Rionegro al Cubo 2023

Inside the bustling Coliseo Rubén Darío Quintero, the sharp clicks of plastic mechanisms echoed across the sports hall as 59 competitors gathered at the tables. Solve mats were calibrated, stopwatches prepared, and judges stood ready with scorecards and covers. Across July 29 and July 30, 2023, the venue in Rionegro, Antioquia, Colombia provided the stage for a full program of 10 events and 18 rounds. For many who stepped up to the stations, the weekend represented a fresh entry point into the world of tournament puzzle-solving.

The atmosphere of a live cubing competition brings a distinct cadence for those testing their abilities under the clock for the first time. Stepping into the staging area to inspect an official scramble, controlling nervous fingers, and slamming palms onto the timer timer pads is a transformative rite of passage. Rionegro al Cubo 2023 offered newcomers and experienced solvers alike a structured arena to chase new personal benchmarks across multiple disciplines of speedcubing.

Among the 54 contenders in the classic Rubik's Cube category, Hector David Martinez Argaez delivered a standout showing to top the 3x3 results. He secured victory in the final round with a winning average of 8.21 seconds, complemented by a tournament-best single solve of 6.72 seconds. Juan David Carmona Vásquez followed in second place with an average of 9.02, while Erick Steven Muñoz Torres rounded out the podium with a 9.91 average.

Martinez Argaez built on his main event success by claiming three additional gold medals over the course of the weekend. In the 4x4x4 Cube, he took first place with a 34.33 average, edging out Julián David Idárraga Restrepo who averaged 37.20. Martinez Argaez extended his reign into the big cubes, winning the 6x6x6 Cube with a 1:58.33 mark and the 7x7x7 Cube with a 3:14.31 average, leading podium sweeps by Colombian competitors across all categories.

Beyond the top steps of the podium, significant individual milestones defined the weekend for several participants who made dramatic strides. Daniel Zapata García took on 3 events and produced major drops across the board, slashing his 2x2x2 Cube mark by 56.4% down to 7.74, lowering his Pyraminx time by 42.4% to 11.94, and trimming his 3x3x3 Cube best by 24.4% to 33.96. Sara Restrepo Echeverri entered 2 events and carved 40.8% off her previous Pyraminx standard with a 7.98 single. José Miguel Pérez Álvarez competed in 5 events, cutting 40.1% off his 2x2x2 Cube time to hit 3.57 and improving his 3x3x3 Cube best by 13.5% to 14.99. Alejandro Cano Vidal entered 3 events, logging his first ever attempt at Pyraminx in 14.01, his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube in 6.32, and dropping his 3x3x3 Cube best by 35.7% to 30.27.

Simón Torres Suarez achieved a personal highlight by finishing 12th in the 5x5x5 Cube, recording his first ever attempt in that event with a 3:44.33 alongside his first ever attempt at Pyraminx in 4.28, while improving his 3x3x3 Cube best by 18.7% to 13.80 across his 3 events. Juan Martín Guerra Tamayo registered his first ever attempt at Pyraminx with an 18.62 and improved his 3x3x3 Cube time by 23% to 38.49 over 2 events. Sebastian Cano Vidal took on 4 events, placing 21st in the 4x4x4 Cube, making his first ever attempt at Pyraminx in 12.70, and cutting his 2x2x2 Cube best by 23.3% to 12.06 and his 3x3x3 Cube mark by 17.7% to 38.85. Juan Gerónimo Salazar Blandón tackled 3 events, posting his first ever attempt at Pyraminx in 17.58, an 11.2% improvement in the 2x2x2 Cube to 5.97, and an 8.1% gain in the 3x3x3 Cube to 20.73.

The shorter formats and specialty puzzles provided high-speed drama throughout the schedule. In the 2x2x2 Cube, Juan Miguel Saboya Soto claimed top honors with an average of 1.85 seconds, finishing ahead of Jefferson Durango and Kevin Carrillo García. Juan David Carmona Vásquez captured the 3x3x3 One-Handed title with a 13.47 average, while Ale Restrepo topped the Skewb standings with a 3.35 average. Julián David Idárraga Restrepo picked up a pair of titles, winning the Pyraminx with an average of 3.19 seconds and taking the 5x5x5 Cube in 1:06.49.

In the 3x3x3 Blindfolded event, where competitors must rely strictly on memorisation before donning a blindfold to execute their solve, Jefferson Durango earned victory with a single time of 30.61 seconds, leading Stiven Ramirez Tobon and Juan David Carmona Vásquez on the podium. The successful execution of 18 rounds across 10 official categories demonstrated the growing depth of competitive speed cubing throughout the region.

As the final timers were cleared away at Coliseo Rubén Darío Quintero, the event concluded with all thirty podium positions claimed by national competitors. The collective effort across two intense days of solving established fresh personal milestones for veterans and debutants alike. Rionegro al Cubo 2023 proved to be a vibrant WCA competition that celebrated individual progress from the opening round to the final solve.

La contundente victoria de Hector David Martinez Argaez en la final principal del cubo de Rubik marco el compas de un fin de semana extraordinario en el Coliseo Ruben Dario Quintero. El experimentado competidor colombiano se alzo con el primer lugar en 3x3x3 registrando un promedio ganador de 8.21 segundos tras tres rondas intensas y dejando ademas el mejor tiempo individual de la prueba con 6.72 segundos. Este triunfo encabezo un despliegue dominante a lo largo de un certamen que reunio a 59 participantes entre el 29 y el 30 de julio.

El escenario deportivo ubicado en Rionegro, Antioquia, Colombia, acogio las 18 rondas programadas a traves de 10 modalidades oficiales de speedcubing. En la final clasica de 3x3x3, detras de Martinez Argaez se ubicaron Juan David Carmona Vasquez con una media de 9.02 segundos para la plata y Erick Steven Muñoz Torres con 9.91 segundos para el bronce. Esta competicion de cubos mostro el nivel tecnico consolidado de los referentes nacionales durante la temporada 2023.

Martinez Argaez amplio su cosecha dorada en los cubos mas grandes del programa oficial. El veterano consiguio la victoria en 4x4x4 Cube con un promedio de 34.33 segundos, superando a Julian David Idarraga Restrepo y Erick Steven Muñoz Torres. Mas tarde refrendo su gran forma con triunfos inapelables en 6x6x6 Cube gracias a una marca de 1:58.33 frente a Ale Restrepo y Julian Zapata, y cerro su tetracampeonato al ganar 7x7x7 Cube con una media de 3:14.31 sobre Ale Restrepo y Juan Manuel Bedoya.

Por su parte, Julian David Idarraga Restrepo firmo un doblete dorado al imponerse en dos disciplinas tecnicamente muy distintas. En Pyraminx conquisto la final sobre 34 competidores con una media de 3.19 segundos y una mejor solucion de 1.71. Posteriormente, en 5x5x5 Cube aseguro el escalon mas alto del podio con un registro de 1:06.49, batiendo por escaso margen a Martinez Argaez que marco 1:06.89 y a Erick Steven Muñoz Torres con 1:10.46.

Las pruebas de velocidad pura y categorias especiales tambien entregaron actuaciones estelares. En 2x2x2 Cube, Juan Miguel Saboya Soto domino con solvencia firmando una media de 1.85 segundos en la final para superar a Jefferson Durango y Kevin Carrillo Garcia. En 3x3x3 One-Handed, Juan David Carmona Vasquez triunfo con un tiempo de 13.47 segundos por delante de Samuel Florez Carvajal y Julian Daza Grisales. Ale Restrepo se llevo los honores en Skewb con 3.35 de media, mientras que Jefferson Durango vencio en 3x3x3 Blindfolded con un single de 30.61 segundos.

El paso por Rionegro al Cubo 2023 tambien dejo notables progresos individuales que enriquecieron las jornadas. Jeronimo Giraldo Acosta protagonizo un notable avance en 3x3x3 al recortar su marca personal a 20.32 segundos, siendo un 31.7 por ciento mas rapido, ademas de mejorar su registro en 2x2x2 a 8.58 segundos. Sebastian Guerra Sepulveda firmo una rebaja del 30.6 por ciento en 2x2x2 parando el cronometro en 3.43 segundos, ademas de bajar a 1:13.96 en 4x4x4 Cube y a 17.03 en 3x3x3. Por su cuenta, Sofia Lopera Mejia mejoro un 28.7 por ciento en 2x2x2 con 4.83 segundos y logro el octavo lugar en Pyraminx con 4.63, mientras que Alexander Vasco Taborda rebajo un 22.5 por ciento en 3x3x3 con 10.07 segundos, finalizando decimo en 5x5x5 Cube.

El entusiasmo de quienes se estrenaron en una WCA competition aporto frescura al cuadro de participantes. Isaac Velez Aguirre participo en dos categorias y realizo su primer intento oficial en 3x3x3 con 15.84 segundos, ademas de cronometrar 6.17 en 2x2x2. Marco Thomas Ortiz Puerta afronto tres eventos completando su primer intento en 3x3x3 en 30.22 y en 2x2x2 en 14.74. Juan Esteban Gil Abondano abrio su historial competitivo con marcas iniciales de 35.72 en 3x3x3, 12.06 en 2x2x2 y 21.51 en Pyraminx. Finalmente, Martin Reinoso Rendon disputo dos pruebas marcando 35.10 en su debut de 3x3x3 y 18.41 en Pyraminx.

La totalidad de los treinta podios disputados quedaron en manos de atletas de Colombia, ratificando el desarrollo deportivo de la region durante las dos jornadas de actividades. La organizacion y el compromiso de los competidores consolidaron a Rionegro al Cubo 2023 como una fecha memorable para la comunidad del speedcubing nacional, cerrando un encuentro que combina la madurez de los referentes con el empuje de las nuevas generaciones.