Ventanal de la Sierra Open 2023

Forty-nine competitors converged on Colmenar Viejo, Madrid, Spain, transforming the Centro Comercial Ventanal de la Sierra into a bustling hub of speedcubing across October 28 and October 29. Solvers travelled from across Spain and from abroad, including competitors from France, Belgium, Argentina, and the Netherlands, making the journey to measure their skills against a demanding schedule of seven distinct puzzles. Over two full days of action in 2023, the floor hosted 21 rounds of intense Rubik's Cube variants, drawing together travellers whose dedication to the discipline was visible from the opening turns of the weekend.

The journey proved exceptionally fruitful for Antonie Paterakis of the Netherlands, who dominated the top steps across five different events. Paterakis showcased his mastery right from the main stage, capturing the 3x3x3 Cube title with a winning average of 7.08 seconds after logging a best single of 5.92 seconds. The 3x3 results in the final round saw Spain's Jaime Botello García finish second with an 8.25 average, while fellow Spaniard Raúl Martínez Redondo claimed third place with an 8.83 average across forty-eight competitors in the event.

Paterakis continued his winning run on the larger mechanisms, navigating the complex layers of the 4x4x4 Cube and 5x5x5 Cube. In 4x4x4, he secured gold with a 30.56 winning average and a single of 24.60 seconds, staying ahead of Jaime Botello García who recorded 33.90 and Manuel Prieto de Antón who took third in 33.92. On the 5x5x5 Cube, Paterakis posted an impressive 54.85 winning average with a single of 52.60 seconds, leading Pedro Sanz Rodriguez with 1:01.93 and Raúl Martínez Redondo with 1:02.71 in the podium standings.

The Dutch solver also demonstrated remarkable dexterity on the smaller puzzles and alternative formats at Ventanal de la Sierra Open 2023. In 2x2x2 Cube, Paterakis took the victory with a 1.44 second average, while Elias Malomgré of Belgium earned second with 2.56 and Jaime Botello García took third with 2.94. Paterakis followed that triumph with another first-place finish in 3x3x3 One-Handed, recording a 10.83 winning average, comfortably ahead of Spanish competitors Pablo Aguilar Dominguez at 16.24 and Manuel Prieto de Antón at 16.39.

Away from the top steps, the weekend offered plenty of milestones for dedicated participants pushing their boundaries. Simón Pozuelo took on seven events and delivered an extraordinary 62.8 percent improvement on the 2x2x2 Cube with a 4.21 personal best, dropped his Skewb mark by 31.8 percent to 12.44, and logged his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 50.21 seconds. Román Martín Laboreo entered six disciplines, cutting his 3x3x3 One-Handed time by 58.7 percent to 21.44, lowering his 2x2x2 mark by 36.5 percent to 3.36, and shaving 31 percent off his 3x3x3 Cube time to hit an 11.49 single. French traveller Gael Moszkowicz tackled five events, slicing 49.2 percent off his Skewb record down to 11.31 while recording his first ever attempts at 3x3x3 One-Handed with 2:54.26 and 4x4x4 Cube with 3:58.91.

Sara Herrero Vela entered three events and made substantial progress, slashing 50.5 percent off her 2x2x2 Cube best to post a 13.17 single alongside a first ever attempt at Skewb in 29.42 seconds. Leonardo Jiménez Arias contested seven disciplines, achieving a best finish of 11th place in 3x3x3 One-Handed while improving his mark in that event by 43.9 percent to 24.76, bettering his 4x4x4 Cube time by 39.3 percent to 55.99, and completing his first ever attempt at Megaminx in 2:30.58. Alejandro Vaca Diaz competed in five categories, improving his 4x4x4 Cube single by 14.2 percent to 1:24.60 and logging a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 39.98. Javier Lizama Montoya entered six events, lowering his 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best by 28 percent to 49.36 and logging a first ever Megaminx attempt in 5:28.56.

The remaining events at this WCA competition brought well-deserved triumphs for other international and local solvers. Belgium's Elias Malomgré claimed the title in Skewb with a 2.75 average, edging out Raúl Martínez Redondo who managed 3.12 and Manuel Prieto de Antón who finished with 3.20. In Megaminx, Spanish solver Raúl Martínez Redondo captured first place with a 40.29 winning average, followed closely by countryman Arián Martín Núñez at 40.86, while Caro Visentin from Argentina rounded out the podium positions with a 52.62 average.

The gathering showcased both international excellence and the depth of Spanish speed cubing, with Spain earning 13 podium places, the Netherlands capturing 5, Belgium securing 2, and Argentina claiming 1. Every round reflected the energy of solvers who crossed borders and provinces to compete shoulder to shoulder in Colmenar Viejo. As the final scrambles cleared at Ventanal de la Sierra Open 2023, the participants concluded a rewarding weekend of personal progression, record-setting solves, and memorable camaraderie that will inspire their preparation for the next cubing competition season.

The success of Ventanal de la Sierra Open 2023 served as a reminder that the distance travelled by each participant is measured not just in kilometers on the map, but in the tenths of a second gained at the tables.

49 competidores se dieron cita para disputar un exigente fin de semana de alta tension en Colmenar Viejo, Madrid, Spain. El cronometro dicto sentencia a lo largo de 21 rondas intensivas distribuidas en siete categorias oficiales. En un formato de campeonato donde cada segundo contaba para avanzar de fase y subir a lo mas alto del podio, los especialistas del cubo de Rubik demostraron una preparacion tecnica impecable. El calendario del 28 al 29 de octubre de 2023 dejo marcas destacadas y actuaciones memorables en el Centro Comercial Ventanal de la Sierra.

El gran protagonista absoluto de las jornadas fue Antonie Paterakis, quien firmo una actuacion historica al adjudicarse cinco de las siete disciplinas en disputa. En la prueba reina del cubo 3x3x3, el neerlandes mantuvo el control absoluto de principio a fin, llevandose el triunfo en la final con un promedio ganador de 7.08 segundos y logrando el mejor registro individual del torneo con 5.92. La delegacion local intento responder con Jaime Botello Garcia, segundo con 8.25, y Raul Martinez Redondo, tercero con 8.83.

La superioridad de Paterakis continuo extendiendose a lo largo de los cubos grandes y pruebas de velocidad pura. En el 4x4x4 Cube se impuso con un promedio de 30.56 y un mejor intento de 24.60, superando a Jaime Botello Garcia que registro 33.90 y a Manuel Prieto de Anton que marco 33.92. En el 5x5x5 Cube, Paterakis aseguro el primer puesto con 54.85 y un mejor single de 52.60, relegando a Pedro Sanz Rodriguez al segundo lugar con 1:01.93 y a Raul Martinez Redondo al tercero con 1:02.71.

La exhibicion del neerlandes no se detuvo ahi, sumando tambien el triunfo en 3x3x3 One-Handed tras completar una media de 10.83 y un tiempo unico de 10.40, aventajando con claridad a Pablo Aguilar Dominguez con 16.24 y a Manuel Prieto de Anton con 16.39. Finalmente, en 2x2x2 Cube consiguio su quinto titulo con una media final de 1.44 y un mejor intento de 1.14 en la ronda decisiva, superando a Elias Malomgre con 2.56 y a Jaime Botello Garcia con 2.94.

Las dos disciplinas restantes tuvieron como protagonistas a otros nombres ilustres del speedcubing europeo. En Skewb, el belga Elias Malomgre se corono campeon con una media de 2.75 y un mejor tiempo de 1.85, superando a Raul Martinez Redondo con 3.12 y a Manuel Prieto de Anton con 3.20. Por su parte, la categoria de Megaminx vio una reñida batalla donde el español Raul Martinez Redondo subio a lo mas alto gracias a una media de 40.29 y un single de 37.19, seguido muy de cerca por Arian Martin Nuñez con 40.86 y Caro Visentin con 52.62.

Mas alla de las finales y los triunfos en el podio, la competicion de cubos de la WCA dejo historias de enorme progreso individual en la tabla general. Luis Javier Sanz Sardina firmo una magnifica mejora en 3x3x3 One-Handed al registrar un tiempo de 10.63, mejorando un 32.1 por ciento su marca anterior de 15.65 y obteniendo el quinto puesto. Tomas Franco Chehebar participo en 7 eventos, logrando su mejor resultado con un septimo puesto en 4x4x4 Cube tras bajar un 20.4 por ciento su registro a 36.10, ademas de mejorar un 18.5 por ciento en 3x3x3 One-Handed con 16.57 y un 13.5 por ciento en 5x5x5 Cube con 1:31.42. Iñigo Escolar Maicas pulverizo sus marcas al lograr 6.95 en 3x3x3 Cube, un 19.7 por ciento mas rapido que su registro previo de 8.65, y 47.52 en 4x4x4 Cube, mejorando un 16.5 por ciento para alcanzar el noveno puesto.

El espiritu de superacion continuo con Carlos Lopez Piedra, quien compitio en 3 eventos y logro una mejora del 10.6 por ciento en 2x2x2 Cube con 4.90 frente a sus 5.48 previos, ademas de parar el crono en 20.08 en 3x3x3 Cube para un progreso del 9.7 por ciento. Los estrenos en el circuito tambien marcaron el fin de semana: Alex Pozuelo realizo su primer intento oficial en 3x3x3 Cube con un registro de 1:26.85. Guillermo Sanchez Gutierrez vivio su primera competicion WCA participando en 4 modalidades, firmando sus primeros intentos con 9.82 en 2x2x2 Cube, 6:53.68 en Megaminx y 33.17 en 3x3x3 Cube. Asimismo, Martin Nahuel Litwin Escriña debuto en el circuito oficial disputando 2 pruebas y sellando tiempos de 4.70 en 2x2x2 Cube y 22.02 en 3x3x3 Cube.

La distribucion de puestos de honor confirmo la profundidad del certamen, con España acumulando trece presencias en los cajones, Paises Bajos cinco, Belgica dos y Argentina una. El Ventanal de la Sierra Open 2023 cerro dos dias de intensos duelos deportivos y marcas personales que ratifican el continuo crecimiento de esta disciplina en la comunidad madrileña.

Concluida la cita, los participantes cierran el ciclo del Ventanal de la Sierra Open 2023 con la mirada puesta en los desafios que deparara la proxima temporada de competiciones oficiales.