Verano on Asunción 2025

Twenty-six competitors gathered across two full days of action as Universidad Comunera hosted a packed weekend of speedcubing excellence in the heart of Asuncion, Paraguay. From February 15 to February 16, 2025, the tournament floor became a bustling meeting ground for veteran solvers and newcomers sharing warm camaraderie between intense rounds. With 11 events and 18 rounds on the schedule, the gathering celebrated both sharp competitive drive and the shared passion that binds the local puzzle community together.

The atmosphere of the weekend was anchored by friendly exchanges at the practice tables, where solvers traded advice on hardware, swapped algorithms, and cheered on peers in lesser-seen side events. While the main stage drew plenty of attention, the quieter moments between heats reflected the true spirit of this cubing competition. Participants mingled freely across categories, tracking each other's progress whether they were tackling rapid-fire puzzles or testing their patience against multi-layered challenges.

When the official timers started running, Kenji Julian Caceres Matsumoto delivered a tour de force across multiple disciplines. Caceres Matsumoto secured gold in six different categories, showing remarkable range and control throughout Verano on Asuncion 2025. He opened his haul by winning the 2x2x2 Cube with a 3.08-second average, followed by quick victories in Pyraminx with a 5.47 average and Skewb with a 5.03 average. His versatility extended into the larger events as well, capturing the 4x4x4 Cube in 40.25 seconds and the 5x5x5 Cube in 1:24.69.

Caceres Matsumoto added two more titles in specialized puzzles, capturing the Megaminx with a winning average of 43.67 seconds and taking the 3x3x3 One-Handed event in 12.76 seconds. In that one-handed final, Gustavo Adolfo Ortega Gomez of Venezuela took second place with a 24.92 average, while Oliver Britez secured third with 25.73. Ortega Gomez also had a standout showing across the heavier twisty puzzles, claiming first place in Square-1 with a 17.45 average and topping the 6x6x6 Cube in 3:18.11.

Beyond the podium finishes, the weekend provided a stage for breakthrough milestones from emerging competitors. Lucas Daniel Ramirez Acuna demonstrated outstanding progress by dropping his 3x3x3 Rubik's Cube personal best by 36.8 percent down to 22.94 seconds, while also trimming his Pyraminx best by 31.5 percent to 7.36 seconds and logging his first ever Skewb attempt at 14.11 seconds. Gian Battista Esposito Rodriguez made a massive leap on the 2x2x2 Cube, setting a personal best of 6.66 seconds to beat his prior mark by 47.4 percent, while Angel Sebastian Cardozo Vera took on his first ever official 2x2x2 Cube attempt at 14.98 seconds and improved his Pyraminx mark by 29.4 percent to 15.32 seconds.

Several solvers marked their very first WCA competition at Verano on Asuncion 2025, bringing fresh energy to the venue. Seonwoong Kim entered five events in their debut, registering a 10th-place finish in Skewb and putting up initial marks of 22.67 in Skewb, 4:40.70 in Megaminx, and 23.65 in 2x2x2 Cube. Carlos Silvestre Zarate Campuzano also debuted with a 21.91 single on the 3x3x3 Cube and 9.43 on the 2x2x2 Cube. Pedro Joel Villalba Romero earned a 5th-place finish in the 5x5x5 Cube while recording first-time marks in both the 4x4x4 Cube and classic 3x3x3 Cube. Mateo Augusto Gomez Candado posted his first Pyraminx solve of 22.64, and Jiwoong Kim completed inaugural official solves in Pyraminx at 18.48 seconds and 2x2x2 Cube at 24.33 seconds.

The Clock event provided another highlight of specialized control, where Carlos Benjamin Mereles Martinez secured victory with a smooth 8.67-second average and a best single of 7.38. Caceres Matsumoto finished second in Clock with an average of 17.66 seconds, closely followed by Silas Nunez Ortiz who registered an 18.80 average for third place. Throughout every round, the support from competitors along the sidelines remained steady, creating an inviting environment for both seasoned specialists and speed cubing enthusiasts.

The weekend concluded with the premier event of the tournament, the classic 3x3x3 Cube, which drew 25 competitors across three rounds of intense solving. Angel Daniel Gonzalez Gonzalez took the title with a tournament-winning average of 13.24 seconds, holding off Caceres Matsumoto who finished second with a 13.66 average. Oliver Britez completed the podium in third place with a 14.69 average, putting the final stamp on the official 3x3 results as Verano on Asuncion 2025 drew to a close.

As the tables were cleared at Universidad Comunera, the sense of community remained the defining feature of the gathering. Paraguay claimed 27 podium places while Venezuelan competitors took home five, highlighting regional talent alongside personal victories for every solver who set a new standard on the timer. With another successful weekend in the books, the local scene looks forward to reuniting for the next season of fast hands and sharp minds.