Turn 'N Solve Bulacan 2024

Dale Palmares delivered a masterclass in versatility at Vista Mall Malolos, capturing three separate titles in a single afternoon of high-intensity solving. His commanding run across both big cubes and mechanical puzzles set the benchmark for the entire gathering. Palmares dominated the 6x6x6 Cube, the 7x7x7 Cube, and the Clock, demonstrating unmatched composure across drastically different disciplines. His three victories provided the defining through-line for a day packed with rapid turns and intense head-to-head racing.

The one-day WCA competition, held on October 26, 2024, brought 35 competitors to Malolos Bulacan, Philippines for a packed schedule of seven events spread across ten rounds. Speedcubing action unfolded across an array of puzzles, ranging from traditional layered cubes to geometric twisty challenges. With nineteen podium finishes earned by Filipino solvers alongside two by Nigerian contender Ayooluwa Samuel Dada, the atmosphere remained fiercely competitive from the morning qualifiers through the evening finals.

Palmares laid down his marker early in the large-cube events, where pacing and stamina are paramount. In the 6x6x6 Cube final, he secured first place with a winning average of 1:29.97, backed by a single solve of 1:29.24. Ayooluwa Samuel Dada took second place with an average of 1:41.46, followed by Gabriel Adrian Cruz in third with 1:53.58. Moving directly to the 7x7x7 Cube, Palmares extended his reign by clocking a winning average of 2:13.83 alongside a 2:11.70 best single. Dada earned another silver at 2:29.06, while Louie Jay Quibote claimed bronze with 2:35.10.

The sweep continued when Palmares transitioned to the unique dial-turning mechanics of Clock. Facing a focused field of eleven solvers, he notched a winning average of 4.79 and a best single of 4.57 to clinch his third victory of the day. Zoei Principe took second place with a 5.08 average, while Nicole Santos completed the podium at 5.60. The performance cemented Palmares as the undisputed multi-event force of the weekend.

Beyond the multi-event sweep, Turn 'N Solve Bulacan 2024 showcased remarkable leaps forward across the lineup. Zach Bartolome delivered massive personal bests, cutting his Skewb mark down to 10.81, which was 79.8 percent faster than his previous best of 53.46, while taking 17th place, and shaving 20 percent off his 3x3x3 Cube best with a 20.59 single. Keneth Magtipon took on two events, earning an 11th-place ranking in the classic cube and recording a first ever attempt at Pyraminx with a time of 6.43. Angelito Jabez G. Macatulad entered four events and finished 8th in Pyraminx, lowering his personal best by 24.1 percent to 3.40. Jherzy Jhay C. Dela Cruz captured a 6th-place finish in the 3x3x3 Cube and logged a Pyraminx personal best of 6.69, improving by 17.2 percent.

The personal breakthroughs continued across every round on the stage. Adam Yue C. Angel lowered his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 14.8 percent to 17.59 across his appearances. Briley C. Fandiñola took on three events and secured a 5th-place finish in Skewb. Bearwin Jairus Jovellanos Cruz tackled three events and claimed a 5th-place finish in Pyraminx. Zian Principe completed a heavy four-event workload, highlighted by a 4th-place result in Clock. These steady advances across the scoreboards reflected the deep dedication fueling the broader speed cubing community in Malolos.

The marquee Rubik's Cube category delivered electric 3x3 results across two full rounds featuring 34 competitors. Carl Ashley Cortes emerged victorious in the final, taking the top spot with a winning average of 8.31 and posting a best single of 6.58. Mark Aeron Santos followed in second place with an average of 9.29, while Stacy Nicole Viray Mabalot rounded out the top three with an average of 9.46. The standard was remarkably high, with numerous contenders breaking into sub-ten-second averages throughout the preliminary and final rounds.

The side events provided equally tight finishes across the tournament floor. Nicole Santos captured the Square-1 crown with an average of 19.71 and a best single of 17.65, leading Hiroyuki Iriyama at 38.93 and Luis Gabriel Magadia at 42.77. Iriyama found his own triumph in Skewb, topping seventeen entrants with a 4.69 average and a 3.64 single, ahead of Niño Francis S. Reyes at 6.06 and Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes at 6.33. In Pyraminx, Brian Hill T. Ayapana secured the title with an average of 4.06 and a 3.02 single, besting Magallanes at 4.54 and John Robert Tayactac at 4.75 in a spirited 22-person field.

From the dominant triple-gold campaign of Dale Palmares to the sharp 3x3 results delivered by Carl Ashley Cortes, the cubing competition showcased the depth of talent currently thriving across the region. With seven distinct puzzle formats contested over ten intense rounds, every competitor found opportunities to test their limits against the timer. As the 2024 season progresses, the standards set in Malolos will stand as a clear benchmark for speedcubers across the Philippines.

Tatlumpu't limang kalahok ang nagtipon para sa isang araw ng masinsinang speedcubing sa Vista Mall Malolos sa Malolos Bulacan, Philippines noong Oktubre 26, 2024. Sa kabuuan ng sampung round sa pitong opisyal na kategorya, nasaksihan ang matitinding labanan sa bawat talahanayan. Ang Turn 'N Solve Bulacan 2024 ay nagbigay-daan sa pagpapakitang-gilas ng mga bihasang manlalaro at mga baguhang sumabak sa kanilang unang opisyal na torneo.

Sa pangunahing kategorya ng 3x3x3 Cube, nagpakitang-gilas si Carl Ashley Cortes matapos itala ang winning average na 8.31 upang sungkitin ang unang pwesto laban sa 34 na kalahok sa dalawang rounds. Pumangalawa si Mark Aeron Santos na may 9.29 average, habang pumangatlo naman si Stacy Nicole Viray Mabalot na nagtala ng 9.46 average. Sa unang round, naitala rin ni Cortes ang 8.17 average kasama ang 7.01 single, habang si Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes ay nagsumite ng 6.24 single at 8.21 average.

Bumida nang husto si Dale Palmares sa buong kompetisyon matapos mag-uwi ng tatlong magkakahiwalay na kampeonato. Sa kategoryang Clock, nanguna si Palmares tangan ang 4.79 winning average at pinakamabilis na single na 4.57 laban sa 11 na kalahok, kasunod sina Zoei Principe na may 5.08 at Nicole Santos na may 5.60. Ipinakita rin niya ang kanyang bilis sa 3x3x3 Cube preliminary round kung saan nagrehistro siya ng 7.24 single at 8.87 average sa naturang Rubik's Cube event.

Ipinagpatuloy ni Palmares ang kanyang dominasyon sa malalaking puzzle sa Turn 'N Solve Bulacan 2024. Sa 6x6x6 Cube, nagrehistro siya ng winning average na 1:29.97 at best single na 1:29.24 upang talunin ang siyam pang katunggali sa dalawang round, kung saan pumangalawa si Ayooluwa Samuel Dada ng Nigeria na may 1:41.46 at pumangatlo si Gabriel Adrian Cruz na may 1:53.58. Sa 7x7x7 Cube, nakuha muli ni Palmares ang ginto sa bilis na 2:13.83 winning average at 2:11.70 single, muling sinundan ni Dada na may 2:29.06 at Louie Jay Quibote na nagtala ng 2:35.10.

Sa likod ng mga nagwagi sa podium, naging entablado rin ang torneo para sa mga bagong mukha na nagpakita ng kanilang talento sa kanilang unang WCA competition. Si Louie Vhiel De Asis ay sumabak sa tatlong kategorya at nagtala ng 16th place finish sa Skewb kalakip ang 12.84 na unang pagtatangka, bukod sa 8.00 sa Pyraminx at 21.13 sa 3x3x3 Cube. Si Denzel Jeims F. Cabuhat ay sumali sa tatlong kategorya na may 20th place finish sa Pyraminx matapos magtala ng 9.84, kasama ang 17.91 sa 3x3x3 Cube. Si Akira Kuramochi naman ay nagtala ng 11.22 sa 3x3x3 Cube at 10.91 sa Pyraminx para sa 17th place finish, habang si James Ahrdee Dela Cruz ay nagtala ng 20.40 sa 3x3x3 Cube at 13.33 sa Pyraminx.

Nagpatuloy ang magagandang simula para sa iba pang mga bagong manlalaro sa naturang cubing competition. Si Rain David Malicsi ay nagtapos sa ika-16 na pwesto sa Pyraminx tangan ang 9.28 kasabay ng 18.46 sa 3x3x3 Cube. Si Mc Yhel Del Monte ay lumahok sa dalawang kategorya at umabot sa ika-13 na pwesto sa Pyraminx sa pamamagitan ng 5.25 na unang pagtatangka, kasama ang 15.74 sa 3x3x3 Cube. Samantala, nagtala naman si Clarence Raphael Lorenzo ng 16.89 sa kanyang nag-iisang kategorya na 3x3x3 Cube, at si Mark Caleb D. Rondon ay nagtala ng 20.61 sa parehong puzzle.

Sa iba pang mga side event, naghari si Nicole Santos sa Square-1 matapos magtala ng 19.71 winning average at 17.65 best single laban sa limang kalahok, habang pumangalawa si Hiroyuki Iriyama na may 38.93 at pumangatlo si Luis Gabriel Magadia na may 42.77. Bumawi naman si Iriyama sa Skewb nang sungkitin ang unang pwesto gamit ang 4.69 average at 3.64 single laban sa 17 kalahok, habang sumunod sina Niño Francis S. Reyes na nagtala ng 6.06 at Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes na may 6.33.

Tinapos ang mga labanan sa Pyraminx kung saan nagtagumpay si Brian Hill T. Ayapana na may 4.06 winning average at 3.02 best single mula sa 22 kalahok. Pumangalawa si Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes na may 4.54 at pumangatlo si John Robert Tayactac na may 4.75 average. Sa pangkalahatan, nakalikom ang Pilipinas ng 19 na podium finish habang dalawa naman ang nakuha ng Nigeria sa matagumpay na pagtatapos ng Turn 'N Solve Bulacan 2024.