ang nagtala ng kanilang mga opisyal na oras sa 7 magkakaibang kategorya sa ilalim ng 10 rounds ng WCA competition. Ang tagumpay ni Brenton Angelo Lo Wong sa 3x3x3 Cube ay sinundan nina Jaden Lim na nagtala ng average na 8.05 para sa ikalawang puwesto at Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc na pumangatlo sa pamamagitan ng 8.55 average. Si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong din ang nagtala ng pinakamabilis na single solve sa kategoryang ito sa bilis na 6.20 segundo.

Naging maningning din ang kampanya ni Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc na nagwagi ng dalawang kampeonato sa malalaking puzzle. Sa 5x5x5 Cube na may 29 na manlalaro at 2 rounds, nanguna si Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc bitbit ang winning average na 50.34 at pinakamahusay na single na 41.86, habang pumangalawa si Jaden Lim sa 53.45 at pumangatlo si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong sa 54.65. Nagpatuloy ang kanyang dominasyon sa 6x6x6 Cube matapos magrehistro ng 1:32.33 winning average laban kina Jaden Lim na nagtala ng 1:39.27 at Dale Palmares na may 1:43.07.

Sa pinakamalaking puzzle ng cubing competition, ang 7x7x7 Cube na nilahukan ng 17 katao, nagwagi si Dale Palmares tangan ang winning average na 2:20.85 at best single na 2:15.95. Pumangalawa sa kategoryang ito si Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc na nagtala ng 2:27.83 at pumangatlo naman si Louie Jay Quibote na may 2:40.20 sa pagtatapos ng 2 rounds ng bakbakan. Ang mga tagumpay na ito ay nagpatunay sa husay ng mga manlalaro sa paghawak ng mga komplikadong cube.

Ipinamalas din ang husay sa iba pang disiplina sa larangan ng speedcubing. Sa 2x2x2 Cube na may 39 na kalahok, nanguna si Lorenzo Layug na may 2.80 winning average at 1.88 best single, kasunod sina Yuji Yoshida sa 3.26 at Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc sa 3.30. Sa Pyraminx, nanaig si Chris Padua sa pamamagitan ng 3.39 average kontra kay Karl Matthew Angeles na nagtala ng 3.76 at Brenton Angelo Lo Wong na may 4.26. Samantala, pinangunahan ni Elijah Francis Jagonio ang Clock sa pamamagitan ng 5.44 winning average kontra kina Brenton Angelo Lo Wong na may 7.51 at Zoei Principe na may 7.82.

Bukod sa mga nagwagi sa podium, kapansin-pansin ang mga personal na tagumpay ng iba pang mga manlalaro sa torneo. Malaking pag-unlad ang ipinamalas ni Japhine Laurice E. Bigalbal na nagtala ng bagong personal best sa 2x2x2 Cube na 6.06 segundo na 22.8 porsyentong mas mabilis kaysa sa dating 7.85, gayundin sa 3x3x3 Cube na may 20.72 na 13.3 porsyentong mas mabilis sa dati niyang 23.89. Si Jak Concepcion naman ay nagtala ng personal best sa Clock na 9.33 segundo na 22.7 porsyentong pagpapabuti mula sa dating 12.07 at nakuha ang ikalimang puwesto sa 3x3x3 Cube. Sa parehong kategorya ng Clock, matagumpay na natapos nina Mateus Gavin C. Imbuido at Cesar Jake Berroya ang kanilang unang opisyal na pagtatangka kung saan nagtala sila ng mga oras na 22.10 at 51.91.

Nagpakita rin ng matinding dedikasyon ang mga bagong mukha na sumabak sa kanilang unang torneo. Sumabak si Gabriel Manapat sa apat na magkakaibang kaganapan at nagtala ng 9.56 sa 3x3x3 Cube, 1:30.03 sa 5x5x5 Cube, at 2:57.18 sa 6x6x6 Cube. Sa Pyraminx, nagtala si Zach San Miguel ng 7.78 sa kanyang unang subok kasabay ng 28.81 sa 3x3x3 Cube, habang si Anne Gwyneth P. Villaseran ay nagrehistro ng 10.71 sa Pyraminx, 6.60 sa 2x2x2 Cube, at 13.36 sa 3x3x3 Cube. Hindi rin nagpahuli si Karsten Marion C. Ventura na matagumpay na nakapagtala ng 32.45 sa 3x3x3 Cube.

Sa pangkalahatan, lahat ng 21 puwesto sa podium ay napanatili ng mga kalahok mula sa Pilipinas. Ang Pinoy Big Cubes Open 2024 sa Cavite ay naging isang buong araw ng pagpapakitang-gilas, pagtatala ng mga personal na rekord, at pagpapamalas ng mataas na antas ng paglutas sa harap ng 51 na manlalaro mula sa iba't ibang panig ng bansa bago sumapit ang mga susunod pang laban sa kalendaryo.