Two Days Return Bogotá 2023

Inside Salon Comunal Monterrey, the rhythmic clicking of plastic mechanisms filled the hall as competitors gathered across two packed days of solving. Forty-six solvers assembled in Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia on August 26 and August 27, creating an intense atmosphere across 19 separate rounds. With eight distinct events scheduled over the weekend, the cubing competition brought together dedicated specialists and ambitious newcomers alike. Every table saw methodical inspection routines, precise fingertricks, and the relentless ticking of timers.

The distinctive format of mean-of-3 events placed massive demands on the competitors in the largest puzzles on the schedule. In 6x6x6 Cube and 7x7x7 Cube contests, there is no dropped slowest time to cushion a disaster, meaning a single lockup or parity error directly damages the overall result. Solvers who took the stage in these big cube disciplines had to balance aggression with complete consistency through all three solves, knowing that one lapse in concentration would immediately take them out of contention.

Gabriel Santiago Velez Gonzalez demonstrated absolute mastery under those demanding mean-of-3 constraints. In the 6x6x6 Cube final, Velez Gonzalez secured first place with an impressive winning average of 1:40.10, backed by the best single solve of 1:33.21 across two rounds. Hector David Martinez Argaez followed in second place with a 2:04.74 average, while Juan Pablo Rodriguez earned third with 2:13.28. The precision required on the large layers left no room for hesitation, making every turn of the six-layered puzzle crucial.

The test of endurance continued in the 7x7x7 Cube event, where Velez Gonzalez once again set the benchmark. He clinched victory with a mean of 2:13.46, registering a sharp 2:12.20 single during the competition. Michael Andres Castillo Lemus captured second place with an average of 3:09.99, narrowly ahead of Martinez Argaez, who finished third with 3:11.85. The results highlighted the unforgiving nature of seven-layer solving, where maintaining a clean rhythm across hundreds of turns is mandatory.

Beyond the grueling large cubes, the spotlight shone brightly on remarkable personal milestones across the venue. Matías Beltrán Sánchez produced a stunning performance in the 2x2x2 Cube, delivering a personal best of 5.25 that was 61.3 percent faster than his previous mark, alongside a 7.85 personal best in Pyraminx for a 48.8 percent improvement on his way to 10th place. Juan David Corredor Pinzón also posted major gains, chopping 44.3 percent off his previous benchmark with a 7.51 in Pyraminx, while lowering his 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 6.13 and logging a 17.05 in the standard Rubik's Cube. Efraín Cortissoz Sánchez matched that 44.3 percent leap in Pyraminx with an 8.70 personal best and recorded a 7.72 in the 2x2x2 Cube. Meanwhile, Heder Andrés Ávila González tackled his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed with a 1:06.47, cut his Pyraminx mark by 37.1 percent to 7.05, and lowered his 3x3x3 Cube personal best to 18.18.

The progress across the floor was evident as solvers took on fresh disciplines and set new standards. Oscar Felipe Camargo Infante made his first ever attempt at Pyraminx with a time of 16.57, dropped his 2x2x2 Cube best by 20 percent to 12.97, and took his 3x3x3 Cube mark down to 43.44. Arley Felipe Castellanos Sánchez improved his 3x3x3 Cube record by 31.7 percent to 24.42 and posted 9.54 in the 2x2x2 Cube. Octavio Zegarra took on seven events, recording a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube of 45.96, a first ever attempt at 7x7x7 Cube of 3:57.60, and a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 10.32, which was 31.6 percent faster than before, alongside a fifth-place finish in 6x6x6 Cube. Abraham Cuitlahuac Perez Alvarez took on eight events, logging his first ever attempt at 6x6x6 Cube in 3:55.48, a 5x5x5 Cube personal best of 1:30.88 that was 11.4 percent faster, a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 11.46, and a ninth-place finish in 4x4x4 Cube at Two Days Return Bogotá 2023.

The weekend also brought fierce contests in the mid-sized puzzles and specialized formats. Michael Andres Castillo Lemus claimed top honors in the 4x4x4 Cube with a winning average of 28.61 and a single of 26.52, edging out Velez Gonzalez who finished second by mere hundredths at 28.64, while Manuel Popayán took third at 32.75. Velez Gonzalez also collected victories in the 5x5x5 Cube with a 52.93 average and the 3x3x3 One-Handed event with an average of 13.62 and single of 9.80. In the 2x2x2 Cube, Hector David Martinez Argaez secured first place with a 3.43 average, leading Velez Gonzalez at 3.76 and David Stiven Benitez Guerra at 4.05.

The main event concluded the action as the 3x3 results decided the flagship title of the tournament. Michael Andres Castillo Lemus won the 3x3x3 Cube with a winning average of 8.23 and a best single of 7.96 after three competitive rounds. Manuel Popayán claimed second place with an average of 8.72, and Velez Gonzalez completed the podium in third with an 8.86. Castillo Lemus also won the Pyraminx with a 4.93 average, ahead of Dennis Rosero at 5.79 and Martinez Argaez at 5.87. All 24 podium spots throughout the WCA competition were earned by Colombian competitors.

Across every bracket, Two Days Return Bogotá 2023 highlighted the technical precision demanded by modern speed cubing. From the high-stakes pressure of the mean-of-3 formats to the sharp sprints in traditional events, the 2023 tournament offered a comprehensive exhibition of speedcubing skill. As competitors packed their puzzles and concluded the gathering in Bogotá, the marks set over the weekend established a strong foundation for the next season of competitive solving.

Las mesas del Salon Comunal Monterrey se llenaron de tapetes y cronómetros listos para recibir a los competidores locales. El sonido constante de los giros de las piezas marcó el pulso de las jornadas en Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia, durante el 26 y 27 de agosto. En este recinto comunitario, Two Days Return Bogotá 2023 reunió a 46 participantes que disputaron un total de 19 rondas repartidas en 8 eventos oficiales.

El protagonista principal de la prueba reina fue el colombiano Michael Andres Castillo Lemus, quien se impuso en el cubo de Rubik clásico con un promedio ganador de 8.23 y un mejor intento individual de 7.96 en la final de 3x3x3 Cube. La categoría más concurrida del certamen contó con 45 competidores a lo largo de tres rondas. Manuel Popayán aseguró el segundo lugar con 8.72, mientras que Gabriel Santiago Velez Gonzalez completó el podio capitalino con una marca de 8.86.

La competencia de speedcubing mostró una intensa batalla entre los dos grandes referentes del fin de semana. En el 4x4x4 Cube, Michael Andres Castillo Lemus sumó otro triunfo al registrar un promedio de 28.61 frente a los 28.64 de Gabriel Santiago Velez Gonzalez, en una definición decidida por centésimas tras tres rondas de eliminatorias. Manuel Popayán ocupó el tercer escalón con 32.75. Castillo Lemus también brilló en Pyraminx, asegurando la victoria con una media de 4.93, superando a Dennis Rosero y Hector David Martinez Argaez.

Por su parte, Gabriel Santiago Velez Gonzalez protagonizó una cosecha formidable en la modalidad a una mano y en los cubos grandes. En 3x3x3 One-Handed lideró la tabla con un promedio de 13.62 y un mejor tiempo de 9.80 tras tres rondas, dejando en segundo puesto a Michael Andres Castillo Lemus con 15.33 y a Manuel Popayán con 15.53. Su dominio en Two Days Return Bogotá 2023 continuó en las pruebas de resistencia y mayor complejidad técnica.

En el 5x5x5 Cube, Velez Gonzalez se coronó con 52.93 frente al 1:00.87 de Castillo Lemus y el 1:05.46 de Martinez Argaez. En 6x6x6 Cube dominó con un registro de 1:40.10, superando a Martinez Argaez y Juan Pablo Rodriguez. La exhibición concluyó en 7x7x7 Cube con una media triunfal de 2:13.46 sobre Castillo Lemus y Martinez Argaez. Los podios en Two Days Return Bogotá 2023 fueron copados en su totalidad por representantes locales, sumando 24 posiciones para Colombia.

Más allá de las primeras posiciones, varios participantes alcanzaron importantes avances personales. Gabriel Herrera Gomez rebajó notablemente su registro en 2x2x2 Cube al marcar 7.26, siendo un 32% más rápido que su marca previa de 10.68. Valentina Sánchez Muñoz logró en 3x3x3 Cube una marca de 19.52, mejorando en un 27.7% su tiempo anterior de 27.00. Jeshua Emmanuel Avendaño afrontó cinco eventos y firmó su primer registro en 3x3x3 One-Handed con 1:02.04 además de un personal best de 21.67 en 3x3x3 Cube, mientras Juan José Hernandez debutó en Pyraminx con 8.20 alcanzando la posición 13.

El fin de semana también abrió camino para nuevos nombres que debutaron en una WCA competition. Ethan Andrei Cely Pulido completó sus primeros registros con 27.64 en 3x3x3 Cube, 18.92 en Pyraminx y 12.47 en 2x2x2 Cube. Tomas Jimenez Vasquez sumó cinco eventos, logrando 10.43 en 2x2x2 Cube, 24.52 en 3x3x3 Cube, 10.12 en Pyraminx y un puesto 18 en 5x5x5 Cube. Samuel Jasid Gravier Sanchez marcó 34.83 en 3x3x3 Cube, 18.10 en Pyraminx y 11.02 en 2x2x2 Cube, mientras Gabriel Esteban Herrera Santafe selló 11.09 en Pyraminx, 30.92 en 3x3x3 Cube y 16.32 en 2x2x2 Cube.

La prueba de 2x2x2 Cube cerró las finales destacadas con la victoria de Hector David Martinez Argaez, quien promedió 3.43 para superar a Gabriel Santiago Velez Gonzalez con 3.76 y a David Stiven Benitez Guerra con 4.05. Two Days Return Bogotá 2023 concluyó dejando un alto nivel organizativo y técnico en la capital colombiana durante el año 2023, consolidando el talento de sus competidores en cada una de las ocho disciplinas disputadas.