Vacaciones Cuenca Open 2024

Daniel Gutierrez delivered a commanding performance in Cuenca, Ecuador, capturing seven out of eight titles in a packed one-day showcase. Across eleven tightly contested rounds, 28 competitors pushed each other through an extensive schedule at the Centro Comercial Monay Shopping on July 6, 2024. Advancing out of the opening rounds proved demanding, with every heat requiring peak concentration across the full roster of official events. The level of preparation across the entire field ensured that reaching any podium position demanded relentless consistency throughout the Saturday program.

The classic 3x3x3 Cube drew 27 competitors across three elimination rounds, making it the most intensely contested event on the schedule. Daniel Gutierrez set the standard from start to finish, capturing the title with a tournament-winning average of 7.27 seconds and posting the best single time of 6.67 seconds. Pablo Sebastián Arévalo Barros took second place with a solid 12.25 average, while Josué Ordóñez rounded out the top three with 12.91. For those tracking 3x3 results, the depth of talent showed as solving margins shrank with each successive round.

Beyond the main Rubik's Cube category, the tournament featured exceptional diversity across several alternate puzzles. Gutierrez continued his dominance by securing victories in Pyraminx with a 3.15 average, Skewb in 6.14, and 4x4x4 Cube with a mark of 32.49. In 3x3x3 One-Handed, Gutierrez claimed the gold with an 11.85 average ahead of Josué Ordóñez who posted 19.30. In Megaminx, Gutierrez finished first with a 47.79 average, while his 9.75 average in Clock edged out Ordóñez by fifteen hundredths of a second.

The lone event where Gutierrez did not take the top spot was the 2x2x2 Cube, which featured 19 competitors over two rounds. Carlos Mario Ortiz Alay delivered a composed final performance to seize victory with an average of 3.98 seconds, just edging Gutierrez who finished second at 4.00 seconds. Josué Ordóñez secured third place with a 4.27 average. The narrow margins at the top of the standings reflected the intense pressure found across each stage of this cubing competition.

Behind the headline podium finishes, several competitors delivered outstanding personal milestones that defined the event. Valentín Vintimilla made remarkable progress across three categories, shaving 62.3 percent off his previous Pyraminx personal best to post 6.35 seconds, dropping his 2x2x2 Cube mark by 61.2 percent to 5.80, and improving his 3x3x3 Cube best to 38.55. Isaac Alejandro Sisa Reiban recorded a 3.87 in Pyraminx, an improvement of 56.5 percent that helped him claim fifth place. Anthony Mishquero took on all eight events, logging a personal best of 1:09.16 in 4x4x4 Cube, which was 40.8 percent faster, and making his first career Clock attempt with an 18.83. Erick Ricardo Morales Vera completed his first official attempts in 4x4x4 Cube at 2:00.03 and 2x2x2 Cube at 7.51, while also improving his Pyraminx best by 36.8 percent to 6.81.

Other participants also turned in memorable individual breakthroughs across the day. Luis Sigcho tackled four disciplines, making his first attempt at Skewb with a 17.27, dropping his 4x4x4 Cube mark by 35.6 percent to 1:13.57, and securing seventh place in 2x2x2 Cube. Joaquin Alejandro Bastidas Tobar entered all eight events, taking on Clock for the first time with a 22.07 and cutting his 2x2x2 Cube best by 30.6 percent to 2.38 for a fourth-place finish in Pyraminx. Cristian Ismael Auqui logged his first official tries in 2x2x2 Cube with a 4.66 and Pyraminx with a 5.82, while improving his 3x3x3 Cube best by 30.2 percent to 18.91. Luis Encarnación cut 31.7 percent from his Megaminx best to clock 1:40.58, earning fifth place.

The event also marked the start of official tournament play for several newcomers making their debut. Gabriel Reyes took his initial steps in a WCA competition by registering a 27.37 in 3x3x3 Cube and a 6.95 in 2x2x2 Cube. Dilan Michael Iza Guanoquiza completed his opening runs in 3x3x3 Cube with 21.72 and 2x2x2 Cube with 9.49. Joaquín Torres Meneses also opened his competitive record in the same two events, posting 23.69 and 9.06 respectively. Emely Fabiana Puga Colchado rounded out the first-time appearances by posting a 47.08 single on the 3x3x3 Cube.

Across the entire day, the speedcubing action in Cuenca highlighted both veteran poise and rapid individual growth. Competitors from Ecuador accumulated 16 podium finishes while the United States earned eight, all through the sweep orchestrated by Gutierrez. The speed cubing community in the region demonstrated impressive technical skill across a demanding schedule that tested stamina and versatility. The success of Vacaciones Cuenca Open 2024 showed the rising depth of speedsolving talent in Ecuador, establishing a strong benchmark as competitors look toward upcoming fixtures on the sporting calendar.