West Negros Cube Fest 2025

A total of 45 competitors gathered at City Mall Mandalagan on May 4, 2025, turning Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines into an electric arena of rapid turning. The single-day tournament spanned eight distinct disciplines across nine scheduled rounds, pushing solvers to test their limits against the clock. When the dust settled on the fastest events of the day, Ace Christian C. Wong stood out as the dominant force across both the traditional Rubik's Cube and the lightning-fast 2x2x2 Cube.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube contest served as the central spectacle of West Negros Cube Fest 2025, featuring the largest field of the day and requiring two complete rounds of competition. Wong delivered under pressure in the final, securing the top spot with a brilliant 7.49 winning average and a round-best single of 6.69. Miguel Gonzaga pushed him closely throughout the concluding round, claiming the silver medal with an 8.33 average, while Michael Mirasol rounded out the podium places in third with an 8.56 mark to complete the official 3x3 results.

Speed remained the defining theme when competitors stepped up to the 2x2x2 Cube table, where Wong showcased even more blistering pace. He captured gold with a sub-two average of 1.88, underscored by a sharp 1.36 single solve. Aaron Josh C. Wong took second place with a tidy 2.43 average, while Miguel Gonzaga earned another podium finish by securing third with a 2.91 mark. The fast-paced format highlighted the sharp reflexes required at every modern cubing competition, setting a high standard for the entire meet.

Wong continued to pad his medal collection as the schedule diversified, collecting additional titles in both Skewb and Clock. In the Skewb event, his 4.27 winning average led the field of 17 solvers, edging out Miguel Gonzaga at 5.06 and Aaron Josh C. Wong at 5.07. Wong then took command of the Clock event with a 5.31 average, besting Alfonso Gabriel Gavan at 7.47 and Gonzaga at 7.83. With four individual victories across the day, Wong solidified his status as the standout performer of the weekend.

The spotlight at West Negros Cube Fest 2025 also shone brightly on personal milestones and breakthrough attempts across the roster. Endre Calvin Tan produced dramatic drops on the clock, chopping his Pyraminx personal best by 43.7 percent down to 7.26 and trimming his 3x3x3 Cube mark by 41.7 percent to 14.64, alongside a 24.8 percent reduction to 4.56 on 2x2x2 Cube. Ze'ev Aamir Kanaan also registered massive strides, cutting his Skewb best by 33.7 percent to 3.83, his 2x2x2 Cube time by 25.8 percent to 4.12, and his 3x3x3 Cube mark by 8.1 percent down to 14.21. Ayhl Herbolario delivered a 26.3 percent improvement on 3x3x3 Cube to post 13.96 while tackling their first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with a score of 49. Marz Jedrick Jacinto shaved 24.5 percent off their 3x3x3 Cube single to register 19.03, cut their 2x2x2 Cube mark by 9.9 percent to 5.34, and logged a first ever attempt at Pyraminx with a 13.90 solve.

Other solvers embraced heavy event schedules and stepped into unfamiliar territory with notable grit. Klein Ledesma Decena took on six events, securing ninth in Megaminx while recording first ever attempts in Skewb at 30.94, Pyraminx at 14.48, and Clock at 36.23. Generoso L. Secreto III tackled eight events, placing fourth in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with a first ever attempt of 40, attempting 3x3x3 Blindfolded for the first time with a 4:54.65 single, and lowering their Pyraminx personal best by 9.9 percent to 8.16. Mary Dale H. Estanislao notched a first ever attempt at Pyraminx with 10.26 and lowered their 3x3x3 Cube best by 10.6 percent to 20.81. Christian Laurence F. Naya secured 16th in 2x2x2 Cube with a 9.9 percent improvement down to 4.01 and registered a first ever attempt at Pyraminx with 10.52.

Beyond the speed disciplines, specialized formats delivered their own drama across the venue. In the 3x3x3 Fewest Moves event, Takumi Tamura of Japan solved the puzzle in an efficient 24 moves to claim the sole international victory of the competition, ahead of Gonzaga at 31 moves and Brian Acuña at 38. The 3x3x3 Blindfolded discipline demanded immense focus and memorisation, where Acuña secured the gold medal with a 59.05 single, finishing ahead of Gabriel Angelo V. Hilado at 1:26.60 and Bea Alexandra Marie Flores at 1:26.37.

Rounding out the side events, Mars Daniel Kudemus captured the Pyraminx title with a swift 2.48 average, finishing clear of Gonzaga at 3.80 and Wong at 4.13. In the Megaminx division, Andrew Thomas Salazar Pacilan earned first place with a 51.59 average and a best single of 45.46, leading Gonzaga at 59.44 and Acuña at 1:30.53. The variety of challenges showcased the versatility demanded at an official WCA competition.

As the final timers stopped, the energetic gathering concluded on a high note for speed cubing in the region. Host nation solvers accounted for 23 of the 24 podium spots awarded, celebrating both top-flight triumphs and meaningful individual progress. West Negros Cube Fest 2025 demonstrated the enduring passion for speedcubing in Bacolod City, leaving solvers with memorable personal bests and valuable experience as they look ahead to the next competitive calendar.

May 8 magkakaibang kaganapan ang pumuno sa opisyal na iskedyul ng West Negros Cube Fest 2025, na nagdala ng malawak na koleksyon ng mga hugis at mekanismo sa City Mall Mandalagan sa Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines nitong Mayo 4, 2025. Mula sa tradisyunal na Rubik's Cube hanggang sa mga kakaibang kagamitan tulad ng Megaminx, Pyraminx, at Clock, nasubukan ang galing ng bawat manlalaro sa iba-ibang paraan ng paglutas. Sa kabuuan ng 9 na rounds, ipinamalas ng 45 kalahok ang kanilang liksi at talas ng isip sa buong araw ng paligsahan.

Bumida sa pangunahing 3x3x3 Cube si Ace Christian C. Wong, na nagtala ng winning average na 7.49 laban sa 45 kalahok sa loob ng 2 rounds matapos makapagtala ng pinakamabilis na single na 6.69. Sinundan siya sa podium nina Miguel Gonzaga na may average na 8.33 at Michael Mirasol na may 8.56. Ang tagumpay na ito sa tradisyunal na speedcubing event ay nagpatibay sa pambihirang husay ni Wong sa pinakapinapanood na kategorya ng torneo.

Hindi lamang sa iisang larangan nagpakitang-gilas si Ace Christian C. Wong, dahil nagwagi rin siya sa 2x2x2 Cube kung saan nagtala siya ng winning average na 1.88 at single na 1.36 sa 32 kalahok. Pumangalawa rito si Aaron Josh C. Wong sa bilis na 2.43 habang pumangatlo si Miguel Gonzaga sa 2.91. Namayagpag din si Ace Christian C. Wong sa Skewb na may average na 4.27 at sa Clock na may average na 5.31, kung saan tinalo niya ang mga katunggali tulad nina Miguel Gonzaga at Alfonso Gabriel Gavan.

Sa kategoryang Pyraminx na may 23 kalahok, inangkin ni Mars Daniel Kudemus ang unang pwesto gamit ang winning average na 2.48 at best single na 1.78. Nakasunod sa kanya sina Miguel Gonzaga na may average na 3.80 at Ace Christian C. Wong na may 4.13. Samantala, ang 12-sided Megaminx ay pinangunahan ni Andrew Thomas Salazar Pacilan na nagsumite ng panalong average na 51.59 at best single na 45.46 sa 9 na kalahok, habang pumangalawa si Miguel Gonzaga sa 59.44 at pumangatlo si Brian Acuña sa 1:30.53.

Kakaibang konsentrasyon naman ang kinailangan sa 3x3x3 Fewest Moves at 3x3x3 Blindfolded sa naturang cubing competition. Sa Fewest Moves na nilahukan ng 9 na manlalaro, nagwagi ang delegadong taga-Japan na si Takumi Tamura (田村匠) sa kanyang single na 24 moves, habang pumangalawa si Miguel Gonzaga na may 31 moves at Brian Acuña na may 38 moves. Sa 3x3x3 Blindfolded, kung saan kailangan munang isaulo ang posisyon bago magsimula, nanguna si Brian Acuña sa single na 59.05 sa 5 kalahok, kasunod sina Gabriel Angelo V. Hilado sa 1:26.60 at Bea Alexandra Marie Flores sa 1:26.37.

Sa likod ng mga panalo, sumikat din ang mga kahanga-hangang personal na rekord mula sa mga tahimik na manlalaro ng West Negros Cube Fest 2025. Pinangunahan ito ni Zachary Y. Beleño na lumahok sa 2 kaganapan at nagtala ng personal best na 11.22 sa 3x3x3 Cube na mas mabilis nang 33.3 porsyento, kasama ang 4.14 sa 2x2x2 Cube na 28.7 porsyentong mas mabilis at nagbigay sa kanya ng ika-10 pwesto. Ipinakita rin ni Nathaleo Pablo V. Olgina ang kanyang husay sa 3 kaganapan, kung saan nagtala siya ng personal best na 9.21 sa Pyraminx na 27.1 porsyentong mas mabilis at 3.84 sa 2x2x2 Cube para sa ika-12 pwesto.

Nagpakita rin ng malaking pagsulong si Joebert Ryan L. Belano sa kanyang 2 kaganapan sa pamamagitan ng personal best na 12.99 sa 3x3x3 Cube na mas mabilis nang 9.7 porsyento at unang subok sa 2x2x2 Cube na 3.71 para sa ika-20 pwesto. Sa kanyang 3 kaganapan, sinubukan ni John G. Teodoro ang unang beses sa Pyraminx sa bilis na 10.50 tungo sa ika-18 pwesto at nagtala ng personal best na 6.41 sa 2x2x2 Cube at 20.07 sa 3x3x3 Cube. Sa kanilang unang WCA competition, sumabak sina Lester Jacob M. Basa na nagtala ng unang subok na 7.88 sa 2x2x2 Cube at 28.22 sa 3x3x3 Cube, Constantine V. Gavieta na may 19.75 sa 2x2x2 Cube at 1:02.68 sa 3x3x3 Cube, Aczel James A. Viray na nagtala ng unang subok na 20.88 sa 3x3x3 Cube, at Mikko Arsenio na may 18.45 sa 3x3x3 Cube.

Ang buong araw ng tagisan sa West Negros Cube Fest 2025 ay nagtapos sa pamamahagi ng mga parangal kung saan nakakuha ang Pilipinas ng 23 podium placements at ang Japan ng 1. Mula sa bilis ng kamay sa maliliit na puzzle hanggang sa malalim na pagsusuri sa komplikadong mga kaganapan, naging patunay ang paligsahan sa lawak at sigla ng komunidad ng speedcubing sa buong rehiyon sa taong 2025.