Pinoy Big Cubes Open 2026

A razor-thin margin of just a single hundredth of a second determined the flagship title as local talent Francis Ezekiel Fernandez secured the 3x3x3 Cube victory with a 7.91 average. The dramatic finish saw Fernandez edge out fellow home-nation standout Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes, who posted a 7.92 average to take second place, while Kat Gonzalez completed the all-Filipino podium in third at 8.75. Fernandez delivered under immense pressure, locking down the day's fastest solve of 7.34 seconds to send the home crowd into celebration.

The thrilling duel capped a high-energy day of speedcubing at SM Makati in Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Pinoy Big Cubes Open 2026 brought together 64 competitors on March 28, 2026, offering a dense schedule featuring six official events and ten total rounds. Speed cubing fans gathered to watch both sprint formats and massive multidimensional puzzles across an intense single-day slate.

While Fernandez claimed the main spotlight, Magallanes had already delivered an exceptional performance earlier in the day during the 2x2x2 Cube event. Magallanes topped the 50-competitor field with a winning average of 2.33 seconds alongside the day's best single of 1.40 seconds. He led an all-Philippines podium ahead of Gabriel Subion, who finished second with a 2.51 average, and Miguel Gonzaga, who took third with a mark of 2.68.

The larger puzzles belonged entirely to China's Anyu Zhang, who swept every event from four layers upward in commanding fashion. Zhang started his dominant run in the 4x4x4 Cube, posting a winning average of 31.85 seconds and a single of 29.96 seconds to best Korea's MinGwan Yeo, who took silver in 32.67 seconds, and Jhon Leinard M. Agcaoili of the Philippines in third at 34.35 seconds.

Zhang continued his masterclass across the heavier mechanical challenges, demonstrating unmatched consistency across multiple rounds. In the 5x5x5 Cube, Zhang recorded a 49.18 average to win ahead of MinGwan Yeo's 53.23 and Miguel Gonzaga's 54.39. In the 6x6x6 Cube, Zhang claimed top honors with a 1:21.31 average, besting Gonzaga in second at 1:38.02 and Louie Jay Quibote in third at 1:43.76. He concluded the sweep in the 7x7x7 Cube, posting a 1:50.70 average to overcome Dale Palmares at 2:18.25 and Gonzaga at 2:22.76.

Away from the top of the podium, several competitors delivered massive personal breakthroughs across multiple disciplines. Zion Wyatt Rentillo Catalan tackled four separate events, earning a 7th-place finish in 2x2x2 Cube with a 2.92 single, alongside a 5x5x5 Cube personal best of 1:42.71 that shattered his previous mark by 48.9 percent, and a 44.54 personal best in 4x4x4 Cube. Liam Gavin Ting Uy took on three events and dropped his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 37.4 percent down to 15.47 seconds, while also making his first official attempts in 2x2x2 Cube at 5.32 seconds and 4x4x4 Cube at 2:08.69. Anthony Joseph Talledo competed across four events, lowering his 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 29.3 percent to 3.04 seconds, cutting his 4x4x4 Cube mark to 48.32 seconds, and posting a first-time 5x5x5 Cube result of 2:06.13.

First-time event attempts and sharp progression highlighted the depth of the field throughout the venue. Prince Andrew M. Requiero reached 6th place in 4x4x4 Cube with a first-time mark of 34.74 seconds, added his first 6x6x6 Cube result of 2:39.37, and cut his 5x5x5 Cube personal best by 15.1 percent to 58.68 seconds. Maiko Aquino took on six events, highlighted by an 11th-place finish in 5x5x5 Cube and debut results in 2x2x2 Cube at 3.20 seconds, 6x6x6 Cube at 2:00.88, and 7x7x7 Cube at 3:22.87. Kenshin Grey Santiago registered his first attempts in 3x3x3 Cube at 16.65, 5x5x5 Cube at 2:13.60, and 6x6x6 Cube at 4:24.88. Kailey Q. Manlangit placed 18th in 3x3x3 Cube with a personal best of 10.32 seconds alongside debut solves in 2x2x2 Cube and 4x4x4 Cube, while Ed Fritz Avila achieved a 12.29 personal best in 3x3x3 Cube and recorded first-time marks in 4x4x4 Cube and 5x5x5 Cube.

The overall medal breakdown reflected the strong presence of local competitors alongside top international guests, with the Philippines securing 12 podium places, China earning four, and Korea taking two. Across every discipline from the classic Rubik's Cube to the complex multi-layer puzzles, Pinoy Big Cubes Open 2026 proved to be an unforgettable cubing competition.

As the final tables cleared in Makati City, the official 3x3 results confirmed a thrilling conclusion to an exceptional WCA competition. With breakout personal milestones and world-class performances gracing the stage, the event established a high benchmark for the upcoming season.

Umapaw ang tensyon at sigla sa loob ng SM Makati kung saan nagtipon ang animnapu't apat na kalahok para sa isang buong araw ng matinding tapatan. Sa bawat mesa ng opisyal na cubing competition na ito, damang-dama ang bigat ng bawat pag-ikot ng mga kamay habang nakatutok ang lahat sa orasan ng World Cube Association. Ang torneo na ginanap nitong March 28, 2026 sa Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines ay naglatag ng sampung rounds sa anim na magkakaibang kategorya para sa mga pinakamahuhusay na manlalaro.

Naging sentro ng usapan ang pambihirang tagisan sa tradisyunal na 3x3x3 Cube na kinatampukan ng animnapu't tatlong kalahok sa nag-iisang round nito. Buong tapang na inangkin ni Francis Ezekiel Fernandez ang unang puwesto matapos magtala ng winning average na 7.91 kasama ang best single na 7.34. Bahagya lamang niyang naungusan si Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes na nagtala ng 7.92 average, habang pumangatlo naman si Kat Gonzalez sa kanyang 8.75 average para makumpleto ang buong podium para sa bansa.

Bago ang kanyang runner-up finish sa 3x3x3, nagpasiklab muna si Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes sa 2x2x2 Cube kung saan limampung kalahok ang naglaban-laban. Nakuha ni Magallanes ang kampeonato sa Pinoy Big Cubes Open 2026 gamit ang impresibong 2.33 winning average at mabilis na 1.40 single solve. Sumunod sa kanya si Gabriel Subion na may 2.51 average at Miguel Gonzaga na pumangatlo tangan ang 2.68 average sa isang mahigpitang bakbakan ng bilis sa maliit na puzzle.

Sa mga malalaking kategorya ng Rubik's Cube, nagpakitang-gilas nang husto si Anyu Zhang mula sa China na winalis ang apat na magkakasunod na dibisyon. Sa 4x4x4 Cube, pinangunahan ni Zhang ang tatlumpu't pitong kalahok sa kanyang 31.85 winning average at 29.96 single, habang pumangalawa si MinGwan Yeo ng Korea sa 32.67 at pumangatlo si Jhon Leinard M. Agcaoili sa 34.35. Ipinagpatuloy ni Zhang ang kanyang dominasyon sa 5x5x5 Cube nang magtala ng 49.18 average laban sa dalawampu't siyam na kalahok, habang pumangalawa muli si Yeo sa 53.23 at pumangatlo si Miguel Gonzaga sa 54.39.

Hindi rin nagpaawat si Zhang sa 6x6x6 Cube matapos magrehistro ng 1:21.31 average at 1:15.96 best single laban sa dalawampu't dalawang katunggali, kung saan sumunod sina Miguel Gonzaga sa 1:38.02 at Louie Jay Quibote sa 1:43.76. Sa pinakamalaking puzzle na 7x7x7 Cube na umabot sa tatlong rounds kasama ang dalawampung kalahok, muling nangibabaw si Zhang sa kanyang 1:50.70 average at 1:44.06 single. Pumangalawa rito si Dale Palmares sa 2:18.25 habang si Gonzaga ay muling sumampa sa podium sa kanyang 2:22.76.

Sa likod ng mga pangunahing kampeonato, nasaksihan din sa Pinoy Big Cubes Open 2026 ang kahanga-hangang pagsisikap ng mga manlalarong patuloy na nagtatala ng kanilang sariling marka. Ipinamalas ni Jaime Vergara ang matinding pag-unlad nang magtala ng 1:36.14 sa 5x5x5 Cube na 39.4 porsyentong mas mabilis sa dati niyang tala, 44.20 sa 4x4x4 Cube na mas mabilis ng 11.1 porsyento, 8.65 sa 3x3x3 Cube na bumilis ng 3.9 porsyento, at pumang-lima sa 2x2x2 Cube mula sa apat na kategoryang sinalihan. Si Matinjuha Jang naman ay nagtala ng 4.57 sa 2x2x2 Cube na 42.3 porsyentong mas mabilis kaysa dati at 18.21 sa 3x3x3 Cube na bumilis ng 7 porsyento sa dalawang kategorya.

Nagpakita rin ng determinasyon si Meagan Miel Guardiario sa dalawang kategorya nang magtala ng 16.01 sa 3x3x3 Cube na 38.8 porsyentong mas mabilis at 4.45 sa 2x2x2 Cube na mas mabilis ng 17.9 porsyento. Si Myrrh Palen ay sumabak sa apat na kategorya at nakuha ang personal best na 42.57 sa 4x4x4 Cube na 19.7 porsyentong mas mabilis, bukod sa kanyang unang subok sa 5x5x5 Cube na nagtala ng 2:04.39. Apat na bagong mukha ang sumabak sa kanilang unang WCA competition: si Emmanuel Miguel Santiago na sumali sa tatlong kategorya at nagtala ng 1:06.84 sa 4x4x4 Cube, 12.55 sa 3x3x3 Cube, at 2:01.64 sa 5x5x5 Cube; si Gabriel Prince B. Flavier na sumabak sa apat na event na may 6.11 sa 2x2x2 Cube, 19.05 sa 3x3x3 Cube, at 2:46.66 sa 5x5x5 Cube; si Morpheus James S. Bermillo na may 14.04 sa 2x2x2 Cube at 49.35 sa 3x3x3 Cube; at si Rafael Nicandro na nagrehistro ng 7.72 sa 2x2x2 Cube at 37.76 sa 3x3x3 Cube.

Sa pagtatapos ng speedcubing torneo sa Makati City ngayong 2026, nakalikom ang mga kinatawan ng Pilipinas ng labindalawang podium finishes, habang apat ang nakuha ng China at dalawa ang naibulsa ng Korea. Ang tagumpay ng Pinoy Big Cubes Open 2026 ay nagpakita ng mataas na antas ng husay at disiplina ng bawat kalahok sa bansa na patuloy na umaangat at naghahanda para sa mga susunod pang laban sa darating na panahon.