Turn 'N Solve CaMaNaVa 2024

Inside One Mall Valenzuela, the rhythmic clack of turning plastic echoed across the hall as tables filled with timers, mats, and puzzles of every shape. The City of Valenzuela, Philippines, Philippines served as the bustling backdrop on December 8, 2024, bringing together dozens of solvers ready to test their preparation under official conditions. With 40 competitors taking part across 10 events and 11 rounds, the atmosphere was defined by a surge of emerging contenders making their mark alongside experienced speedcubing hands in the local region.

The 2024 gathering featured an unmistakable influx of newcomers stepping onto the competitive stage to experience the pressure of an official cubing competition. For many across the floor, this single-day speed cubing tournament marked early steps into the broader community, bringing fresh ambition and rapid progress across multiple categories. From classic face-turning puzzles to specialised mechanisms, the sheer variety gave emerging competitors ample opportunity to measure their improvement in an electric environment.

Leading the way in the traditional 3x3x3 Rubik's Cube, John Michael Chua topped a packed field of 39 competitors to secure the title. Chua delivered a commanding 8.13 winning average in the final round, backed by a best single of 6.69. Mharr Justhinne Ampong claimed second place with an 8.88 average, while Carlos Joseph Ong finished third with a 9.10 mark. The high-calibre 3x3 results demonstrated sharp execution across both rounds of the weekend's marquee discipline.

Beyond the premier puzzle, Stephen Mark V. Mariñas assembled a dominant run across two fast-paced formats. In the 2x2x2 Cube, Mariñas took victory with a winning average of 2.69 and an explosive single of 0.92, finishing ahead of Yuji Yoshida at 2.88 and James Anthony S. Vergara at 3.15. Mariñas struck gold again in the Pyraminx, logging an average of 2.86 and a single of 1.64 to finish in first, followed by Yoshida with 4.36 and Brian Hill T. Ayapana with 5.60.

Behind the top steps of the podium, the scoreboards told remarkable stories of individual growth. Mikhail Gabriel A. Tan slashed his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 65.5 percent down to 19.56 from 56.74 while also taking on his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube with a 6.40 result to finish 27th. Vin Duane P. Peñaredondo also showed huge progress, lowering his 3x3x3 Cube best by 43.9 percent to 20.66 from 36.80 and recording a 5.52 on his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube. Jero Adam Dimitri B. Balilla entered three disciplines, cutting his 2x2x2 Cube mark by 27.9 percent to 10.52 and his 3x3x3 Cube time by 11.4 percent to 43.73. Jose Ace Constantine V. Rosario III secured 10th in Pyraminx while trimming his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 22.2 percent to 18.66 and his 2x2x2 Cube time by 14.8 percent to 4.36.

Other competitors took on expanded programmes with notable success across various disciplines. Liam B. Rashid tackled his first ever attempt at Pyraminx with 14.15 and his first ever attempt at Skewb with 14.11, while lowering his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 15.3 percent to 19.66. Bryden Liam Manlapaz Abelita took on four events, earning 13th in Clock and improving his 3x3x3 Cube mark by 21.7 percent to 18.33. Seff Rylee Tilbe entered six events, finishing 9th in Clock, posting a 9.92 on a first ever attempt at Clock, a 46.86 on a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed, and dropping his 2x2x2 Cube best by 36.4 percent to 4.90. Ezekiel L. Inciso claimed 5th in Clock, logged 25.03 in his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed, and shaved 4.7 percent off his 5x5x5 Cube best down to 1:28.41.

The one-handed event saw Mharr Justhinne Ampong capture the top spot with a 14.76 winning average and a 13.50 single, edging Stephen Mark V. Mariñas who posted 16.30, while Carlos Joseph Ong took third with 16.41. In the Clock event, Nicole Santos topped the standings with a 6.62 winning average and a 4.02 single, finishing narrowly ahead of Yuji Yoshida at 6.72 and Kyle Capiral at 7.50. Hiroyuki Iriyama secured the Skewb title with a 4.91 average, holding off Yoshida at 5.17 and Niño Francis S. Reyes at 5.96.

Big-cube specialist Ayooluwa Samuel Dada enjoyed a triple-title performance, conquering Megaminx, 5x5x5 Cube, and 7x7x7 Cube. Dada captured Megaminx in 52.04 ahead of Jacob Miko Tan at 55.95, took the 5x5x5 Cube crown with a 56.54 average, and completed the sweep with a 2:43.66 average in 7x7x7 Cube. In 3x3x3 Blindfolded, John Axel B. Gordo achieved the winning single of 20.27 to cap an extraordinary day at Turn 'N Solve CaMaNaVa 2024.

By the time the final timers were packed away, the official WCA competition concluded with 28 podium finishes for the Philippines and 3 for Nigeria. With dozens of individual breakthroughs, new puzzle debuts, and top-tier times across 10 distinct events, Turn 'N Solve CaMaNaVa 2024 highlighted the depth of local talent and set a strong foundation for every participant heading into the next competitive cycle.

Apatnapung kalahok ang nagtipon sa One Mall Valenzuela upang magtagisan sa bilis at galing ng paglutas sa Turn 'N Solve CaMaNaVa 2024 noong Disyembre 8, 2024. Naging tampok sa buong araw ang pagdagsa ng mga bagong mukha sa larangan ng speedcubing, kung saan sumabak ang maraming baguhan sa kanilang pinakaunang opisyal na laban sa World Cube Association kasabay ng mga beteranong manlalaro mula sa iba't ibang panig ng bansa at ibayong dagat.

Sa pangunahing dibisyon ng 3x3x3 Cube, ipinamalas ni John Michael Chua ang kanyang pambihirang bilis matapos magtala ng winning average na 8.13 upang angkinin ang unang puwesto. Tinalo niya si Mharr Justhinne Ampong na nagtapos sa ikalawang puwesto na may 8.88 average, habang pumangatlo naman si Carlos Joseph Ong sa kanyang 9.10 average sa nasabing prestihiyosong dibisyon na nilahukan ng tatlumpu't siyam na manlalaro sa dalawang yugto.

Nasungkit naman ni Stephen Mark V. Mariñas ang dalawang kampeonato sa magkahiwalay na kategorya matapos manguna sa 2x2x2 Cube at Pyraminx. Sa 2x2x2 Cube, nagrehistro si Mariñas ng winning average na 2.69 kasama ang best single na 0.92, habang sa Pyraminx ay nakuha niya ang ginto gamit ang 2.86 winning average laban kay Yuji Yoshida na nagtala ng 4.36 average.

Bumida rin ang dayuhang kalahok na si Ayooluwa Samuel Dada mula sa Nigeria nang walisin ang tatlong magkakaibang titulo sa malalaking puzzle. Pinangunahan ni Dada ang Megaminx sa pamamagitan ng 52.04 winning average, dinomina ang 5x5x5 Cube sa kanyang 56.54 average, at pinatunayan ang kanyang husay sa 7x7x7 Cube matapos magtala ng panalong 2:43.66 average sa nag-iisang yugto ng paligsahan.

Sa iba pang kaganapan sa City of Valenzuela, Philippines, Philippines, nagwagi si Mharr Justhinne Ampong sa 3x3x3 One-Handed na may 14.76 winning average. Sa kategoryang Skewb, nanguna si Hiroyuki Iriyama na may 4.91 average, habang pinagharian naman ni Nicole Santos ang Clock sa kanyang 6.62 winning average. Sa 3x3x3 Blindfolded, nasungkit ni John Axel B. Gordo ang tagumpay sa pamamagitan ng 20.27 best single.

Sa likod ng mga nagwagi sa podium, kapansin-pansin ang mga manlalarong nagtala ng kanilang mga sariling tagumpay at unang pagsabak sa kumpetisyon. Naging kapana-panabik ang araw para kay Bernard Jon T. Eugenio na nagtala ng bagong Skewb personal best na 7.36 matapos maging 20.9 porsyentong mas mabilis kaysa sa kanyang dating 9.31 rekord, habang si Eliandrei Rubenecia ay nagtala ng 2x2x2 Cube personal best na 7.68 na 14.9 porsyentong mas mabilis sa kanyang dating 9.02. Nagpakitang-gilas din si James A. Acana sa limang kategorya kung saan nakuha niya ang ika-5 puwesto sa Megaminx, personal best na 1:19.35 sa Megaminx, 8.82 sa Clock, at 1:31.63 sa 5x5x5 Cube na 4.8 porsyentong mas mabilis sa kanyang lumang tala. Sa Skewb, sumabak sa unang pagkakataon si Joveboy Borromeo na nagtala ng 11.47 sa kanyang apat na nilahukang kategorya.

Naging espesyal din ang paligsahan para sa mga sumabak sa kanilang pinakaunang WCA competition. Si Mar Daniel Morfe Peñamante ay sumalang sa apat na kategorya at nagtala ng mga unang opisyal na resulta tulad ng 15.32 sa 3x3x3 Cube, 47.19 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed, at 11.58 sa Pyraminx kung saan nakuha niya ang ika-18 puwesto. Nagpakitang-gilas din si Mark Jessie Agustin sa kanyang debut sa tatlong kategorya matapos magtala ng 29.28 sa 3x3x3 Cube, 9.33 sa Skewb para sa ika-15 puwesto, at 7.25 sa 2x2x2 Cube. Samantala, matagumpay ring nakumpleto nina Rainiel Christian V. Yamsuan na may 17.76 sa 3x3x3 Cube at 7.14 sa 2x2x2 Cube, at Panjo Gutierrez na may 28.16 sa 3x3x3 Cube, ang kanilang mga unang opisyal na solve sa naturang paligsahan.

Sa pagtatapos ng Turn 'N Solve CaMaNaVa 2024 sa One Mall Valenzuela, napatunayan ng mga manlalaro ang lumalawak na talento sa paglutas ng tradisyunal na Rubik's Cube at iba pang puzzle. Ang tagumpay ng buong cubing competition ngayong 2024 ay nag-iwan ng magandang pundasyon para sa mas marami pang mga kabataan at bagong manlalaro na sumubok sa mga susunod na torneo.