Road to Nats Valencia 2025

The tables at Sambil Valencia were arranged in neat rows as timers were tested, display mats unrolled, and judges took their stations under the bright commercial lights. A field of 32 competitors gathered in Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela, ready to test their preparation on August 24, 2025. Across seven rounds of action spanning five separate events, the single-day WCA competition provided a concentrated showcase of speedcubing precision, drawing both veteran contenders and newcomers eager to log official marks.

The central drama of the weekend revolved around the two fastest sprint categories, the classic 3x3x3 Rubik's Cube and the explosive 2x2x2 Cube. Bernardo Torres emerged as the defining presence in both events, capturing a double victory behind consistently fast turn rates. In the main event, Torres delivered standard-setting form across two rounds, locking up first place with a winning average of 7.69 seconds and a standout best single solve of 7.16 seconds to headline the official 3x3 results.

The 3x3x3 final saw Louis Rodriguez Guerrero secure second place with an 8.36 average, while Rafael Antonio Sanchez stepped onto the podium in third place with a 9.46 average. With 31 competitors battling through the initial round, Torres remained calm under pressure in the final, stringing together clean algorithm executions and fluid lookahead to finish as the only solver with an average under eight seconds.

Torres continued his winning form in the 2x2x2 Cube, an event where execution is measured in hundredths of a second. Navigating an 18-competitor field across two rounds, Torres produced a sharp winning average of 3.26 seconds, supported by a 2.79 single solve. Rafael Antonio Sanchez applied serious pressure to claim second place with a 3.45 average, while Louis Rodriguez Guerrero completed the podium in third place with a mark of 3.89 seconds.

Away from the top steps of the podium, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones and sharp progress throughout the day. Luis Hernández entered four events at this cubing competition, logging his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube with a 9.60 and a first ever attempt at Pyraminx with a 7.14, while cutting his Skewb personal best down by 45 percent to 9.27 seconds. Isabella Juliet Flores Gonzalez improved her 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 31.8 percent to 18.12 seconds and registered her first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube with a 5.65. Paul Estrada enjoyed a versatile outing across three events, lowering his 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 41.9 percent to 5.51 seconds and trimming his Pyraminx personal best by 22.1 percent to 6.78 seconds. Adams Richard Guerra Andrade set three new personal bests, taking his 2x2x2 Cube down by 36.8 percent to 6.41 seconds and improving his 3x3x3 Cube mark by 11.6 percent to 19.04 seconds.

That same momentum carried through the rest of the roster at Road to Nats Valencia 2025. Daniel Malave tackled all five events on the schedule, setting a 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 7.45 seconds that was 30.5 percent faster than his previous mark, alongside a 19.7 percent drop in Skewb to 14.47 seconds and an 8.4 percent drop in 5x5x5 Cube to 2:16.27. First-time competitor Luis Valderrama made his official debut across two events, recording a 5.86 on his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube and a 9.66 on his first ever attempt at Pyraminx. Fellow debutant Juan Aquiles Sandoval Caicedo opened his career by notching a 50.35 on his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Cube and a 21.25 on 2x2x2 Cube. Luis Santiago Mendoza Garzaro also completed his first tournament appearance, securing a 42.59 on his initial 3x3x3 Cube solve and a 15.00 on Pyraminx.

Beyond the sprint puzzles, the longer-format and alternate twisty events produced exciting contests. In the 5x5x5 Cube, Louis Rodriguez Guerrero demonstrated exceptional big-cube handling across the 11-competitor field, capturing the title with a dominant winning average of 51.77 seconds and a best single of 46.96 seconds. Bernardo Torres followed in second place with a 59.35 average, while Sebastián Andrés González Coronel earned third place with a time of 1:11.55.

The specialty categories rounded out the competitive program at Sambil Valencia. In Pyraminx, Miguel Vidal took the victory with a 3.97 average and a 3.05 single, finishing ahead of Rafael Rojas in second with 5.37 and Fabián Villavicencio in third with 7.35. Villavicencio rebounded in Skewb, claiming the top spot with a 5.78 average and a 4.05 single, with Bernardo Torres taking second in 6.65 and Rafael Alvarez earning third in 7.40.

With 15 total podium positions earned by Venezuelan competitors across the five disciplines, Road to Nats Valencia 2025 served as an exciting showcase of speed cubing excellence in Carabobo. From the rapid turnarounds of 2x2 and 3x3 to the technical demands of 5x5, the gathering highlighted the dedication of both experienced champions and developing talent on the national stage.