The Sides Bahia Experience 2023

Inside the quiet rooms of the Residência Privada venue in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, the atmosphere carried a distinctly thoughtful intensity. While standard tournament halls often buzz with the relentless clatter of plastic layers turning at top velocity, this gathering leaned heavily into deep concentration and technical problem-solving. Speedcubing competitors gathered on January 22, 2023, surrounded by scorecards, timers, and specialized puzzles. The setting resembled an analytical study room just as much as an athletic stage, setting a focused tone for an event dedicated entirely to side disciplines.

The intellectual pacing of the day mirrored the classical nature of Fewest Moves and other cerebral puzzle events, where competitors turn to quiet analysis rather than raw turning speed alone. Even across fast-paced categories, the strategic mindset required here contrasted with standard speed cubing routines. A tight roster of eight competitors took part in the one-day WCA competition, taking on nine official disciplines that tested everything from complex big cube mechanics to spatial orientation under blindfolds. Every turn counted toward decisive outcomes across single-round finals.

Lucas Ichiro Yunomae established total control across the larger hardware at The Sides Bahia Experience 2023. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Yunomae delivered a winning average of 36.21 seconds, anchored by a best single of 28.36 seconds to take top honors ahead of João Vinícius Santos and Gabriel Bergue. Yunomae continued his dominant run in the 5x5x5 Cube, finishing with an average of 57.68 seconds and a single of 53.28 seconds, standing as the only competitor to break the minute mark in the event.

Yunomae extended his success into the 6x6x6 Cube, logging an average of 1:52.76 and a best single of 1:32.82 to secure another gold. Santos followed in second place with a 2:18.17 average, while Bergue claimed third at 2:39.55. Yunomae added a fourth victory in the Megaminx event, capturing first place with a 59.99 second average and a best effort of 56.49 seconds, demonstrating sharp consistency on twelve-sided puzzles without needing traditional Rubik's Cube formats on the schedule.

João Vinícius Santos produced his own remarkable sequence of victories throughout The Sides Bahia Experience 2023. In the 7x7x7 Cube, Santos claimed the top spot with an average of 3:36.67 and a single of 3:26.07, holding off Yunomae who took second place at 3:44.39. Santos also proved unmatched on alternative mechanisms, taking the Skewb title with an average of 5.22 seconds ahead of Suzane Coelho and Gabriel Bergue, before finishing atop the Clock standings with a 9.61 second average.

Away from the top of the podium, significant milestones unfolded through individual breakthroughs. Kalani Oliveira took on six separate events, achieving a major personal best in the 5x5x5 Cube with a time of 1:58.19, which was 21.2 percent faster than their previous mark of 2:30.08, alongside a 4x4x4 Cube personal best of 49.20 seconds. Meanwhile, Filipe Santana Gomes Silva entered three events and registered a first ever official attempt at the Megaminx, logging a time of 4:34.90 to finish sixth overall in the discipline.

The 3x3x3 Blindfolded competition offered high drama, where memorization and spatial memory completely replaced sight. Luiz Fellipe Oliuza Leal Silva captured the victory with a winning single solve of 2:29.81. Santos secured second place with a single of 3:26.63 and a complete average of 3:50.13, while Yunomae placed third with a single of 3:42.40. Though classic 3x3 results were absent from the lineup, the blindfolded variant tested the field to its limits.

In the Square-1 event, Luan Ferreira earned a hard-fought victory by posting a winning average of 15.95 seconds and a single of 14.05 seconds. Santos finished just behind in second place with an average of 16.09 seconds, while Coelho rounded out the top three at 23.48 seconds. Across all nine events, Brazilian competitors swept all 27 podium positions awarded throughout the contest.

The single-day cubing competition concluded with a complete set of results across every scheduled bracket. The Sides Bahia Experience 2023 highlighted the depth of the regional scene, demonstrating that side events demand just as much precision and endurance as traditional headliners. As the 2023 speedcubing calendar moves forward, the performances recorded in Salvador established strong baselines for all eight competitors heading into their next tournament appearances.

O ambiente acolhedor de uma Residência Privada em Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, serviu de cenário para um dia intenso de disputas e concentração sobre os tapetes de cronometragem. Longe dos grandes pavilhões esportivos, o espaço residencial transformou-se no palco central da velocidade, reunindo competidores em uma atmosfera focada e próxima, onde o som rítmico dos giros e cliques de mecanismos ecoava continuamente em cada resolução.

Realizado em 22 de janeiro de 2023, o evento The Sides Bahia Experience 2023 colocou à prova um grupo seleto de 8 competidores dedicados aos desafios paralelos do speedcubing oficial. O cronograma enxuto de uma única rodada direta por modalidade exigiu precisão absoluta dos atletas em todas as 9 modalidades disputadas, não permitindo margem para erros na busca pelo lugar mais alto do pódio.

Nos cubos grandes, Lucas Ichiro Yunomae construiu uma campanha dominante ao longo da programação. O competidor garantiu o topo do pódio no 4x4x4 Cube ao fechar uma média de 36.21 e o melhor tempo individual da prova com 28.36, superando João Vinícius Santos que registrou 40.23 de média e Gabriel Bergue com 45.45. A disputa do 4x4x4 Cube envolveu todos os 8 participantes inscritos no torneio.

Lucas Ichiro Yunomae manteve o ritmo vitorioso nas categorias seguintes de cubos maiores. No 5x5x5 Cube, venceu com média de 57.68 e single de 53.28, enquanto João Vinícius Santos ficou em segundo com 1:14.58 e Gabriel Bergue em terceiro com 1:30.20. No 6x6x6 Cube, Lucas Ichiro Yunomae repetiu a conquista de ouro anotando média de 1:52.76, deixando João Vinícius Santos com a média de 2:18.17 e Gabriel Bergue com 2:39.55.

A resposta de João Vinícius Santos veio nas categorias técnicas e no maior quebra-cabeça da programação. No 7x7x7 Cube, ele conquistou o título com média de 3:36.67 e single de 3:26.07, à frente de Lucas Ichiro Yunomae com 3:44.39 e Gabriel Bergue com 5:11.29. João Vinícius Santos também foi impecável no Clock, vencendo com 9.61 de média, e no Skewb, triunfando com média de 5.22 e melhor marca de 4.82.

Além das disputas no topo, o The Sides Bahia Experience 2023 destacou desempenhos notáveis e marcas individuais marcantes no fim de semana. Filipe Santana Gomes Silva enfrentou 3 modalidades e realizou sua primeira tentativa oficial no Megaminx, completando a resolução em 4:34.90 para fechar a prova na sexta posição. Kalani Oliveira, que disputou 6 modalidades e obteve a quarta colocação no 3x3x3 Blindfolded, conquistou um expressivo recorde pessoal no 5x5x5 Cube com o tempo de 1:58.19, baixando em 21.2% sua melhor marca anterior de 2:30.08, além de assinalar 49.20 no 4x4x4 Cube.

A precisão do Megaminx também coroou Lucas Ichiro Yunomae, que garantiu sua quarta vitória individual do dia ao registrar média de 59.99 e single de 56.49 diante de 6 concorrentes. No Square-1, a decisão foi definida por centésimos de segundo: Luan Ferreira levou a melhor com média de 15.95 e single de 14.05, superando a média de 16.09 de João Vinícius Santos e o tempo de 23.48 de Suzane Coelho.

A prova vendada do 3x3x3 Blindfolded, baseada estritamente na memorização e execução sem visão do quebra-cabeça tradicional do cubo mágico, encerrou as disputas de Salvador. Luiz Fellipe Oliuza Leal Silva sagrou-se campeão ao cravar o tempo vencedor de 2:29.81, seguido por João Vinícius Santos com a marca de 3:50.13 e Lucas Ichiro Yunomae completando o pódio com 3:42.40.

Com todos os 27 lugares de pódio conquistados por atletas do Brasil, o The Sides Bahia Experience 2023 encerrou suas atividades consolidando a força técnica local e oferecendo uma experiência concentrada para a comunidade da WCA competition no país neste início de temporada.