South Luzon Championship 2023

Aragon Martin Gonzales delivered a blistering 7.62 winning average to claim the premier 3x3x3 Cube title, securing the weekend's most striking result before a buzzing crowd. Held on September 3, 2023, at Robinsons Dasmariñas in Dasmariñas, Philippines, South Luzon Championship 2023 brought together 67 competitors across seven diverse events. Beyond the fight for trophies, the gathering showcased the vibrant camaraderie that defines speedcubing, where participants spent the pauses between rounds trading puzzle tips, scrambling for peers, and cheering on friends across nine tense tournament rounds.

The 3x3 results in the main event reflected intense drama through three packed rounds among 65 competitors. Gonzales sealed victory with a steady 7.62 average and a round-best single of 6.92. Brenton Angelo Lo Wong pushed hard to finish in second place with an average of 7.90, having clocked a brilliant 6.49 single earlier in the rounds. Dale Palmares joined them on the podium in third place with an 8.97 average, capping an electrifying final for fans of the classic Rubik's Cube.

Brenton Angelo Lo Wong enjoyed an exceptional competition across multiple disciplines, claiming the top spot in the 4x4x4 Cube. Wong recorded an event-winning average of 31.34 and the best single of the category at 26.50 to hold off Psyron Eubert Catral, who took second with 32.99. Gonzales added another podium finish to his tally by taking third place with a 33.84 average. Wong also grabbed second place in 3x3x3 One-Handed with an 11.91 average, proving his immense range across the schedule.

One-handed solving provided thrilling technical displays as Sean Patrick Villanueva captured the title in 3x3x3 One-Handed. Villanueva posted a winning mark of 10.53 along with the event's fastest single solve of 9.03, outpacing Wong and third-place Gonzales. In the pyramid puzzle, Jansen Alvarez prevailed in Pyraminx with a sharp 2.86 average and a best single of 2.19, finishing ahead of Karl Matthew Angeles and Craig Luke Jimeno. Alvarez doubled his gold tally by also topping the 5x5x5 Cube with a 57.14 average, besting Dale Palmares and Nigeria's Ayooluwa Samuel Dada.

The specialised side events kept the energy high as competitors gathered around the timing stations. Elijah Francis Jagonio secured first place in Clock with a 6.93 average, edging out Yuji Yoshida and Giovanni Sy. In the heavyweight 6x6x6 Cube category, Cairon Sumadchat took the crown with an average of 1:46.61, besting Louie Jay Quibote and Yoshida. The diverse slate offered a complete test of mechanical skill, highlighting the variety that makes this WCA competition so appealing to seasoned and developing solvers alike.

Away from the top of the podium, several solvers logged remarkable personal milestones at South Luzon Championship 2023. John McArthur Magnaye entered six events, securing seventh in Clock during his first ever attempt at the puzzle with an 8.69 mark, while slashing his 4x4x4 Cube personal best to 40.17, which was 40.5 percent faster than before. Pedro Karol Fransisco A. Ortega completed his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed with a 1:10.79 solve and dropped his 4x4x4 Cube best to 1:45.33, improving by 41.6 percent. Junielle Kyzen Tablan tackled his first 4x4x4 Cube solve at 1:41.89 and lowered his 3x3x3 Cube time to 13.80, a 28.1 percent leap. Hael Enzo L. Gonzales tried Clock for the first time with a 22.32 result and cut his Pyraminx personal best to 10.82, an improvement of 26.1 percent.

The breakthrough performances continued through the lower brackets of the competition schedule. Andro Miguel M. Eraldo took on five events, logging his first official Clock attempt at 17.24 and lowering his 4x4x4 Cube time by 21.7 percent to 47.71. June Adrian Ersando completed five events, recording his first official attempt in the 6x6x6 Cube with a 3:24.63 result and his first one-handed solve at 48.61. Kjeldahl Harvey Pesebre delivered a 45.42 in his first official one-handed attempt while improving his 3x3x3 Cube best by 18.5 percent to 14.35. Mark Joseph C. Ramos registered a 1:32.34 in his first official 5x5x5 Cube attempt and trimmed his 4x4x4 Cube personal best by 13.4 percent to 37.48.

The shared enthusiasm and mutual encouragement throughout the tournament floor demonstrated the true spirit of this cubing competition in Dasmariñas. Competitors cheered one another through tough solves and celebrated newly cracked personal records regardless of placement. As South Luzon Championship 2023 came to a close, the Philippine speed cubing community walked away with fresh personal milestones, memorable podium battles, and lasting bonds to build upon for the remainder of the 2023 season.

Umapaw ang sigla sa loob ng Robinsons Dasmariñas habang nagtitipon ang mga manlalaro sa kanilang mga solving mat para sa isang araw ng matinding tapatan. Sa gitna ng mabilis na pag-ikot ng bawat Rubik's Cube at regular na tunog ng timer, naging malinaw na ang tagumpay sa kompetisyong ito ay hindi lamang nakasalalay sa isang mabilis na single kundi sa matatag na average. Ang bilis, diskarte, at tibay ng konsentrasyon ang sumubok sa animnapu't pitong kalahok na dumalo upang patunayan ang kanilang galing sa iba't ibang kategorya.

Naganap noong September 3, 2023 ang South Luzon Championship 2023 kung saan pitong events at siyam na rounds ang pinaglabanan sa buong araw. Sa main event na 3x3x3 Cube na nilahukan ng animnapu't limang cubers sa tatlong rounds, ipinamalas ni Aragon Martin Gonzales ang pambihirang consistency upang makuha ang unang puwesto. Nagtala si Gonzales ng winning average na 7.62 kasama ang best single na 6.92. Pumangalawa sa podium si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong na may 7.90 average, habang pumangatlo naman si Dale Palmares na nagrehistro ng 8.97 average sa matinding bakbakan sa finals.

Bumawi naman si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong sa 4x4x4 Cube matapos mangibabaw sa tatlumpu't pitong kalahok. Naiuwi ni Wong ang gintong medalya sa pamamagitan ng winning average na 31.34 at pinakamabilis na single na 26.50. Sumunod sa kanya sa podium si Psyron Eubert Catral na nagtala ng 32.99 average, habang nakuha muli ni Aragon Martin Gonzales ang ikatlong puwesto sa kanyang 33.84 average. Ipinakita ng naturang round ang kahalagahan ng tuluy-tuloy na kontrol sa mas malalaking puzzle.

Sa 3x3x3 One-Handed event na hinarap ng tatlumpu't isang competitors, nagpakitang-gilas si Sean Patrick Villanueva gamit ang kanyang matatag na estilo upang magrehistro ng 10.53 winning average at best single na 9.03. Pumangalawa si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong na nagtala ng 11.91 average, habang si Aragon Martin Gonzales ay muling umakyat sa podium sa ikatlong puwesto tangan ang 12.32 average. Sa 6x6x6 Cube naman na may labindalawang kalahok, si Cairon Sumadchat ang naghari bitbit ang 1:46.61 winning average at 1:34.94 best single, kasunod sina Louie Jay Quibote na may 1:51.86 at Yuji Yoshida na may 2:03.68.

Dalawang gintong medalya naman ang nasungkit ni Jansen Alvarez sa torneo. Sa 5x5x5 Cube na nilahukan ng dalawampu't walong cubers, nagwagi si Alvarez sa kanyang 57.14 average laban kina Dale Palmares na nagtala ng 58.58 at Ayooluwa Samuel Dada ng Nigeria na pumangatlo sa 1:00.50. Dinoble ni Alvarez ang kanyang tagumpay sa Pyraminx nang manguna sa tatlumpung kalahok sa winning average na 2.86 at 2.19 single, kung saan pumangalawa si Karl Matthew Angeles sa 3.31 at pumangatlo si Craig Luke Jimeno sa 3.66. Sa Clock, nagwagi si Elijah Francis Jagonio sa labimpitong kalahok taglay ang 6.93 winning average.

Sa likod ng mga nagwagi sa podium ng South Luzon Championship 2023, maraming kalahok ang nagtala ng mga kahanga-hangang personal na tagumpay sa Robinsons Dasmariñas. Si Gianne Elianah Garcia ay nagpakita ng malaking pag-unlad sa pamamagitan ng pagpapabilis ng kanyang Pyraminx personal best nang tatlumpu't tatlong porsyento tungo sa 8.42 mula 12.57, kasabay ng 31.80 sa 3x3x3 Cube na dalawampu't walong porsyentong mas mabilis kaysa dati. Si Xyruss Gatchalian naman ay sumabak sa apat na kategorya, nagtapos sa ikalimang puwesto sa 3x3x3 Cube, nagtala ng unang subok sa 5x5x5 Cube sa oras na 1:11.88, at nagtala ng bagong personal best na 13.72 sa One-Handed at 7.14 sa 3x3x3 Cube. Si Therease Parra ay lumaban sa tatlong events kung saan nakuha niya ang ika-labing-isang puwesto sa One-Handed, nagtala ng 1:04.96 sa kanyang unang subok sa 4x4x4 Cube, at nagrehistro ng personal best na 8.72 sa 3x3x3 Cube. Samantala, si Chloe Olivia Yuque ay lumahok sa tatlong kategorya, nagtala ng 24.51 sa kanyang unang sabak sa Clock, at nagtala ng personal best na 13.26 sa 3x3x3 Cube.

Naging espesyal din ang paligsahan para sa mga sumabak sa kanilang pinakaunang WCA competition. Si Janver Andrei G. Monis ay nagtala ng unang subok sa 3x3x3 Cube sa oras na 13.53 at 31.45 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed, habang si Casey Oliver Uy ay nagrehistro ng 13.79 sa Pyraminx at 28.29 sa 3x3x3 Cube sa kanyang unang torneo. Si Dwight Anthonie R. Mactal ay nagtala naman ng 12.22 sa 3x3x3 Cube at 29.07 sa One-Handed sa kanyang dalawang kategorya, habang si Jhian Villanueva ay sumabak sa 3x3x3 Cube at nagtala ng 14.42 sa kanyang pinakaunang subok sa opisyal na entablado.

Ang buong araw ng speedcubing sa Dasmariñas, Philippines ay nagtapos nang may dalawampung podium finishes para sa Pilipinas at isa para sa Nigeria. Ang tagumpay ng South Luzon Championship 2023 ay patunay sa lumalalim na talento sa rehiyon, kung saan ang husay sa pagpapanatili ng pare-parehong bilis sa bawat solve ang siyang nagdala sa mga pinakamahuhusay sa tuktok ng bawat kategorya.