Speedcubing is an activity in which a person attempts to rearrange rotating puzzles – such as a Rubik’s Cube – in the quickest time possible. The current world record is 3.47 seconds, held by Yusheng Du.
You have probably encountered a 3x3x3 Rubik’s Cube, a 3D puzzle where the aim is to rearrange the cube so that all the colours match on each side. Speedcubing takes it up a notch, with competitors going head to head to solve the puzzles in as little time as possible.
If you have been left scratching your head trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube, you will likely feel envious of Yusheng Du, who holds the world record for the shortest time to solve the famous puzzle at a mere 3.47 seconds. The Chinese set the record using a standard 3x3x3 cube in November 2018.
Max Park and His World Records
Max Park is an American competitor who holds the record with 4x4x4 (16.79 seconds), 5x5x5 (33.02 seconds), 6x6x6 (59.74 seconds), and 7x7x7 (1 minute, 40.89 seconds) sized cubes. If that isn’t impressive enough, he also holds the world record for solving a 3x3x3 cube with one hand at 6.82 seconds.
In total, he holds nine recognised Guinness World Records (at the time of writing) and his accomplishments have helped to propel the popularity of speedcubing. In 2020, he was featured on the Netflix documentary The Speed Cubers, alongside fellow speedcuber Feliks Zemdegs from Australia.
Speedcubing Facts
The Rubik’s Cube was invented in 1974 by Hungarian professor of architecture Ernő Rubik. In 1979, Rubik partnered with Ideal Toy to distribute the cube worldwide and, by 1982, the first World Championships was held in Budapest, Hungary.
Nineteen people competed in those championships, which was won by Minh Thai with a time of 22.95 seconds, a record at the time. Now, speedcubing competitions are overseen by the World Cube Association (WCA), which was formed in 2004.
There are three main methods that speedcubers use to solve the puzzle, which are:
- CFOB/Fridrich Method
- Roux Method
- ZZ Method
Each method has its own intricacies, with the large majority of speedcubers opting for the CFOB/Fridrich method for its reliance on muscle memory, pattern recognition, and algorithm, rather than other more intuitive methods, such as Roux and ZZ.
Speedcubing Benefits
Those who regularly practice speedcubing will benefit from improved cognitive skills, motor skills, and hand-eye coordination. Speedcubers, such as Max Park and Yusheng Du, are able to solve the Rubik’s Cube in such lightening quick time because they have perfected their technique and because their brains have been trained to become more attentive.
In China, children are encouraged to learn how to solve a Rubik’s Cube at an early age, with classes put on for young students. The younger we are, the easier it is to learn a new skill and for the brain to develop. This is partly why many of the top Speedcubers in the world originate from China.
Speedcubing also boosts the connection between the mind and muscle, especially those in the fingers, hand, and forearm, in which such intrinsic and precise movements are required for success. Speedcubers are incredibly attentive, with their eyes trained to notice every pattern and detail, developing remarkable hand-eye coordination.
How to Get into Speedcubing
For anyone interested in getting involved in Speedcubing in the UK, the first thing that you need to do is to practise! Watch and study how experienced speedcubers solve their cubes, pick up tips and tricks, but most of all just practise with your own cube.
Regular events are held across the UK, with all the information available at speedcubing.org – on the same website, you can also find written and video tutorials on how to master the art of speedcubing.
