Tagum City Open 2024

Khayll Paolo Sandukan delivered a commanding masterclass on home soil, clinching top honors in the 3x3x3 Cube final with an 8.54 average after setting a scorching 7.65 single. Held at NCCC Mall Tagum in Tagum City, Philippines, the Tagum City Open 2024 brought together 80 competitors on June 15, 2024, for a packed slate of six events across nine rounds of high-energy speedcubing. Sandukan anchored the action from the outset, capturing the spotlight in a deep 78-person field and showing poise across three demanding rounds of classic Rubik's Cube solving.

The premier 3x3 results underlined just how razor-thin the margins were at the top of the podium. Sandukan held off Lance Bastien Loy, who took the silver medal with an 8.71 average, while Xyrex Gem S. Cabigquez secured the bronze step at 8.73. The tense final round capped a vibrant day of speed cubing in the region, establishing the local contender as the standard-bearer across the weekend. The atmosphere inside the mall venue remained electric as the competition moved between lightning-quick turns and longer tactical disciplines.

Sandukan was not finished with just the marquee event. In the 2x2x2 Cube, he engineered a clean sweep of the short formats by locking down first place with a 2.80 winning average and a 1.59 best single across two rounds. Daryll Ben Relatorres followed in second place with a 4.05 mark, while Ricmar Leo P. Salar rounded out the podium at 4.11. The dominant display cemented a memorable double victory on home ground at the Tagum City Open 2024.

Across the multi-faceted schedule, Clyde Dencer Tutor emerged as another standout performer of the cubing competition, securing two championship titles of his own. Tutor claimed victory in the 3x3x3 One-Handed event with a 13.11 average and an 11.88 single, besting Lance Bastien Loy's 13.33 average and Daryll Ben Relatorres's 16.06. Tutor then conquered the twelve-sided Megaminx, taking gold with a 41.15 average ahead of Oliver IV D. Perez at 55.58 and John Ray Tambolero at 57.78.

In the larger puzzles and specialty events, Albert Philip Bulao powered through a field of 44 contenders in the 4x4x4 Cube, posting a 36.87 winning average and a 31.76 single to take top honors over Clyde Dencer Tutor at 39.48 and Kirby Jay Caragan at 40.60. The Pyraminx bracket saw international flavor atop the standings, where Yoshihiro Nakamura from Japan secured the victory with a 2.97 average, outperforming Franklin Tober James Dulay at 4.19 and Oliver IV D. Perez at 5.92 in a 40-competitor scramble.

Beyond the championship podiums, the official WCA competition served as a stage for remarkable personal breakthroughs. Frenz Edrian Tabaniag entered five events, claiming a 5th place finish in 2x2x2 Cube while cutting his personal best by 56.6 percent to 4.05, slashing his 4x4x4 Cube mark by 32.7 percent to 42.18, and logging a first ever Megaminx attempt of 1:24.75. Darryl Guia took on three disciplines, finishing 10th in 3x3x3 One-Handed with an improved personal best of 19.81, cutting his 3x3x3 Cube time by 31.8 percent to 8.04, and recording a first ever 2x2x2 Cube attempt of 4.17. Misael Isaiah R. Timbol competed in four events, dropping his 2x2x2 Cube best by 31.5 percent to 4.16 while trying Pyraminx for the first time in 16.84 and 3x3x3 One-Handed in 43.18. Keith Gabriel Joson tackled six events, placing 17th in Megaminx with a personal best of 2:06.40, improving his 3x3x3 Cube time by 28.1 percent to 21.53, and registering a first ever 3x3x3 One-Handed solve of 1:02.64.

The momentum continued as several other dedicated solvers pushed their boundaries across the schedule. Ianna Marie Malot took on four events, securing 28th in 4x4x4 Cube with a personal best of 1:00.63, a 26 percent drop, alongside a first ever Pyraminx attempt of 7.11. Heaven Ronelle A. Fernandez entered six disciplines, achieving a 14th place finish in Megaminx with a first attempt of 2:00.59, while improving his 3x3x3 One-Handed best by 19.4 percent to 23.24 and his 3x3x3 Cube mark to 10.39. Shane Melody Duque participated in four events, earning 20th in 3x3x3 One-Handed with a first attempt of 20.99, posting a first 4x4x4 Cube solve of 1:01.68, and dropping her 2x2x2 Cube best to 4.48. Prince Clyde Melendres completed a demanding six-event run at the Tagum City Open 2024, peaking with an 8th place finish in the 3x3x3 Cube and logging maiden official attempts in 2x2x2 Cube at 6.81, Pyraminx at 16.89, and 4x4x4 Cube at 1:22.38.

With 17 podium spots earned by Philippine solvers and one claimed by Japan, the Tagum City Open 2024 stood as a resounding success for the local speedcubing community. From Sandukan's thrilling double gold to the dozens of personal milestones achieved on the competition floor, the day highlighted both elite precision and grassroots progress in Tagum City, setting a high benchmark for the next season of competitive solving in the region.

Sa huling solve ng 3x3x3 Cube final naselyuhan ang panalo ni Khayll Paolo Sandukan matapos magtala ng winning average na 8.54 upang maungusan ang pinakamalapit na karibal sa NCCC Mall Tagum. Mahigpit ang naging labanan para sa titulo ng pangunahing Rubik's Cube event kung saan pumangalawa si Lance Bastien Loy na may 8.71 average at pumangatlo si Xyrex Gem S. Cabigquez na nagtala naman ng 8.73 average. Ang dikitang pagtatapos na ito ang naging tampok sa naganap na Tagum City Open 2024 sa Tagum City, Philippines noong June 15, 2024.

Hindi nagpaawat si Khayll Paolo Sandukan sa kaniyang kampanya sa buong torneyo matapos ding dominahin ang 2x2x2 Cube event sa pamamagitan ng winning average na 2.80 at pinakamabilis na solong oras na 1.59. Sa naturang dibisyon, sumunod sa kaniya si Daryll Ben Relatorres na nag-uwi ng ikalawang puwesto tangan ang 4.05 average habang nakuha naman ni Ricmar Leo P. Salar ang ikatlong puwesto sa bilis na 4.11. Sa kabuuan, ipinamalas ni Sandukan ang matinding kalmado sa ilalim ng presyur laban sa mahuhusay na katunggali.

Umarangkada rin nang husto si Clyde Dencer Tutor na nag-uwi ng dalawang gintong medalya mula sa magkaibang kategorya sa buong kompetisyon. Pinangunahan ni Tutor ang 3x3x3 One-Handed event bitbit ang winning average na 13.11 laban kay Lance Bastien Loy na nagtala ng 13.33 average para sa ikalawang puwesto at kay Daryll Ben Relatorres na pumangatlo sa 16.06. Ipinagpatuloy ni Tutor ang kaniyang dominasyon sa Megaminx kung saan nakamit niya ang unang puwesto sa pamamagitan ng 41.15 winning average kontra kina Oliver IV D. Perez na may 55.58 at John Ray Tambolero na may 57.78.

Sa mas malalaking puzzle, pinatunayan ni Albert Philip Bulao ang kaniyang galing matapos manguna sa 4x4x4 Cube tangan ang winning average na 36.87 at pinakamagandang single na 31.76. Naungusan ni Bulao si Clyde Dencer Tutor na nagtala ng 39.48 average para sa ikalawang puwesto at si Kirby Jay Caragan na pumangatlo sa oras na 40.60. Samantala, sa Pyraminx ay nagpakitang-gilas ang dayuhang kalahok na si Yoshihiro Nakamura mula sa Japan matapos magtala ng winning average na 2.97 laban kina Franklin Tober James Dulay na may 4.19 at Oliver IV D. Perez na may 5.92.

Bukod sa mga nagwagi sa podium, nasaksihan din sa speedcubing event na ito ang kahanga-hangang pagsisikap ng mga manlalarong nagtala ng mga bagong personal best. Pinangunahan ito ni Jabe Niccolo C. Tajones na nagpakita ng 44.3 porsyentong pagbilis sa 3x3x3 One-Handed sa oras na 14.42 mula sa dating 25.87, bukod pa sa 40.14 sa 4x4x4 Cube at 3.59 sa 2x2x2 Cube. Malaki rin ang ibinawas ni Joseph Darsie I. R. Sapalaran na nagtala ng 2.96 sa 2x2x2 Cube na mas mabilis ng 37.4 porsyento sa kaniyang dating rekord, kasabay ng 5.29 sa Pyraminx at 33.65 sa One-Handed. Gayundin si Richert Jay Pinca Jr. na nagtala ng 8.41 sa 2x2x2 Cube na 44.2 porsyentong mas mabilis kaysa dati, at 33.62 naman sa 3x3x3 Cube, habang si Cody Rex M. Dagondon ay sumabak sa 4 na kategorya at nagtala ng unang opisyal na subok sa One-Handed na 28.61 at 4x4x4 Cube na 52.30.

Naging espesyal din ang paligsahan para sa mga bagong manlalarong sumabak sa kanilang pinakaunang WCA competition. Si John Reven Alinguera ay lumaban sa anim na kategorya kung saan nakamit niya ang ikalimang puwesto sa One-Handed at nagsumite ng 8.35 sa 3x3x3 Cube, 5.44 sa 2x2x2 Cube, at 2:27.83 sa Megaminx. Matapang ding hinarap ni Cyan Aelfric Abadinas ang anim na event kabilang ang kaniyang 6.47 sa 2x2x2 Cube, 1:09.91 sa 4x4x4 Cube, at 2:34.19 sa Megaminx. Sumabak din sa anim na dibisyon si Arnold W. Bogayan na nagtala ng 51.18 sa 4x4x4 Cube, 42.83 sa One-Handed, at 1:49.57 sa Megaminx, habang si Francis Aarone P. Jaictin ay sumabak sa limang kategorya at nagtala ng 10.83 sa Pyraminx, 11.51 sa 3x3x3 Cube, at 26.41 sa One-Handed.

Umani ng kabuuang 17 podium finishes ang mga kinatawan ng Pilipinas habang 1 podium finish naman ang naiuwi ng Japan mula sa 6 na magkakaibang puzzle events. Sa kabuuan ng araw, 80 kalahok ang nagtagisan sa 9 na rounds ng matinding kompetisyon sa loob ng mall kung saan naipamalas ang talento at dedikasyon ng bawat isa sa paglutas ng mga puzzle.

Nagtapos ang buong torneo nang may matataas na pamantayan para sa mga susunod pang laban sa rehiyon. Ang tagumpay ng Tagum City Open 2024 ay nag-iwan ng magagandang marka at inspirasyon para sa mga manlalarong patuloy na naghahangad ng mas mabilis na oras at mas matatag na pagganap sa susunod na panahon ng palakasan.