Welcome Back UPDS 2026

Fifty-seven competitors gathered on May 23, 2026, setting the stage for nine total rounds across five distinct puzzles in La Paz, Bolivia. Hosted at the Universidad Privada Domingo Savio, the schedule forced participants to adapt quickly to varying round formats. While some categories offered multi-round progression to build momentum, others demanded immediate precision in single-round direct finals where every solve carried ultimate weight for the podium.

The flagship Rubik's Cube drew a field of 53 entrants who battled through three full rounds to determine the champion. In a showcase of steady execution across multiple phases, Luzio Batuani Conde took the top spot with a decisive 8.78 winning average and an 8.20 best single. Kevin Gustavo Sebastián Flores Bazagoitia secured second place with a 9.94 mark, while Cristhian Alcon Chipana rounded out the podium in 11.17 during the official 3x3 results final.

In the 2x2x2 Cube category, 41 entrants navigated two rounds of quick-fire pairing. Kevin Gustavo Sebastián Flores Bazagoitia delivered the standout performance of the event, capturing victory with a 3.60 average and a 3.11 single. Armando Ruben Cantuta Poma finished as runner-up with an average of 3.84, closely pursued by Stefano Gabriel Gottret Fernandez, who earned third place with a 4.04 mark at Welcome Back UPDS 2026.

The Pyraminx event featured 36 competitors battling across two rounds for a place on the podium. Jose Mauricio Colque Mamani proved untouchable in the final, securing the victory with a 4.83 winning average and a 4.42 single. Kevin Gustavo Sebastián Flores Bazagoitia took his second podium of the weekend by posting a 5.45 average for second, barely edging Alexander Enrique Mercado Blanco, who took third with a 5.49.

Away from the multi-round battles, the single-round showdowns left zero room for adjustment. In the Megaminx division, Favio Tapia conquered the dodecahedral puzzle with a 47.97 average and a 43.17 best single to finish ahead of Kevin Gustavo Sebastián Flores Bazagoitia at 1:05.02 and Josias Milan Sirpa Pinto at 1:09.18. In Clock, Martín Rodrigo Calle Quiroz secured the gold with a 6.76 average, holding off Rafael Fernando Vasquez Gallo at 7.24 and Jose Mauricio Colque Mamani at 12.05.

Away from the top steps of the podium, several participants produced massive personal breakthroughs during this WCA competition. Rick Sebastián Flores Iturralde dropped his 3x3x3 Cube personal best to 24.21, solving 41.6% faster than his previous standard. Juan Mateo Merma Chambi took on three events, improving his 2x2x2 Cube personal record to 6.07 for a 39.2% cut and posting a 10.73 in his first ever attempt at Pyraminx. Manuel Alejandro Pumacahua Loayza took 10th place in Megaminx while cutting his Pyraminx record by 38.6% down to 9.21. Yesid Luis Carvajal Casas shaved 34.8% off his previous best on the three-by-three cube to log a 21.57.

The excitement of new events and debut stages brought out great performances throughout the venue. Luis Alejandro Condori Castro took on four disciplines, finishing 8th in Clock with a 23.60 debut, trying Pyraminx for the first time with a 12.48, and improving his 2x2x2 Cube time to 15.14 by 34.5%. Lucas Daniel Vaca Mamani delivered his first ever attempts in three events, recording 5.11 in the 2x2x2 Cube, 5.80 in Pyraminx, and a 7th-place 1:32.82 in Megaminx. Joel Andree Mamani Romero stepped onto the floor for his first WCA competition, recording a 9th-place 2:11.23 Megaminx debut alongside 14.66 in the 3x3x3 Cube and 5.19 in the 2x2x2 Cube. Rafael Morales Yujra reached 4th place in the 2x2x2 Cube with a 2.12 mark that was 23.5% faster than before.

The action at Welcome Back UPDS 2026 demonstrated the depth of the local speedcubing scene, as Bolivian solvers swept all fifteen podium positions across five disciplines. The combination of elimination cuts in multi-round categories and instant finals in larger puzzles tested every facet of solver temperament. From nervous first attempts on new hardware to seasoned precision on the main stage, the one-day gathering set an energetic benchmark for future speed cubing meets in La Paz.

As the final timers stopped, the successful running of Welcome Back UPDS 2026 closed another chapter for the regional circuit. The cubing competition showcased how round structure can elevate drama, giving veterans high-stakes finales while offering rising talents an open arena to test their speed.