One Hand, One Record: 15-Year-Old Baguio Cuber Rewrites Philippine Speedcubing History

FEATURE

For most people, solving a Rubik’s Cube is already a challenge. For 15-year-old Crimson Lucien Arradaza of Baguio City, doing it with just one hand—and in barely five seconds—is record-breaking.

The young speedcuber recently etched his name in Philippine speedcubing history after setting a new national record in the 3x3x3 One-Handed Rubik’s Cube category during the Philippine National Speedcubing Open held at the Tagaytay City Combat Sports Center on May 28, 2026.

Arradaza completed the puzzle in an astonishing 5.33 seconds, breaking the previous Philippine record of 5.66 seconds set by Switzerland’s Dhruva Sai Meruva in 2024.

The achievement made him one of the standout performers in the country's biggest speedcubing event to date.

Organized by the Asian Mind Sports Association in partnership with the Philippine Olympic Committee, the inaugural Philippine National Speedcubing Open gathered 72 of the country's top cubers. The competition aimed to promote speedcubing as a growing mind sport while helping establish a more structured national system for the discipline.

Among dozens of competitors, it was the teenager from Baguio who delivered one of the most memorable performances of the tournament.

Yet behind the record-breaking solve was a lesson about pressure, patience, and learning to enjoy the journey.

According to a report by the Manila Bulletin, Arradaza initially entered the competition with an ambitious goal: to set a world record. However, he eventually realized that putting too much pressure on himself could become an obstacle rather than an advantage.

“Just get your mind somewhere and just enjoy the process… That was my goal na mag-world record sana, pero, especially before I put a lot of pressure on myself… but now I’m just trying to handle it, strive,” said Arradaza.

His words reflected a maturity beyond his years. Instead of becoming consumed by expectations, he focused on the process—and the result was a historic achievement.

Arradaza's success did not end with the national record.

He also secured the silver medal in the highly competitive 3x3x3 main event, where the country’s eight fastest cubers battled for supremacy. Posting an impressive average time of 6.46 seconds, he finished second behind champion Wong, who recorded a winning average of 5.84 seconds.

The achievement highlights the growing prominence of Filipino speedcubers on the national stage and demonstrates how young athletes are excelling in mind sports that require exceptional memory, focus, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving skills.

For Baguio City and the Cordillera region, Arradaza’s accomplishment is a source of pride.

At just 15 years old, he has already achieved what many aspiring cubers dream of—a national record and a place in Philippine speedcubing history. And if his latest performance is any indication, the teenager's story is only beginning.

With a national record already under his belt and his sights once set on the world stage, Crimson Lucien Arradaza has shown that sometimes, all it takes is one hand, a cube, and the determination to keep improving to make history.