Tabacundo Open 2026

A blistering 6.10 winning average in the 3x3x3 Cube by Patrick Ponce set the tone for a showcase where steady hands repeatedly triumphed over fleeting moments of luck. Held at the Coliseo 2000 Tabacundo on March 28, 2026, the single-day gathering brought together 57 competitors for 11 rounds across seven events. While individual solve times flashed brightly on the displays, the real story across the tables in Tabacundo, Ecuador was the unforgiving power of round-long consistency.

Across three demanding rounds in the primary Rubik's Cube category, Ponce matched pace with control to secure the premier title ahead of 52 challengers. Anthony Gerard Álvarez Ludeña claimed the second step on the podium with an 8.71 average, while Fabrizzio Alejandro Peñafiel Mena secured third with a 9.45 average. Ponce punctuated his classic 3x3 results by pairing the fastest average with the best single of the event at 5.75, proving that sustained discipline remains the gold standard in modern speedcubing.

Ponce carried that relentless rhythm across multiple disciplines, claiming three additional titles throughout the cubing competition. In the 4x4x4 Cube, the American competitor logged a decisive 24.29 average alongside a 20.32 single, outpacing Álvarez Ludeña who took second at 33.14 and Ariel Vacacela in third at 40.31. Ponce also swept the 5x5x5 Cube with a 47.36 average over Álvarez Ludeña at 1:09.40 and Vacacela at 1:21.04, demonstrating total control on the bigger puzzles.

The one-handed event proved no different, as Ponce posted a 12.99 average and a 10.47 single to capture top honors in the 3x3x3 One-Handed final. Germany's Jakob Schöley took second place with a 14.92 average, while Álvarez Ludeña collected another podium spot in third with 15.95. Schöley had his own moment at the top of the podium in Pyraminx, taking first place with a 6.00 average, narrowly holding off Sebastián Joel Herrera Manangon at 6.05 and Alejandro Velasquez Torres at 6.22.

Ecuadorian standout Anthony Gerard Álvarez Ludeña delivered masterclasses of his own across the shorter formats and memory challenges. In the 2x2x2 Cube, Álvarez Ludeña captured the championship with a razor-sharp 2.06 average and a 1.81 single, leading Raúl Gómez at 2.86 and Sebastián Mateo España Chango at 3.83. Álvarez Ludeña then proved his composure under the blindfold, claiming the 3x3x3 Blindfolded title with a winning single solve of 58.14 seconds, finishing ahead of Luis Fernando Aldás Cuestas at 1:06.58 and Ponce at 1:30.93.

Away from the top podium steps, the Tabacundo Open 2026 provided a stage for remarkable individual progress throughout the 57-competitor field. Jeremy Andrés Loor Freire took on three events and dropped his 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 9.11, cutting his previous mark by 58 percent, alongside a Pyraminx personal best of 31.72 and his first official 3x3x3 Cube solve of 56.00. Erik Matias Rugel Calva tackled four events, making initial attempts in both 3x3x3 One-Handed at 1:01.85 and 4x4x4 Cube at 1:54.04, while slicing 27.8 percent off his 2x2x2 Cube best with a 6.07. Joann Carlo Silva Puertas logged a 39.7 percent improvement on 2x2x2 Cube with a 2.46 personal best, finished 7th in the event, and registered his first 3x3x3 One-Handed solve at 18.16. Jordy James Ulloa Kornblum contested six events, registering first attempts at Pyraminx in 5.08 and 5x5x5 Cube in 2:02.58 while securing a 20.82 personal best in 3x3x3 One-Handed.

The personal breakthroughs continued across every tier of the field. Willian Burga embraced a heavy six-event schedule, securing 12th in the 4x4x4 Cube with a 47.98 personal best that was 29.5 percent faster than before, while making a first attempt at 5x5x5 Cube in 2:34.62. Jean Pierre Calderón competed across five events, posting his first 3x3x3 One-Handed time of 48.08 and achieving a 4x4x4 Cube personal best of 1:01.47, a 15.6 percent improvement. Matias Eduardo Recalde Ayala took on five events and secured fifth place in 3x3x3 Blindfolded on a first-ever attempt of 2:39.67, while Gabriel Santiago Vela Carangui took 22.5 percent off his 4x4x4 Cube personal best with a time of 1:05.46. Meanwhile, Anthony Vásquez marked their first official WCA competition with opening solves across three events, including a 19.16 single in the 3x3x3 Cube.

With 14 total podium places earned by competitors representing Ecuador, five by the United States, and two by Germany, the one-day speed cubing tournament proved how precision under pressure defines championship form. As the equipment was packed away in Tabacundo, the weekend stood as a testament to the fact that while an explosive single solve brings excitement, unwavering consistency across an entire average remains the true hallmark of speedcubing excellence.