Unifranz SCZ 2024

Fabricio Andrés Yañez Terrazas delivered a masterclass across multiple disciplines at Unifranz SCZ 2024, topping the marquee 3x3x3 Cube with a winning average of 9.20 seconds alongside a best single solve of 8.86. Held on June 15, 2024, at Universidad Unifranz in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, the one-day gathering assembled 48 competitors who took on a rich spectrum of seven distinct events over 12 packed rounds. From standard twisting puzzles to complex dodecahedrons and mechanical dials, the meeting celebrated the full, eclectic breadth of speedcubing.

The range of challenges tested completely different skill sets throughout the day. Competitors moved seamlessly from the classic Rubik's Cube to odd-shaped geometry, with Yañez Terrazas claiming three separate event titles. In the 12-sided Megaminx, he secured victory with an average of 1:12.20, including a single of 1:03.10, besting Peru's Joseph Daniel Blas Sanchez, who took second with 1:19.96, and Sebastián Morón Mariscal in third with 1:24.24. Yañez Terrazas also captured the 2x2x2 Cube title, recording an average of 3.39 seconds to lead Maicol Deimar Machaca Apaza and Fabian Alberti Maldonado on the podium.

The classic three-layered puzzle remained a central focal point of the weekend, with 45 competitors entering the 3x3 results chase across three rigorous rounds. Yañez Terrazas took top honors in the final, followed closely by Jhoan Jhunior Alvarado Balderrama in second with an average of 10.46 seconds and Antonio Adorno Suarez in third at 10.99 seconds. The depth of talent in Santa Cruz, Bolivia was evident as local competitors demonstrated remarkable speed and consistency throughout the multi-round qualification process.

Versatility was equally on display in the larger hardware and specialized disciplines. Jhoan Jhunior Alvarado Balderrama put together an exceptional campaign of his own, sweeping two of the day's most demanding tests. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Alvarado Balderrama notched a winning average of 37.50 seconds and a single of 36.35 to finish ahead of Yañez Terrazas at 42.85 and Blas Sanchez at 43.34. Alvarado Balderrama followed that triumph by winning 3x3x3 One-Handed with an average of 16.45 seconds, edging out Alvaro Javier Viscarra Catacora and Yañez Terrazas in a hard-fought final.

Alternative formats brought even more variety to the stage, featuring specialized events like Clock and Pyraminx. In the two-sided dial challenge of Clock, Sebastián Morón Mariscal earned first place with a 10.39-second average, besting Giosuè Torrico and Yañez Terrazas. Meanwhile, the triangular Pyraminx saw Antonio Adorno Suarez post a decisive winning average of 3.32 seconds, highlighted by a single of 2.91. Alvarado Balderrama and Morón Mariscal rounded out the Pyraminx podium, securing second and third places respectively in a swift 22-person field.

Away from the top steps of the podium, numerous competitors seized the moment across the eclectic lineup to reach personal milestones. Jhon Jairo Condori Rueda made massive strides, slashing 39.4 percent off his 3x3x3 Cube personal best with a 14.84 mark while also making his first official attempts in 2x2x2 Cube with a 6.20 and 3x3x3 One-Handed with 43.11. José Dyland Molina Noha took on five events, earning a career-best sixth-place finish in Megaminx while cutting his Pyraminx personal best by 34.1 percent down to 11.21 seconds, his 2x2x2 mark by 23 percent to 3.92, and his 4x4x4 time by 22.3 percent to 52.67.

The momentum continued as Edison Janco Ayna improved his 3x3x3 Cube mark by 23.8 percent to 10.88 seconds, alongside personal bests in 2x2x2 Cube at 4.02 and 3x3x3 One-Handed at 28.49. Raphaël Adrien Miqueu Catoira reduced his Pyraminx personal best by 25 percent to 7.44 on his way to a ninth-place finish, while Mateo Bonilla Ayala dropped his 4x4x4 Cube best by 23.5 percent to 1:20.69 across five events. Gabriel Marcelo Callahuara Montoya tackled five events, making first attempts in 3x3x3 One-Handed at 32.55, Pyraminx at 7.86, and 4x4x4 Cube at 2:33.41, while Nicolás Mendoza Peña set a Clock mark of 22.88 and Alejandro Abraham Carrillo Mita logged a 13.41 on 3x3x3 Cube in his debut.

Every round added another layer to an energetic festival of speed cubing at Universidad Unifranz. International flavor highlighted the distribution of awards, with Bolivia earning 19 podium positions and Peru capturing two courtesy of Joseph Daniel Blas Sanchez. As the final puzzles were scrambled and solved, Unifranz SCZ 2024 stood as a testament to the broad capabilities of the regional community, providing a comprehensive cubing competition that tested dexterity, memory, and spatial mastery at every turn.

With 12 rounds completed in a single action-packed day, this WCA competition demonstrated the depth of talent flourishing across all puzzle categories in the 2024 season. The diverse schedule allowed competitors to express their abilities on everything from quick two-layer cubes to intricate dodecahedrons, leaving an indelible mark on the sporting calendar.