13 July 2009

MEDIA RELEASE

Nz’s First Official Rubik’s Speed-Cubing Championships At Te Papa, Saturday 18 July

Rubik’s Speed-Cubing is coming to New Zealand with the first official championships to be held in Australasia taking place in Te Papa’s Wellington Foyer on 18 July from 10am–4pm.

Speed-Cubing is a colourful and exciting spectator sport based around solving the famous Rubik’s Cube against the clock. In addition to the regular speed-solve events, such as for the 3x3, 4x4, and 5x5 Cubes, there will be a one-handed solve event, and even a blindfolded solve event (where the competitor studies the Cube, then puts a blindfold on and solves it from memory).

Currently 39 competitors have registered, including 9 international entrants coming to New Zealand especially for the event. A 13 year old Australian school boy registered to compete on the day claims to be able to solve the 3x3 Cube in a personal best time of 8 seconds (http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,,25572424-2862,00.html ).

The current world record for the fastest speed-solve of a 3x3 Cube is 7.08 seconds, set by Erik Akkersdijk at the Czech Open 2008. If a New Zealand competitor beats this time on the day, he or she will win a brand new Mini Cooper Clubman!

Registrations closed on July 12, and for a full list of competitors, see: www.speedcubing.co.nz/Nationals09/Competitors.

The iconic Rubik’s Cube is the biggest-selling puzzle of all time, with over 300 million sold since 1981. It is currently enjoying a surge of interest as it rides a wave of ‘80s retro-cool revival. The traditional 3x3 Cube has 43 quintillion (that's 43,000,000,000,000,000,000) possible configurations, and only one solution. Speed-Cubing competitions are held all through the US, Europe, and Asia. It is so big in Asia that winners become household celebrities.

ENDS