Portugal Championship 2024

Vasco Vasconcelos delivered one of the most remarkable performances on home soil at the Portugal Championship 2024, claiming two gold medals for the host nation. Vasconcelos took first place in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with a decisive 22.67 winning average, outperforming an elite international field. He followed that efficiency with endurance, winning 4x4x4 Blindfolded in a time of 8:13.46. Taking place from August 30 to September 1, 2024, at the Pavilhão Municipal António Costeira in Oliveira de Azeméis, Portugal, the national championship brought together 131 competitors across 17 official disciplines and 36 fast-paced rounds of play.

The energy in Oliveira de Azeméis stayed high throughout the weekend as local standouts repeatedly climbed the podium steps. In the 3x3x3 Blindfolded event, Hugo Laginha captured first place for Portugal with a blistering 29.57 single solve, joined on the podium by Tiago Morais who claimed second place with a 53.87 mark. The 4x4x4 Blindfolded podium was a complete home sweep, as Vasconcelos stood on the top step ahead of Morais in second at 8:55.41 and Pedro Azevedo in third at 10:41.00. Diogo Miguel Alves Guerreiro added another gold to the host haul by winning Square-1 with an 11.12 average.

International talent pushed the classic 3x3 results to extraordinary levels at this prestigious cubing competition. Kevin Gerhardt of Germany took top honors in the standard 3x3x3 Cube event, posting an outstanding winning average of 6.35 after securing a 5.25 single in earlier rounds. Switzerland competitor Alwin Rölz finished runner-up with a 7.61 average, while Antonie Paterakis of the Netherlands secured third place at 7.65. The premier Rubik's Cube division drew 128 competitors through four challenging rounds of speedcubing drama, setting the tone for a thrilling three-day event.

Kevin Gerhardt further solidified his presence by taking multiple titles across the larger puzzles and varied challenges. The German competitor captured the 4x4x4 Cube crown with a winning average of 28.45, ahead of Rölz at 32.41 and Paterakis at 32.54. Gerhardt also won the 5x5x5 Cube title with an average of 48.99 and secured first place in Megaminx with a 39.10 average. Meanwhile, Paterakis claimed silver in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with a 29.00 average, matching Gerhardt on time to share podium territory.

Beyond the championship battles at the top, the weekend served as a milestone gathering for dedicated competitors taking on fresh challenges. Inês Picado took on nine events across the schedule, finishing 10th in 3x3x3 Blindfolded with a maiden time of 2:11.95, while also recording her first official attempts in Megaminx at 1:37.48 and 5x5x5 Cube at 2:03.16. Miguel Picado entered eight events, achieving a 9th place finish in Clock alongside a debut time of 7.87, while registering his first official marks in Square-1 at 20.49 and 3x3x3 One-Handed at 47.81. Emanuel Marques demonstrated vast versatility across 11 disciplines, finishing 15th in 3x3x3 Blindfolded and recording debut times in 5x5x5 Cube at 1:33.34, Square-1 at 34.07, and 6x6x6 Cube at 3:22.89.

The expansive schedule saw several other solvers expanding their competitive repertoires with great drive. Miguel Duarte Afonso Pais entered 13 different events, highlighted by a 5th place result in Clock and debut times in Megaminx at 2:59.87, 5x5x5 Cube at 3:19.84, and 3x3x3 One-Handed at 36.48. Spain competitor Itamar Renart tackled eight categories, recording his first official attempts in Skewb at 5.83, Clock at 22.74, and 4x4x4 Cube at 1:25.54. Vicente Aroso matched that workload across eight events, logging first attempts in Skewb at 8.43, 4x4x4 Cube at 1:52.06, and 5x5x5 Cube at 3:23.35, proving the enduring spirit of speed cubing development.

Short-format puzzles delivered rapid turnarounds and razor-thin margins. Antonie Paterakis dominated the 2x2x2 Cube final, taking victory with an average of 1.44, while Alwin Rölz took second with 2.15 and Tiago Morais third with 2.31. Paterakis struck gold again in 3x3x3 One-Handed, recording an 11.32 winning average ahead of Gerhardt at 12.54 and Rölz at 13.71. Rölz assembled an impressive collection of trophies elsewhere, winning Pyraminx with an average of 2.34, Skewb with a 3.63 average, Clock with a 5.18 mark, the 6x6x6 Cube in 1:26.75, and the 7x7x7 Cube in 2:20.49.

Memory disciplines rounded out the program with incredible tests of concentration and stamina. James McCambridge of Ireland won 3x3x3 Multi-Blind, successfully solving 14 out of 18 cubes within 58:27 to top the podium over Jesús Lindo García and Muxi Yan of Spain. Lindo García later claimed gold in 5x5x5 Blindfolded with a best single of 31:19.00. The Portugal Championship 2024 stood as a celebration of puzzle mastery, leaving the host nation with 12 podium finishes to celebrate at this memorable WCA competition as solvers look forward to another thrilling season.

A final do cubo mágico 3x3x3 no Pavilhão Municipal António Costeira viu Kevin Gerhardt alcançar uma média vitoriosa de 6.35 segundos, garantindo o título principal com uma melhor marca individual de 5.25 segundos. O alemão superou Alwin Rölz, que terminou com média de 7.61, e Antonie Paterakis, terceiro colocado com 7.65. O torneio em Oliveira de Azeméis reuniu 131 competidores entre 30 de agosto e 1 de setembro de 2024, destacando a evolução técnica constante nos pavilhões de speedcubing.

O fim de semana do Portugal Championship 2024 ofereceu 17 modalidades oficiais da WCA e 36 rondas completas. Kevin Gerhardt dominou várias categorias de topo, vencendo também no 4x4x4 com média de 28.45 segundos, no 5x5x5 com 48.99 segundos e no Megaminx ao registar 39.10 segundos. A amplitude do programa colocou à prova a resistência e a velocidade dos atletas em dezenas de formatos de resolução rápida.

Nas provas de velocidade pura em cubos menores, o holandês Antonie Paterakis venceu no 2x2x2 com a marca de 1.44 segundos de média, superando Alwin Rölz com 2.15 e o português Tiago Morais com 2.31. Paterakis conquistou ainda a vitória no 3x3x3 One-Handed com média de 11.32 segundos, à frente de Gerhardt com 12.54 e Rölz com 13.71, consolidando o seu domínio técnico em desafios que exigem rotações precisas com apenas uma mão.

O suíço Alwin Rölz protagonizou uma impressionante série de triunfos em puzzles alternativos e grandes cubos. Rölz venceu a final de Pyraminx com 2.34 segundos de média, o Skewb com 3.63 e o Clock com 5.18 segundos. Nos cubos maiores, venceu as decisões diretas de 6x6x6, registando 1:26.75 de média, e de 7x7x7, onde completou as suas resoluções em 2:20.49.

A comitiva portuguesa acumulou 12 presenças no pódio ao longo de toda a competição de cubos. No Square-1, Diogo Miguel Alves Guerreiro sagrou-se vencedor com uma média de 11.12 segundos e melhor tentativa em 9.39. No 3x3x3 Blindfolded, a memorização e precisão de Hugo Laginha valeram o triunfo com o tempo de 29.57 segundos, seguido por Tiago Morais em 53.87 segundos e pelo irlandês James McCambridge em 50.86 segundos.

Nas modalidades estratégicas e de olhos vendados, Vasco Vasconcelos venceu o 3x3x3 Fewest Moves com média de 22.67 movimentos, além de conquistar o 4x4x4 Blindfolded com o tempo de 8:13.46, numa ronda em que Tiago Morais registou 8:55.41 e Pedro Azevedo 10:41.00. No 3x3x3 Multi-Blind, James McCambridge resolveu 14 de 18 cubos em 58:27, enquanto Jesús Lindo García venceu o 5x5x5 Blindfolded com a marca de 31:19.00.

Para lá dos pódios, vários competidores demonstraram uma evolução rápida nas suas marcas pessoais. Tiago Filipe Brígida Gonçalves competiu em 8 eventos, estreou-se no 4x4x4 com 1:45.91 e no Skewb com 11.04, melhorando o seu recorde pessoal de 2x2x2 em 52.8% para 3.05 segundos. Diogo Oliveira disputou 8 modalidades, fez a sua estreia no Pyraminx com 21.64 e no 3x3x3 One-Handed com 40.00, baixando o seu registo de Skewb em 60.9% para 13.17. David Martins competiu em 13 categorias, obteve o 23º lugar no 7x7x7 com 8:11.82 e completou estreias no 5x5x5 com 2:18.60 e no 6x6x6 com 5:06.65.

A progressão foi igualmente visível com Leonardo Nobre Homan, que participou em 8 modalidades, estreou-se no 3x3x3 One-Handed com 41.88 e no Square-1 com 1:09.08, além de melhorar o seu melhor tempo de Skewb em 41% para 7.60 segundos. Rodrigo Souza Gomes fez a sua primeira tentativa no 5x5x5 com 1:51.39, no One-Handed com 27.75 e no Pyraminx com 9.57. Livia Zwakhals competiu em 5 eventos, estreou-se no Pyraminx com 13.46, no Skewb com 12.68 e melhorou a sua melhor marca no 2x2x2 em 44% para 6.81 segundos.

O encerramento do encontro em Oliveira de Azeméis confirmou o crescimento técnico dos atletas que participaram nesta competição oficial. O equilíbrio entre desempenhos de topo internacional e a rápida evolução dos participantes mais recentes marcou o ritmo do Portugal Championship 2024 na cidade de Oliveira de Azeméis, projectando o panorama desportivo para a próxima temporada de provas da modalidade.