UPB PLL Cocha 2024

A winning average of 13.92 seconds in 3x3x3 One-Handed defined the standard of technical precision across the weekend in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Solving a Rubik's Cube with a single hand demands exceptional fingertrick control, ergonomic efficiency, and steady lookahead, leaving zero margin for clumsy transitions. Across two intense rounds among 19 competitors, Alejandro Marze Rossel demonstrated that mastery, setting a best single of 13.77 seconds on his way to an undisputed victory at UPB PLL Cocha 2024.

The gathering took place on September 28 and 29, 2024, hosted at the Universidad Privada Boliviana. A total of 35 competitors assembled for the cubing competition, taking on 11 distinct events spread over 21 rounds of play. While international representation saw Peru claim two podium finishes courtesy of Joseph Daniel Blas Sanchez, Bolivian competitors retained command over the vast majority of hardware, capturing 31 podium spots in a spirited showcase of regional speedcubing talent.

Marze Rossel emerged as the most prolific victor of the meeting, securing three individual titles. In addition to his one-handed triumph, he dominated the traditional 4x4x4 Cube, posting a winning average of 29.59 seconds and a tournament-best single of 27.43 seconds to finish ahead of Josias Milan Sirpa Pinto and Blas Sanchez. His consistency carried directly into the main event, where he led three full rounds to claim the top spot on the podium.

The standard 3x3 results concluded with Marze Rossel securing the title behind a 9.09 average, bolstered by a 7.77 single. He was joined on the premier podium by Xavier Antonio Balderrama, who took second place with an average of 9.70 seconds, and Josias Milan Sirpa Pinto, who captured third with a mark of 9.90 seconds. The 32-person bracket served as the focal point of the weekend schedule, testing speed cubing fundamentals through every elimination stage.

Big cubes belonged almost entirely to Josias Milan Sirpa Pinto, who compiled an exceptional trio of gold medals. Pinto took first place in the 5x5x5 Cube with a 57.60 average and a 53.79 single, besting Marze Rossel and Fabricio Andrés Yañez Terrazas. He followed that performance by topping the 6x6x6 Cube final with a 1:45.19 average, and then completed his sweep on the 7x7x7 Cube, recording a winning average of 2:49.47 to defeat Daniel Delgado Candia.

Away from the podium battles, significant milestones highlighted the depth of the field throughout UPB PLL Cocha 2024. Nicolas Andres Claros Zurita achieved the weekend's sharpest personal best drop, cutting his Pyraminx mark by 59.6 percent down to 12.16 seconds. Leonardo Gabriel Ovirece Figueroa entered three events, taking on his first ever attempt at the 5x5x5 Cube with a time of 1:59.60 while improving his 3x3x3 One-Handed best by 21.1 percent to 25.07. Frederick Antonio Balderrama Mendoza registered his first ever attempt in one-handed solving at 1:14.88 and improved his 3x3x3 personal best by 17.9 percent to 31.78 seconds.

Other competitors embraced expansive schedules and recorded strong first-time marks across multiple formats. Alex Ignacio Arispe Loza lowered his 4x4x4 Cube best by 16.5 percent to 59.26 seconds, while Leonardo David Gonzales Ajata dropped his 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best by 16.6 percent to 1:24.30 across three events. Armando Ruben Cantuta Poma tackled seven events, logging his first ever attempts in Megaminx at 5:08.84, Clock at 32.83, and one-handed solving at 1:40.80, finishing 11th in Clock. Johann Alejandro Zamorano Rodriguez took on eight disciplines, notching first attempts in 5x5x5 at 3:09.93, Megaminx at 2:13.60, and Clock at 21.90 to finish 9th, while Axel Ramses Argandoña Ibañez took part in his first WCA competition, recording first-ever marks of 4.33 on Pyraminx and 31.11 on the 3x3x3.

Short-format events delivered further variety as Fabricio Andrés Yañez Terrazas captured the 2x2x2 Cube title with a 3.04 average, edging Jhersson Cabezas Luizaga and Nancy Garcés Hazou. Cabezas Luizaga found the top step elsewhere, earning two victories by claiming Pyraminx with a 4.88 average and the single-round Clock event in 7.23 seconds. Garcés Hazou took Megaminx honors with a 50.88 average, outperforming Yañez Terrazas and Pinto.

In the specialized discipline of 3x3x3 Blindfolded, where athletes must memorize piece orientations before donning a blindfold, Christian Daniel Avila Mendez earned victory with a single of 1:18.53, finishing ahead of Jhoel Manuel Callata Cardoso and Abdiel Avila Panozo. With 21 rounds wrapped across two packed days in Cochabamba, UPB PLL Cocha 2024 celebrated versatility and mechanical execution across the entire competitive spectrum.