Urdaneta Speedcubing Open 2024

Inside SM City Urdaneta Central, the rhythmic clack of twisting plastic echoed across the bustling tournament floor. Dedicated staff, judges, runners, and World Cube Association delegates moved systematically from station to station, setting up timers, managing scorecards, and ensuring each puzzle was scrambled with absolute precision. The organized effort behind the scenes created a smooth stage for the single-day gathering on August 31, 2024. Thanks to the meticulous work of the hosting team, the Urdaneta Speedcubing Open 2024 offered an ideal environment for puzzle solvers to showcase their discipline across twelve rounds of play.

A tight roster of 33 competitors assembled in Urdaneta City, Philippines, eager to test their skills across seven varied events. The local crew kept the entire schedule running without a delay, guiding participants seamlessly from the opening rounds through the afternoon finals. This well-coordinated cubing competition highlighted the vibrancy of the regional scene, as fans and fellow solvers gathered around the perimeter to watch the action unfold. Every detail of the event floor demonstrated the commitment of the volunteer base that makes regional speedcubing fixtures possible.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube event drew the full field of 33 entrants through three intense rounds. When the final round concluded, Xavier De Vera secured the top spot on the podium with a winning average of 7.52 seconds, supported by a best single of 7.10 seconds. Leonard Wayne Lee J. Mensigos captured the runner-up position with an average of 8.75 seconds, while Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes earned third place with a 9.26 average. These decisive 3x3 results capped a day of exceptional speed cubing at the classic Rubik's Cube format.

Big cube mastery was on full display in the 4x4x4 Cube and 5x5x5 Cube divisions, where Richmond Mico Rigor produced a commanding double victory. Rigor claimed the 4x4x4 title across two rounds with an average of 31.48 seconds and a single of 27.48 seconds, finishing ahead of Gian Carlo C. Catambay at 34.36 seconds and Louie Jay Quibote at 35.73 seconds. Rigor then matched that standard in the single round of 5x5x5, taking gold with a 53.50 average and a single of 47.22. Catambay followed in second place with a 59.94 average, and Quibote secured third in 1:00.12.

In the 2x2x2 Cube, Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes took the championship with a winning average of 2.32 seconds and a rapid single of 1.19 seconds. Marc Arvinson J. Padilla earned the second position with an average of 3.71 seconds, edging past Francis Hero G. Ancho, who also recorded a 3.71 average to take third place. Side events brought equally tense competition throughout the afternoon at the Urdaneta Speedcubing Open 2024. Dylan Arteims N. Fernandez won the Skewb final with an average of 4.40 seconds over Kenneth Carlos, who posted a 4.44 average, followed by Magallanes in third at 5.92.

Behind the top podium positions, several competitors marked exceptional breakthroughs that highlighted the depth of personal achievement at the venue. Kelsey Kizz Grico entered four events, posting a personal best of 2.54 seconds in 2x2x2 to cut 59.9 percent off their previous best, taking ninth in Pyraminx with a personal best of 7.35 seconds, and making their first ever attempt at Skewb with a 10.72 single. Chaz Noel Dimarucut Moratalla entered three events and delivered a 34 percent personal improvement in the 3x3x3 Cube with a 12.27 single, while completing their first ever attempt at 2x2x2 with 6.18 and their first ever attempt at 4x4x4 with 1:50.22. Jhon Edrian Capinpin tackled four events, taking sixteenth in Pyraminx on their first ever attempt at the puzzle with a 10.05 single, while lowering their 2x2x2 best to 3.67 seconds and their 4x4x4 mark to 1:10.65.

The steady progression continued across multiple disciplines as other dedicated solvers expanded their repertoires. Laurence Mark G. Colis entered five events, recording a sixteenth-place finish in 5x5x5 with a first ever attempt of 2:03.45 and registering a first ever attempt at Clock with 16.03 seconds. Michael Macalalad Chuahong Jr. contested two events, achieving a 39.4 percent drop in 3x3x3 to reach a 19.15 single and lowering their 2x2x2 personal best to 8.10 seconds. Arnel Peros entered four events, securing thirteenth in 5x5x5 and achieving personal best singles of 2.51 in 2x2x2, 49.49 in 4x4x4, and 10.64 in 3x3x3. Jeriemy Siapno took on three events, claiming ninth in Clock on a first ever attempt of 10.94 seconds alongside a personal best of 2.54 seconds in 2x2x2.

The remaining specialty disciplines provided exciting finishes for the attendees. Renaud B. Manansala won the Clock event over two rounds with a 6.44 average and a single of 4.03 seconds, leading Magallanes at 6.89 and Fernandez at 7.13. Kenneth Carlos captured the Pyraminx title with an average of 5.63 seconds and a best single of 4.79 seconds, finishing ahead of Clark Vince Doria Vicente at 5.77 and Catambay at 6.54. The successful execution of the Urdaneta Speedcubing Open 2024 stood as a testament to the organizers and competitors who came together to create a memorable WCA competition in Pangasinan.

Nagtala si Xavier De Vera ng kahanga-hangang winning average na 7.52 upang masungkit ang unang puwesto sa 3x3x3 Cube sa pagtatapos ng Urdaneta Speedcubing Open 2024. Sa naturang torneo na ginanap sa SM City Urdaneta Central sa Urdaneta City, Philippines noong August 31, 2024, ipinakita ng mga kalahok ang pambihirang kontrol at bilis. Ang kumpetisyon ay nagbigay-diin sa matinding dedikasyon sa bawat solve, kung saan ang tamang paghawak, maingat na fingertricks, at mabilis na pagkilala sa mga algorithm ay naging susi sa tagumpay sa bawat round.

Umabot sa 33 kalahok ang nagtagisan sa pitong magkakaibang kaganapan na binubuo ng 12 rounds sa buong araw ng paligsahan. Sa pangunahing kategorya ng tradisyunal na Rubik's Cube, nakuha ni Xavier De Vera ang tagumpay matapos ang tatlong round at nagtala rin ng best single na 7.10. Pumangalawa sa podium si Leonard Wayne Lee J. Mensigos na may average na 8.75, habang pumangatlo naman si Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes na nagrehistro ng average na 9.26 sa kapana-panabik na finals.

Hindi nagpahuli si Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes sa iba pang mga labanan sa speedcubing nang dominahin niya ang 2x2x2 Cube event. Nagtala siya ng winning average na 2.32 at mabilis na single na 1.19 upang ungusan ang 27 kalahok sa kategorya. Pumangalawa si Marc Arvinson J. Padilla na nagtala ng average na 3.71 matapos ang tiebreak kasunod si Francis Hero G. Ancho na nagrehistro rin ng average na 3.71 para sa ikatlong puwesto sa podium.

Ipinamalas naman ni Richmond Mico Rigor ang kanyang husay sa malalaking puzzle matapos magwagi sa dalawang magkahiwalay na kategorya. Sa 4x4x4 Cube, nanguna si Richmond Mico Rigor sa pamamagitan ng winning average na 31.48 at best single na 27.48 laban sa 26 kalahok. Sinundan ito ng isa pang panalo sa 5x5x5 Cube kung saan nagposte siya ng average na 53.50 at best single na 47.22. Sa parehong kategorya, pumangalawa si Gian Carlo C. Catambay na may 34.36 sa 4x4x4 at 59.94 sa 5x5x5, habang pumangatlo si Louie Jay Quibote na may 35.73 sa 4x4x4 at 1:00.12 sa 5x5x5.

Sa likod ng mga opisyal na podium, maraming manlalaro ang nagtala ng mahahalagang personal na tagumpay sa kanilang karera. Si Ree Brandel D. Cariaga, na sumabak sa limang kategorya dito, ay nagtala ng bagong 5x5x5 Cube personal best na 1:27.45 na 20.2 porsyentong mas mabilis kaysa sa kanyang dating 1:49.55, bukod sa kanyang 3x3x3 Cube personal best na 10.34 at ika-9 na puwesto. Si Vincent Noel Dagdag ay nagtala naman ng 5x5x5 Cube personal best na 1:18.43 na 7.3 porsyentong mas mabilis sa kanyang dating 1:24.65, kasabay ng 3x3x3 Cube personal best na 9.63 upang makuha ang ika-6 na puwesto.

Nagpakita rin ng matinding sigla si Dexter James De Guzman sa limang kategorya sa pamamagitan ng Skewb personal best na 8.16 na 11.2 porsyentong mas mabilis sa dating 9.19, at 2x2x2 Cube personal best na 2.37 na 6.3 porsyentong mas mabilis sa dating 2.53 upang magtapos sa ika-7 puwesto sa 3x3x3 Cube. Samantala, si Arvin Louis Ballesteros ay nagtala ng 3x3x3 Cube personal best na 8.11 na 4.3 porsyentong mas mabilis sa dating 8.47 at tumapos sa ika-5 puwesto sa Pyraminx. Si Eian Taborda ay nagtala ng Pyraminx personal best na 5.41 na 4.2 porsyentong mas mabilis sa dating 5.65 para sa ika-7 puwesto. Sa kanilang unang WCA competition, sumabak si Gene Marc Aban sa kanyang unang attempt sa 3x3x3 Cube sa bilis na 21.04 at 2x2x2 Cube sa bilis na 9.78, habang si Ryevin Kline T. Seguin ay sumabak sa kanyang unang attempt sa 3x3x3 Cube sa bilis na 54.64.

Naging mahigpit din ang labanan sa mga side event sa Urdaneta Speedcubing Open 2024. Sa Pyraminx, nagwagi si Kenneth Carlos na may winning average na 5.63 at best single na 4.79 laban sa 17 kalahok, habang pumangalawa si Clark Vince Doria Vicente na may average na 5.77 at pumangatlo si Gian Carlo C. Catambay na may 6.54. Sa Skewb, nasungkit ni Dylan Arteims N. Fernandez ang unang puwesto na may winning average na 4.40 at best single na 3.43 matapos talunin si Kenneth Carlos na nagtala ng 4.44, habang si Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes ay pumangatlo sa oras na 5.92.

Tinapos ang naturang cubing competition sa pamamagitan ng Clock event kung saan nagwagi si Renaud B. Manansala sa kanyang winning average na 6.44 at best single na 4.03. Pumangalawa sa kategorya si Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes na nagrehistro ng 6.89 average, at pumangatlo si Dylan Arteims N. Fernandez na may 7.13 average. Lahat ng 21 podium places sa torneo ay matagumpay na nakuha ng mga kinatawan mula sa Pilipinas sa isang buong araw ng mataas na antas ng kumpetisyon.