Vista Verde Speedcubing 2023

Six different official events tested every dimension of mechanical dexterity on April 30, 2023, when 114 competitors gathered for Vista Verde Speedcubing 2023. Hosted at the Vista Verde Executive Village Clubhouse in Cainta, Rizal, Philippines, the single-day schedule challenged athletes across classic twisty mechanisms, pyramidal geometry, and memory-intensive blind solving. With 11 rounds contested across the slate, participants transitioned seamlessly from compact sprint puzzles to high-order layers, demonstrating immense technical range in an action-packed cubing competition that drew talent from across the region.

The flagship Rubik's Cube category served as the ultimate test of speed and consistency across three rigorous stages of elimination. Toby Litiatco delivered standout 3x3 results in the final round, taking first place with an exceptional 7.04 winning average and locking down a best single of 5.95 seconds. Stephen Mark V. Mariñas captured second place with an even 8.00 average, while Xavier De Vera secured the third podium step with an 8.33 average. The high-calibre final wrapped up an intense 114-person field in the premier event.

Shifting down to the explosive pacing of the 2x2x2 Cube, Isaiah Benedict S. Feria took victory after two rapid rounds, posting a sharp 2.23 winning average alongside a quick 1.78 best single. Brenton Angelo Lo Wong earned the silver spot on the podium with a 2.80 average, while Psyron Eubert Catral claimed bronze with an average of 3.37. The sprint-heavy format rewarded raw execution and quick inspection across the 87 entrants who took to the solving stations.

Big cubes provided a stark contrast in pacing and endurance, demanding sustained focus and complex layer management. Richmond Mico Rigor took top honors in the 4x4x4 Cube with a winning average of 32.16 and a low single of 27.94, finishing ahead of runner-up Psyron Eubert Catral at 33.73 and third-place Yuji Yoshida at 35.10. In the 5x5x5 Cube, Cairon Sumadchat claimed the top position on the podium with a composed 54.47 winning average and a 51.37 single, holding off Richmond Mico Rigor who placed second in 56.58 and Dale Palmares in third at 1:02.47.

Non-cubic geometry and unseen layouts broadened the spectrum of disciplines throughout the venue. Justin Andrew Dee conquered the Pyraminx field across three rounds, locking in a winning average of 3.31 and a best single of 2.72 to best Psyron Eubert Catral at 4.00 and Michael Angelo Zafra at 4.27. Meanwhile, the 3x3x3 Blindfolded event pushed mental limits without sight, where Christian Lacquio earned the gold with a fast 47.79 single solve. Ryan Francisco followed in second place at 1:37.16, and Kaidrich Keolo Pobre completed the podium with a time of 1:38.18.

Away from the top steps of the podium, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones across multiple disciplines. Piedro Cito Guevarra made massive leaps, cutting his 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 59.8 percent down to 2.98 seconds and dropping his 3x3x3 mark by 37.6 percent to 23.24. Skyler Johann Bala shaved 58.2 percent off his Pyraminx record to finish in 16.98 seconds. Lucas Solon logged a strong day across three events, setting a 2x2x2 personal best of 3.62 seconds which was 52.7 percent faster than his prior mark, dropping his 3x3x3 best by 30.5 percent to 9.84, and completing his first ever official Pyraminx solve in 10.34 seconds. John Calingacion entered five separate events, achieving a best finish of 19th place in 5x5x5 Cube with a 1:28.91 on his first attempt at the event, while also posting his first attempts in Pyraminx at 3.79 and 4x4x4 Cube at 42.36.

The progress continued with Lucas Espiridion, who took on three events, logging a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 28.21 seconds that was 21.9 percent faster than before, while posting debut attempts of 18.41 in Pyraminx and 4.68 in 2x2x2. John Angelo D. Bianzon competed in four disciplines, securing a 46th place finish in 4x4x4 Cube with a first attempt of 1:59.08, while improving his 3x3x3 mark by 31.5 percent to 17.55 and his 2x2x2 best by 16.5 percent to 6.07. Ollan Licudan Obias tackled three events, finishing 33rd in 4x4x4 Cube with an initial attempt of 55.45 and dropping his 3x3x3 mark by 22.2 percent to 10.13. Andoni Gael B. Villaluna made his first attempts in Pyraminx at 7.38 and 2x2x2 at 3.93, while taking 6.9 percent off his 3x3x3 personal best with a time of 15.62.

Every one of the eighteen podium positions across all six categories went to representatives from the Philippines, reflecting strong regional skill across the entire slate. From sprint setups to blindfolded execution, the breadth of events showed the dynamic variety of speed cubing at its best. Vista Verde Speedcubing 2023 celebrated personal milestones and elite mastery alike, delivering a memorable WCA competition for the community in Cainta.

May 114 na kalahok ang nagtipon sa Vista Verde Executive Village Clubhouse noong Abril 30, 2023. Sa kabuuang 11 rounds sa anim na opisyal na kategorya, ipinamalas ng bawat manlalaro ang kanilang husay at bilis sa paglutas ng iba-ibang mga puzzle. Ang buong paligsahan ay nagbigay-diin sa matinding konsentrasyon at malalim na pag-unawa sa lohika ng bawat kubo. Habang ang karamihan sa mga speedcubing event ay humihingi ng agarang bilis ng kamay, may mga disiplina tulad ng blindfolded solving na nangangailangan ng masusing pagsasaulo at pagpaplano bago simulan ang aktuwal na pagpihit.

Sa naturang WCA competition, nasaksihan ang pambihirang gilas sa bawat mesa. Ang pangkalahatang torneo sa Cainta, Rizal, Philippines ay nagpakita ng mataas na antas ng paghahanda mula sa mga kalahok sa buong bansa. Naging entablado ang Vista Verde Speedcubing 2023 para sa kapana-panabik na tapatan ng mga paborito at bagong mukha sa larangan. Ang bawat round ay nagdala ng hamon sa bilis ng reflexes, koordinasyon, at katatagan sa ilalim ng presyon ng orasan.

Pinangunahan ni Toby Litiatco ang pangunahing 3x3x3 Cube event kung saan tinalo niya ang 114 na katunggali sa tatlong rounds. Nagtala si Toby Litiatco ng winning average na 7.04 matapos maitala ang pinakamabilis na best single na 5.95 sa buong torneo. Pumangalawa sa podium si Stephen Mark V. Mariñas na may 8.00 average, habang pumangatlo naman si Xavier De Vera na nagrehistro ng 8.33 average para selyuhan ang top three sa kategoryang ito.

Sa mas malalaking puzzle, pinatunayan ng mga manlalaro ang kanilang tibay sa paghawak ng mas kumplikadong mekanismo. Sa 4x4x4 Cube, nanguna si Richmond Mico Rigor na may winning average na 32.16 at best single na 27.94 laban sa 48 kalahok, kasunod sina Psyron Eubert Catral na may 33.73 at Yuji Yoshida na may 35.10. Nagwagi naman si Cairon Sumadchat sa 5x5x5 Cube gamit ang average na 54.47 at best single na 51.37 laban sa 31 katunggali, habang pumangalawa si Richmond Mico Rigor sa 56.58 at pumangatlo si Dale Palmares sa 1:02.47.

Hindi rin nagpahuli ang iba pang mga kategorya sa bilis at talas ng isip. Nakuha ni Isaiah Benedict S. Feria ang unang pwesto sa 2x2x2 Cube na may 2.23 winning average at 1.78 best single sa 87 kalahok, sinundan nina Brenton Angelo Lo Wong sa 2.80 at Psyron Eubert Catral sa 3.37. Sa Pyraminx, nanaig si Justin Andrew Dee na nagtala ng 3.31 winning average laban sa 65 manlalaro, kasama sa podium sina Psyron Eubert Catral sa 4.00 at Michael Angelo Zafra sa 4.27. Sa 3x3x3 Blindfolded, kung saan kailangang isaulo ang puzzle nang walang tingin, nanguna si Christian Lacquio sa kanyang 47.79 single, sinundan nina Ryan Francisco sa 1:37.16 at Kaidrich Keolo Pobre sa 1:38.18.

Sa likod ng mga numero sa itaas ng listahan, maraming kalahok ang nagtala ng mahahalagang tagumpay sa kanilang sariling mga talaan. Si Pam Jarina ay lumahok sa 5 events at nagtala ng 46.74 sa 4x4x4 Cube na 34.7 porsyentong mas mabilis kaysa sa dati, bukod pa sa 1:44.59 sa 5x5x5 Cube na 33.7 porsyentong bilis, at 12.83 sa 3x3x3 Cube. Si Andro Miguel M. Eraldo ay nagtala ng personal best na 2.57 sa 2x2x2 Cube na 39.4 porsyentong pag-unlad, 4.03 sa Pyraminx, at 11.36 sa 3x3x3 Cube. Samantala, si Ethan Z-Jon B. Potpotan ay sumabak sa unang subok sa 4x4x4 Cube na may 48.43 at nagbawas ng 19.6 porsyento sa 3x3x3 Cube para sa 12.80. Si James Michael R. Salise ay nagrehistro ng unang subok sa 4x4x4 Cube sa 1:02.35 at umasinta ng 10.05 sa 3x3x3 Cube na 19 porsyentong mas matulin.

Naging mahalagang araw din ito para sa mga sumabak sa kanilang pinakaunang opisyal na paligsahan. Si Talia Que ay nagpakitang-gilas sa 4 events sa kanyang unang subok sa 3x3x3 Cube sa 11.52, 2x2x2 Cube sa 5.58, at 4x4x4 Cube sa 1:00.32. Si Norainne Mari Mañeja ay lumahok sa 4 events kabilang ang unang subok sa 5x5x5 Cube sa 2:54.30, 3x3x3 Cube sa 15.35, at 2x2x2 Cube sa 6.62. Sumabak naman si Gabriel De Jong sa tatlong events sa unang subok sa 3x3x3 Cube sa 25.18, Pyraminx sa 10.61, at 2x2x2 Cube sa 8.12. Gayundin si Raygun Ryu D. Guinomma na nagtala ng unang subok sa 2x2x2 Cube sa 7.27, Pyraminx sa 11.24, at 3x3x3 Cube sa 25.84.

Ang naganap na Vista Verde Speedcubing 2023 ay muling nagpatunay sa lumalalim na galing ng mga manlalaro sa buong kapuluan. Ang tagumpay ng bawat isa sa paglutas ng Rubik's Cube at iba pang mga puzzle sa Cainta ay nag-iwan ng magandang alaala sa komunidad. Sa pagtatapos ng paligsahan, bawat kalahok ay umuwi bitbit ang mga bagong aral at mas matatag na determinasyon para sa susunod na yugto ng kanilang mga karera.