Road to Nats Maracay 2025

Thirty competitors gathered on September 6, 2025, bringing speedcubing energy to the Pasillo Principal at C.C. Unicentro in Maracay, Aragua, Venezuela. While endurance in speed cubing often shines when long solves test stamina across the largest puzzles, this single-day meeting put rapid execution and mental sharpness to the ultimate test across four core disciplines. With seven rounds completed during the day, every participant faced a demanding schedule requiring sustained focus.

The 3x3x3 Cube served as the centerpiece event, drawing a full field of 30 competitors across three competitive rounds. Rafael Antonio Sanchez took top honours on the classic Rubik's Cube, capturing first place with a winning average of 9.21 seconds alongside a tournament-best single solve of 8.71 seconds. Fabián Villavicencio secured the runner-up spot with an average of 10.78 seconds, while Bernardo Torres claimed third place with a mark of 10.82 seconds. The 3x3 results established the standard for the tournament, completing an all-Venezuelan podium sweep.

The fast-paced 2x2x2 Cube featured 21 entrants over two rounds of intense solving. Fabián Villavicencio climbed to the top step of the podium, posting a winning average of 4.14 seconds and an event single of 3.02 seconds. Miguel González closely followed in second place with an average of 4.25 seconds, while Rafael Antonio Sanchez added another award to his tally by finishing third with a mark of 4.32 seconds.

Side events offered dramatic finishes, beginning with the Pyraminx, where 17 competitors tackled a single round. Miguel Vidal delivered a commanding performance to claim the title with a winning average of 3.55 seconds and a rapid single of 2.60 seconds. Miguel González earned second place with an average of 5.18 seconds, while Rafael Rojas completed the top three with an average of 5.72 seconds.

The Skewb contest featured 12 solvers navigating the corner-turning puzzle. Fabián Villavicencio earned his second gold of the day, securing first place with an average of 5.58 seconds and a best single of 4.59 seconds. Rafael Antonio Sanchez took second place with an average of 6.14 seconds, and Luis Felipe Palacios Peña captured third place with an average of 6.37 seconds, rounding out a total of twelve podium places awarded to Venezuelan competitors.

Away from the top steps of the podium, numerous participants posted remarkable breakthroughs that defined the spirit of this cubing competition. Juan Fernando Araujo Valladares cut his 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 2.85 seconds, improving by 64.7 percent over his previous best of 8.07 seconds, while also posting a 3x3x3 Cube mark of 15.89 seconds. Andrés Eduardo Velázquez Cabrera lowered his 3x3x3 Cube personal best to 19.37 seconds from 44.38 seconds, a 56.4 percent drop, while also recording his first ever attempt at the 2x2x2 Cube with a time of 6.49 seconds. Jesús Torrealba León dropped his 2x2x2 Cube best by 57.1 percent to 2.48 seconds and achieved a 6th-place finish in the 3x3x3 Cube.

The personal milestones continued across all brackets at this WCA competition. Amarantha Valentina Rodríguez Peña lowered her 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 47.3 percent to 3.86 seconds while entering four events. Paul Estrada registered a 46.1 percent improvement on 2x2x2 Cube with a 2.97-second personal best. Rainer Angel Villasmil Requiz completed his first ever attempt at Pyraminx with an 11.54-second solve and dropped his 2x2x2 Cube mark by 40.5 percent to 4.68 seconds. Anthony Loerdo Yannone Hernández took part in his first WCA competition, recording first-ever official attempts in four events, including a 12.66-second Skewb effort that yielded a 7th-place finish. Albert José Blanco Córdova also made his debut, placing 6th in the 2x2x2 Cube with an opening mark of 2.48 seconds.

Road to Nats Maracay 2025 concluded as a high-tempo showcase of regional talent in Maracay, Aragua, Venezuela. From the multi-podium runs of Rafael Antonio Sanchez and Fabián Villavicencio to the massive time drops recorded by emerging solvers, the event highlighted the vibrant development of the sport across the country as competitors prepare for the remainder of the 2025 season.