Vacaciones Cuenca Open 2026

Justin Santiago Reinoso Arias captured the premier title at Centro Comercial Batán Shoping, setting the tone for a showcase of veteran poise with a winning 3x3x3 Cube average of 8.64 seconds. His final round also featured the quickest single solve of the event at 7.45 seconds, sealing victory against a packed bracket. The one-day tournament brought together 20 speedcubing competitors in Cuenca, Ecuador, delivering 10 rounds of competition across eight distinct categories on August 1, 2026.

The 3x3 results capped an impressive display by seasoned contenders who commanded the top steps. Pablo Sebastián Arévalo Barros earned the runner-up position in 3x3x3 with a 9.75 average, while Pablo Sebastián Flores Peralta followed closely in third place at 10.47 seconds. Throughout the gathering, host nation Ecuador swept all 24 available podium spots, reflecting the concentrated talent competing across every discipline.

Pablo Sebastián Arévalo Barros proved exceptionally reliable across the larger and specialty formats, securing two championship victories during the meet. In 4x4x4 Cube, Arévalo Barros posted a winning mark of 40.45 seconds alongside the single best solve of 38.10, holding off Flores Peralta who placed second in 42.10. Arévalo Barros then carried his momentum into 3x3x3 One-Handed, claiming the gold with an 18.13 average, ahead of Reinoso Arias in second at 21.77 and Josué Ordóñez in third with 22.10.

Pablo Sebastián Flores Peralta assembled his own dominant run across three different events, displaying remarkable versatility. Flores Peralta secured the Clock title with an 8.00 average, finished atop the Megaminx standings at 1:14.83, and won the Skewb event in 7.06 seconds. Josué Ordóñez mirrored this consistency across multiple tables, taking second place in both Clock and Megaminx before claiming victory in Pyraminx with a sharp 4.84 average. Meanwhile, Emilio Andre Garzón Labre triumphed in the 2x2x2 Cube final, winning with an average of 2.56 seconds.

Beyond the championship finals, the floor saw immense personal growth from competitors making massive mechanical leaps. Pablo Camilo Jara Idrovo recorded one of the most drastic drops of the day, delivering a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 25.00 seconds, which improved his former mark of 56.42 by 55.7 percent. Issac Joaquín Parra Bonilla registered a standout Pyraminx personal best of 6.85 seconds, slicing 51.6 percent off his prior 14.16 standard while also reaching a 2x2x2 personal best of 8.36. José Antonio Cabrera Berrezueta similarly knocked 44.1 percent off his Pyraminx best to reach 8.09 seconds and lowered his 3x3x3 benchmark by 38.5 percent down to 27.40.

Other competitors took on ambitious multi-event schedules to set new career benchmarks. Sebastián Elías Escalante Bernabé entered six disciplines, completing his first ever attempt at Skewb in 8.03 seconds, a first ever attempt at Megaminx in 2:39.86, and trimming his 4x4x4 personal best by 9.7 percent to 1:12.73. Julio Cesar Mora Orellana contested five events, establishing a 24.1 percent improvement in Skewb at 8.75 seconds, a 23.5 percent drop in 2x2x2 to 7.20, and a 4x4x4 best of 2:13.14. Dilan Michael Iza Guanoquiza lowered his 3x3x3 personal best by 22.1 percent to 15.90 seconds, Cristian Ismael Auqui improved his 4x4x4 best by 16 percent to 1:30.30 across five events, and Anthony Adrian Criollo Gordillo recorded a personal best finish of 11th in 3x3x3 One-Handed.

The range of events brought classic Rubik's Cube variants and twisting puzzles to the forefront throughout the busy afternoon. Dominic David Narváez Correa claimed third in Skewb with an 8.30 mark, while Mateo Quichimbo picked up two third-place podiums with a 1:32.84 in Megaminx and a 7.98 in Pyraminx. Anthony Mishquero earned third in Clock with a 13.86 average, and Pablo Alejandro Herrera Verdugo locked up second in Pyraminx at 5.96 seconds, highlighting the high standards maintained across every round of speed cubing action.

The Vacaciones Cuenca Open 2026 highlighted how experience and steady execution dictate outcomes under tournament pressure in Cuenca, Ecuador. From veteran champions controlling the podiums to developing solvers making dramatic reductions in their personal bests, this cubing competition served as a comprehensive benchmark for regional talent. With another high-caliber WCA competition successfully concluded, the community turns its focus toward the next season of competitive solving.