The Rubik‘s cube, became a worldwide phenomenon in the 1980s and is considered the world’s best-selling toy, with over 350 million cubes sold. Its popularity continues to this day, with millions of enthusiasts participating in speedcubing competitions, creating and solving blindfolded challenges, and attempting to solve the puzzle in record times.
“Hundreds of the puzzle’s fans have descended on Glasgow for a three-day competition, racing against the clock – and each other – in speed time trial,” writes BBC. The number of possible combinations for a Rubik’s cube is approximately 43 quintillion, but only one solution. The competition in Glasgow involves several variations of solving the cube including one-handed, 3×3 blindfolded and other smaller variations. As per reports, some competitors can complete it in lightning speeds of less than 10 seconds.
The current world record for solving the Rubik’s cube is 3.47 seconds held by Yusheng Du, while the 3x3x3 world record average is 4.86 seconds, tied by Max Park and Tymon Kolasiński. Tymon told BBC he “looked up how to do it on the internet,” and that he “also came across competitions and basically ever since then, I’ve just been cubing all day, every day. You can choose how competitive you are about it. I mean, for me it’s all competitive.”
This year’s World Cube Association World Championship will be held in Seoul, Korea from 12 to 15 August. WCA is the worldwide non-profit organization that regulates and holds competitions, and aims to have “more competitions in more countries with more people and more fun, under fair conditions.” The association holds the World Championship biennially since 2003.
Source: bbc.com
