Road to Nats Barquisimeto 2026

Inside the bustling corridors of C.C. Metrópolis Barquisimeto, the rhythmic clack of turning plastic echoed across the tables as competitors gathered for high-stakes speedcubing action. The tournament brought an intensive two-day schedule on July 24 and 25, drawing dedicated puzzle solvers to compete across thirteen diverse disciplines. Spectators gathered around the solving stations to watch the swift rotations of the classic Rubik's Cube alongside massive big cubes and specialty twisty puzzles. The charged environment of the shopping center set the stage for two days of relentless precision and record-breaking attempts.

The focal point of Road to Nats Barquisimeto 2026 was undoubtedly the historic performance delivered by Louis Rodriguez Guerrero. Throughout the weekend, Guerrero showcased exceptional speed that culminated in multiple Venezuelan national records. In the standard 3x3x3 Cube event, he registered a blistering national record single of 5.81 seconds during the preliminary rounds, establishing a new national benchmark. His momentum carried effortlessly into the larger puzzles, where he orchestrated a masterclass on the 6x6x6 Cube, securing both the national record single of 1:30.35 and the national record average of 1:34.70.

Guerrero converted that unmatched form into a sweep of the larger cube categories. In the 4x4x4 Cube final, he clinched first place with a winning average of 28.47 seconds and a best single of 24.16, placing ahead of Bernardo Torres at 31.53 and Rafael Antonio Sanchez at 39.50. He followed with top honors in 5x5x5 Cube, clocking a 54.37 average to defeat Torres with 57.55 and Sanchez with 1:36.65. His dominance extended to the 7x7x7 Cube, posting a winning mark of 2:32.29, with Torres taking second at 3:35.56 and Carlos Gonzalez placing third with 4:53.41, while his record-setting 1:34.70 in 6x6x6 Cube added yet another title.

Despite Guerrero taking the big cubes, Bernardo Torres delivered an exceptional campaign across short-format and specialty categories. The classic 3x3 results culminated in Torres taking the championship title with a sharp winning average of 7.60 across the final, besting Guerrero who finished second at 8.62 and Sanchez who took third at 9.80. Torres also seized the 2x2x2 Cube title with an average of 3.29 seconds, captured Pyraminx in 5.72 seconds ahead of Daniel Carrizalez and Christopher Dael Duarte Ramirez, prevailed in 3x3x3 One-Handed with an average of 15.23 seconds, and won Skewb with a 6.04 average.

Beyond the fight for trophies, the cubing competition provided plenty of remarkable personal achievements across the field of eighteen participants. Sebastián Colmenarez tackled six events and produced massive gains, dropping his 5x5x5 Cube personal best by 20.4 percent to 2:12.68 and shaving 14.6 percent off his 4x4x4 Cube best to reach 50.07, while also logging an 8.34 in his first ever official Pyraminx attempt. Cesar Vidal took on five events, registering a career-best sixth-place finish in Skewb with a debut 11.45, alongside first attempts of 6.84 in 2x2x2 Cube and 48.00 in 3x3x3 One-Handed. Philip Echevarria entered nine events, cutting his Square-1 best by 13.3 percent to 35.12 for a fourth-place finish and notching a first attempt in 2x2x2 Cube at 6.46.

Other competitors similarly seized their moments at the official tables during the WCA competition. Abdiel Josué Camacho Berrio delivered an impressive performance in 3x3x3 Cube, slicing 16.3 percent off his personal best to finish with 16.09. Margui Castillo improved her 3x3x3 Cube best by 5.1 percent to 27.70, while Enrymar Cisneros completed five events and claimed fourth place in Clock. First-time competitors also made their mark, with Nick Hernández posting a 28.64 mark on his first ever official 3x3x3 Cube attempt, and Sebastian Shair de la Cruz Gil successfully completing his debut speed cubing attempt in the same discipline with a time of 54.99.

The remaining events on the slate crowned several skilled specialists across the final day of competition. In Megaminx, Rafael Antonio Sanchez earned first place with a stellar 41.28 winning average, highlighted by a single solve of 38.78. Christopher Dael Duarte Ramirez topped the Clock event by recording a winning average of 8.01 seconds, with a best single of 6.12. Square-1 saw Adan Torrealba claim the top step of the podium with a 14.45 average, finishing ahead of Torres at 24.99 and Guerrero at 27.42.

Solo discipline mastery was on full display in the 3x3x3 Blindfolded category, where solving without sight demands flawless memorisation and tactile control. Edgar Briceño took victory with a winning average of 4:55.65 and a best single solve of 3:24.16. All thirty-seven podium places awarded across the sixteen total rounds went to Venezuelan solvers, capping a dominant showing for the host country throughout the weekend.

As the gathering concluded, Road to Nats Barquisimeto 2026 stood out as a milestone meeting in Barquisimeto, Lara, Venezuela. With three national records written into the history books in 2026, the performances showcased the tremendous growth and rising speed of the national cubing scene as athletes prepare for future stages.