San Juan III 2023

Four gold medals from a single weekend of competition defined the standard in Neiva, Huila, Colombia, as David Rendón Martínez mounted one of the most commanding multi-event campaigns of the year. Gathering at the Centro Comercial San Juan Plaza on September 16, 2023, a dedicated roster of 49 competitors tackled 13 rounds across six different puzzles. The single-day WCA competition brought sharp turnarounds and intense schedules, but Rendón Martínez remained unwavering from the opening turns to the late-afternoon finals.

The centerpiece 3x3x3 Cube contest stood out as the most anticipated event on the schedule, drawing the full field through three rigorous rounds. Rendón Martínez navigated the pressure to post the winning average of 11.49 seconds, anchored by a best single solve of 10.04 seconds. Eduard Esteban García Domínguez applied steady pressure throughout the final with an average of 11.98 seconds to earn second place, while Andres Alfaro completed the Colombian podium lockout with a strong third-place average of 12.91 seconds in the official 3x3 results.

Beyond the traditional Rubik's Cube, Rendón Martínez extended his dominance across a wide spectrum of formats. In the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, he secured his second title of the day with an 18.63 average and a 17.49 single solve, outlasting Juan Camilo González Barragán who took second at 23.24 seconds and García Domínguez in third at 25.15 seconds. Switching gears to the 4x4x4 Cube, Rendón Martínez struck gold yet again, averaging 39.05 seconds with a 36.62 single to clear García Domínguez at 44.84 seconds and Alfaro at 45.64 seconds.

The Skewb tournament provided another clear showcase for Rendón Martínez, where he delivered rapid turning across two rounds. His winning average of 3.44 seconds, bolstered by a 2.68 single, positioned him far ahead of the pack. García Domínguez claimed the silver medal with a 6.89 average, while Dennis Rosero secured the bronze with 7.89 seconds. This marked the fourth individual victory for Rendón Martínez at San Juan III 2023, reflecting a remarkable display of consistency and technical skill.

Away from the top steps of the podium, several competitors logged significant career breakthroughs across the schedule. Juan Sebastian Avila delivered enormous progress, lowering his 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 6.67 seconds to become 70.8 percent faster than his prior 22.88 mark, while also reducing his 3x3x3 Cube best to 38.66 seconds, an improvement of 37.3 percent. Joseph Santiago Mendoza Ipia matched that energy with a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 15.85 seconds, a 66.7 percent leap from 47.55 seconds, alongside a 2x2x2 Cube best of 6.03 seconds that was 37.7 percent faster. Juan Pablo Rodriguez Betancourt took on four events, setting a 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 3.21 seconds that proved 57.8 percent faster, while recording his first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube with a 2:50.65 and his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed with 32.79 seconds to finish 8th in the 5x5x5 Cube.

The wave of personal bests continued as Juan Manuel Núñez Sánchez lowered his 2x2x2 Cube mark to 7.98 seconds, 54.1 percent faster than before, while logging a first ever attempt at Skewb in 45.82 seconds. Andrea Gutiérrez Linares tackled four events, producing a Skewb personal best of 8.15 seconds that was 30.2 percent faster than her previous 11.67, taking 7th in Skewb and registering her first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 51.64 seconds. Samuel Esteban Plazas Gonzalez contested six events, setting a 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 4.08 seconds, 26.9 percent faster, while completing his first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:10.18 and a first ever attempt at Skewb in 7.45 seconds to place 5th. Jhan Carlos Velasquez entered five events, dropping his 2x2x2 Cube mark by 24.9 percent to 3.73 seconds and delivering his first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube in 2:10.80 for 7th place alongside a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 29.84 seconds. John Mike Gutierrez Carvajal took on six events, achieving a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 12.91 seconds, 18.5 percent faster, alongside first attempts in Skewb at 7.64 seconds and One-Handed at 36.70 seconds, finishing 6th in the 3x3x3 Cube.

The remaining puzzle categories kept the drama high in Neiva. In the 2x2x2 Cube, Martín González Gómez halted the sweep from Rendón Martínez by claiming victory with a 3.88 winning average and a 3.37 single. Rendón Martínez finished second with an average of 4.12 seconds, followed closely by Juan Camilo González Barragán in third place at 4.32 seconds. The event saw heavy action with 42 solvers battling across two rounds of rapid speed cubing.

Eduard Esteban García Domínguez earned his own moment at the summit in the 5x5x5 Cube final. Navigating the complexity of the larger puzzle across two rounds, García Domínguez captured gold with a 1:26.73 average and a best single of 1:20.94. Rendón Martínez settled for the silver medal with a 1:28.90 average, while Dennis Rosero secured the bronze step on the podium with an average of 1:44.29 to close out the big-cube competition.

All 18 podium spots throughout the tournament were claimed by Colombian competitors, demonstrating the country's depth across diverse puzzle formats. As the hardware was distributed and tables cleared, the success of San Juan III 2023 highlighted the thriving state of speedcubing in the region, setting a vibrant benchmark for the athletes as they look forward to the next season on the national circuit.

Un total de 49 participantes se congregaron en las mesas oficiales para disputar 13 rondas intensas en la capital del departamento. La competencia de speedcubing San Juan III 2023 se celebró el 16 de septiembre de 2023 en Neiva, Huila, Colombia, teniendo como sede las instalaciones del Centro Comercial San Juan Plaza. En este escenario comercial, los mejores exponentes nacionales del cubo de Rubik protagonizaron una jornada técnica de alto nivel.

El gran protagonista sobre las mesas del torneo local fue David Rendón Martínez, quien completó una actuación histórica al adjudicarse cuatro títulos individuales. En la prueba principal del 3x3x3 Cube, que reunió a los 49 participantes a lo largo de 3 rondas, Rendón Martínez se coronó campeón con un promedio ganador de 11.49 segundos en la final y un mejor tiempo individual de 10.04 segundos, superando a Eduard Esteban García Domínguez con 11.98 y a Andres Alfaro con 12.91.

El dominio de Rendón Martínez continuó en las pruebas de resolución con una sola mano y en los cubos de mayor dimensión. En 3x3x3 One-Handed, David Rendón Martínez venció a 17 competidores con una media dorada de 18.63 segundos, escoltado por Juan Camilo González Barragán con 23.24 y Eduard Esteban García Domínguez con 25.15. En el 4x4x4 Cube, Rendón Martínez aseguró el primer lugar promediando 39.05 segundos sobre Eduard Esteban García Domínguez con 44.84 y Andres Alfaro con 45.64.

La versatilidad de Rendón Martínez quedó sellada con su victoria en la categoría de Skewb, marcando un promedio triunfal de 3.44 segundos frente a los 6.89 de Eduard Esteban García Domínguez y los 7.89 de Dennis Rosero. Sin embargo, Eduard Esteban García Domínguez tuvo su revancha dorada en la categoría mayor del 5x5x5 Cube, coronándose con un registro promedio de 1:26.73 tras lograr una marca individual de 1:20.94, dejando en segundo lugar a David Rendón Martínez con 1:28.90 y en tercero a Dennis Rosero con 1:44.29.

La definición del 2x2x2 Cube convocó a 42 aspirantes a través de 2 rondas muy disputadas y fue conquistada por Martín González Gómez con un promedio de 3.88 segundos. David Rendón Martínez ocupó el segundo escalón del podio con 4.12 segundos, mientras que Juan Camilo González Barragán completó la terna con 4.32. Con este resultado, la totalidad de los 18 puestos de podio disputados en San Juan III 2023 quedaron en manos de representantes colombianos.

Más allá de las posiciones de honor, la competencia dejó grandes historias de superación personal y estrenos oficiales. Jose Manuel Rodriguez Torres recortó su marca personal de 2x2x2 Cube un 34.4% al marcar 13.17 segundos frente a su registro previo de 20.08, mientras que Ronald Penagos mejoró un 27.5% su marca de Skewb al cronometrar 11.83 segundos. Por su parte, Nicolás David Joaqui redujo su mejor tiempo en 3x3x3 Cube un 26.1% con un tiempo de 35.64 segundos, y Emily Mariann Ferrer Muñoz debutó en Skewb con 27.39 y bajó su registro en 3x3x3 Cube un 17.3% hasta los 30.34 segundos.

Para otros cuatro competidores, la cita representó su primera experiencia en una competencia WCA oficial. Juan Esteban Luna Carranza asumió 4 eventos en su debut, logrando un décimo puesto en 4x4x4 Cube con 1:43.71, además de sus primeros registros oficiales de 17.02 en 3x3x3 Cube y 6.12 en 2x2x2 Cube. Luciano Cuéllar Nuñez afrontó 3 pruebas registrando 21.53 en 3x3x3 Cube y 10.03 en 2x2x2 Cube; Emanuel Reyes Leyton compitió en 3 modalidades con 9.88 en 2x2x2 Cube y 25.00 en 3x3x3 Cube; y Nicanor Longas Mendivelso completó 3 eventos marcando 40.94 en 3x3x3 Cube y 10.75 en 2x2x2 Cube.

El certamen cerró sus actividades habiendo desplegado un programa de 6 eventos oficiales avalados internacionalmente que pusieron a prueba la destreza de la comunidad colombiana. San Juan III 2023 demostró la solidez técnica de sus campeones consagrados y el entusiasmo de las nuevas figuras que se integran a la escena competitiva regional en cada temporada.