Tagum City Open 2025

The open concourse of NCCC Mall Tagum buzzed with rapid-fire clicking and intense concentration as 51 competitors gathered for two days of head-to-head racing. Across March 22 and March 23, the regional rivalry between local speedsolving talents took center stage in Davao del Norte. Speedcubers from different provinces and training circles lined up across the timing mats, eyeing every turn as a chance to claim regional supremacy. With 16 rounds distributed across 10 events, the stage was set for a fierce contest among the Philippines top puzzle talents.

The flagship event saw an intense duel between rival contenders vying for dominance in the 3x3x3 Cube. Khayll Paolo Sandukan delivered a commanding series of solves, capturing first place with an 8.03 winning average and a round-best single of 7.29 across three rounds of competition. Lance Bastien Loy pushed hard to keep the pressure on, securing second place with an 8.63 mark, while Prince Clyde Melendres earned third with an 8.72 average. The competitive 3x3 results highlighted the razor-thin margins separating the leading speedcubing practitioners at the top of the standings.

Khayll Paolo Sandukan doubled his title tally in the short-format sprints by dominating the 2x2x2 Cube. Sandukan logged a winning average of 1.86 and the fastest single of the category at 1.20, holding off a packed 38-person field. His twin victories established an impressive standard across the compact puzzles, proving that his quick-turning style and rapid inspection routine were unmatched throughout the weekend tournament.

Lance Bastien Loy struck back in the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, putting together a stellar 11.25 winning average and a single of 10.36 to finish atop the 35-competitor field. Clyde Dencer Tutor secured the runner-up spot with a 15.49 average, while Earl Joven Suyo placed third with 16.77. Loy carried that momentum into the heavy hardware, claiming third place in the 7x7x7 Cube with a time of 5:58.08, trailing runner-up Tutor at 3:49.35 and champion Brian Acuña, who won with a 3:27.40 average and a single of 2:56.01.

Justin John Navarro stamped his authority on multiple puzzle styles, claiming victories in both Pyraminx and the 4x4x4 Cube. In the Pyraminx final, Navarro posted a 4.82 winning average to edge out Rea Loraine A. Donayre at 6.01 and Brian Acuña at 6.45. Navarro then brought the same technical precision to the 4x4x4 Cube, posting a winning average of 36.02 and a best single of 32.87 to lead the 23 competitors in that bracket, further extending his reputation as a versatile Rubik's Cube specialist.

Beyond the championship battles, the tournament floor revealed massive individual milestones from rising talents. Jaggesh Naithan F. Baliente entered five events and delivered huge gains, cutting his 2x2x2 Cube mark to 1.49 to go 63% faster than his previous best, while dropping his 4x4x4 Cube time to 1:01.58 for a 38.1% improvement and notching 15.11 in one-handed for a 23% cut. Raphael Isaiah S. Timbol also showed immense progress across four events, logging a 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 2.50 that was 60.5% faster, along with a 42.75 in one-handed solving and a 13.14 Pyraminx solve. Christian Jay C. Nocos set big personal bests with 2.58 on the 2x2x2 Cube, 7.10 on Pyraminx, and 39.00 on the 4x4x4 Cube, while Christian Martin Nocos took on five events, registering a 16.48 personal best on the 3x3x3 Cube to go 40.4% faster, alongside his first ever attempts at 4x4x4 Cube at 1:31.93 and Pyraminx at 8.66.

Other competitors embraced new categories and made their presence felt deep into the bracket. Sebastian Louis E. Madriaga tackled four events, recording a first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube in 2.10 on his way to 7th place, a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 58.20, and a 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best of 25.37 that improved by 37.3%. Dane Elijah F. Gustilo entered five events, recording his first attempts at 2x2x2 Cube with 5.03 and one-handed with 18.86, while cutting his 4x4x4 Cube best by 34.5% to 1:05.39 and finishing 5th in Pyraminx. Thirde Rowen Eonsky Diaz placed 8th in Pyraminx with an 8.56 first attempt, also completing first-ever attempts at 4x4x4 Cube in 2:03.28 and one-handed in 34.87. Kevin Lofranco rounded out the standout debuts across four events with first attempts of 5.87 on 2x2x2 Cube, 2:18.37 on 4x4x4 Cube, and 27.64 in one-handed play.

Specialty disciplines rounded out the schedule with impressive specialist performances. Clyde Dencer Tutor captured the Megaminx title with a 41.13 average, topping Oliver IV D. Perez at 56.68 and Denmark Sonn E. Taneo at 1:03.41. In the Square-1 final, Earl Joven Suyo won with a 10.97 average over Brian Acuña at 18.77 and Ralph Justine Villarico at 20.24. Villarico answered back in 3x3x3 Blindfolded, taking the crown with a 29.12 single, while Roberto W. Corton secured the 3x3x3 Fewest Moves gold with a 41-move solution ahead of Suyo at 42 moves.

The competitive spirit on display in Tagum City, Philippines proved that local rivalry continues to elevate speed cubing standards across the region. Across all disciplines, Filipino solvers collected all 30 available podium spots, showcasing formidable skill across both standard and non-traditional events. With fierce contests decided across every tier of the standings, the successful run of Tagum City Open 2025 closes an electric chapter in the 2025 WCA competition calendar.

Niyanig ni Ralph Justine Villarico ang NCCC Mall Tagum nang maitala niya ang pambihirang 29.12 single sa 3x3x3 Blindfolded, ang pinakamatinding resulta sa buong katapusan ng linggo. Sa naturang kaganapan, kung saan kinakailangan ang matalas na memorya bago piringan ang mata, tinalo ni Villarico ang pitong iba pang kalahok. Sumunod sa kanya sa podium sina Brian Acuña na nagtala ng 51.72 at Georel Ulangkaya na nagrehistro ng 55.31 single. Ang tagumpay na ito ang nagbigay-diin sa lalim ng talento sa mga di-karaniwang kategorya ng naturang speedcubing tournament.

Ang Tagum City Open 2025 na ginanap sa Tagum City, Philippines mula Marso 22 hanggang Marso 23, 2025, ay nagtipon ng 51 competitors sa 16 na rounds. Hindi lamang sa bilis ng kamay sumubok ang mga kalahok kundi maging sa mga kategoryang sumusukat sa lohika at pasensya. Sa 3x3x3 Fewest Moves na may 11 kalahok, si Roberto W. Corton ang nanguna sa pamamagitan ng 41 moves single. Pumangalawa si Earl Joven Suyo na may 42 moves habang pumangatlo si Brian Acuña na nagtala ng 54 moves.

Nasaksihan din sa torneo ang pagpapasiklab ng mga eksperto sa iba pang natatanging puzzle tulad ng Square-1 at Megaminx. Sa Square-1, pinatunayan ni Earl Joven Suyo ang kanyang kahusayan matapos makuha ang unang puwesto gamit ang 10.97 winning average at 8.57 best single, habang sumunod sa kanya sina Brian Acuña na may 18.77 at Ralph Justine Villarico na nagtala ng 20.24. Sa Megaminx naman, si Clyde Dencer Tutor ang nagkampeon sa bilis na 41.13 average at 35.44 single, dinaig sina Oliver IV D. Perez na may 56.68 at Denmark Sonn E. Taneo na may 1:03.41.

Sa pinakamalaking kategorya ng torneo, ang 7x7x7 Cube, nagwagi si Brian Acuña na nagsumite ng 3:27.40 winning average at 2:56.01 single sa tapatan ng tatlong kalahok. Nakamit ni Clyde Dencer Tutor ang ikalawang puwesto sa 3:49.35 habang si Lance Bastien Loy ang pumangatlo sa 5:58.08. Si Loy naman ang bumawi sa 3x3x3 One-Handed matapos magrehistro ng 11.25 average at 10.36 single laban sa 35 kalahok, kasunod sina Clyde Dencer Tutor sa 15.49 at Earl Joven Suyo sa 16.77.

Sa likod ng mga opisyal na kampeonato sa Tagum City Open 2025, maraming manlalaro ang nagtala ng mahahalagang personal na tagumpay sa kanilang mga karera. Si Richert Jay Pinca Jr. ay sumabak sa apat na kategorya at pumanglima sa Square-1 sa kanyang unang opisyal na pagsubok sa oras na 1:39.20, habang pinabilis ang kanyang Pyraminx personal best nang 34 porsyento sa 5.39. Si Elijah Dominic T. Uddin ay lumaban sa limang events at nagtala ng 10.05 sa kanyang unang Pyraminx, bukod sa 25.6 porsyentong pag-angat sa One-Handed sa 36.82. Pinatunayan din ni Misael Isaiah R. Timbol ang kanyang bilis sa limang kategorya nang ibaba ang kanyang 2x2x2 Cube personal best sa 2.38 na 42.8 porsyentong mas mabilis, kasabay ng 30.20 sa One-Handed. Si Johnfferson Diego Dante ay sumabak sa walong kategorya at nagtala ng 2:23.99 sa Megaminx na 34.6 porsyentong pagbuti mula sa dati niyang tala.

Apat na bagong manlalaro naman ang sumabak sa kanilang kauna-unahang WCA competition sa naturang entablado. Si Warren Hinayon Arances ay pumasok sa limang events kabilang ang 10.18 sa kanyang unang 3x3x3 Cube at 20.07 sa unang One-Handed. Si Gabdine R. Pollo ay sumabak din sa limang kategorya at nagrehistro ng 10.29 sa 3x3x3 Cube at 2.52 sa 2x2x2 Cube sa unang subok. Ganoon din si Edmarc Lubiano Fabroa na nagtala ng 2.70 sa 2x2x2 Cube at 10.78 sa 3x3x3 Cube sa limang kategorya. Hindi nagpahuli si Hansub Gonato Sim sa apat na kategorya matapos magtala ng 37.43 sa kanyang unang 3x3x3 Cube at 5.73 sa 2x2x2 Cube.

Sa mas tradisyunal na mga larangan ng Rubiks Cube, dominasyon ang ipinamalas ni Khayll Paolo Sandukan. Nakuha ni Sandukan ang gintong medalya sa 3x3x3 Cube matapos magtala ng 8.03 winning average sa finals laban sa 48 kalahok, kung saan tinalo niya sina Lance Bastien Loy na may 8.63 at Prince Clyde Melendres na may 8.72. Si Sandukan din ang naghari sa 2x2x2 Cube sa pamamagitan ng 1.86 average at 1.20 single sa harap ng 38 na manlalaro.

Hindi rin nagpahuli si Justin John Navarro na umangkin ng dalawang titulo sa weekend. Pinangunahan ni Navarro ang 4x4x4 Cube na may 23 kalahok sa pamamagitan ng 36.02 average at 32.87 single, at dinagdagan pa ito ng panalo sa Pyraminx sa bilis na 4.82 average laban sa 26 na katunggali, kung saan pumangalawa si Rea Loraine A. Donayre sa 6.01 at pumangatlo si Brian Acuña sa 6.45.

Nagtapos ang Tagum City Open 2025 na may kabuuang 30 podium finishes para sa mga kinatawan ng Pilipinas sa sampung kategorya. Ang dalawang araw na cubing competition ay nagpakita ng mataas na antas ng husay mula sa blindfolded solving hanggang sa mga komplikadong rotation puzzles. Muling napatunayan ng mga atleta ang kanilang dedikasyon sa pagpapaunlad ng kani-kanilang kasanayan sa pagharap sa mga susunod pang yugto ng palakasan.