Speedcubing

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Speedcubing, also referred to as speedsolving, is a competitive sport centered around the rapid solving of various combination puzzles. The most prominent puzzle in this category is the 3x3x3 puzzle, commonly known as the Rubik's Cube. Participants in this sport are known as "speedcubers," who focus specifically on solving these puzzles at high speeds, or more generally as "cubers". The essential aspect of solving these puzzles typically involves executing a series of predefined algorithms in a particular sequence.

Competitive speedcubing is predominantly overseen by the World Cube Association (WCA),^[1] which, as of January 16, 2024, officially recognizes 17 distinct speedcubing events. These events encompass a range of puzzles, including cubic puzzles of sizes ranging from 2x2 to 7x7 and other puzzle forms such as the Pyraminx, Megaminx, Skewb, Square-1, and Rubik's Clock. Additionally, specialized formats such as 3x3, 4x4, and 5x5 blindfolded, 3x3 one-handed, 3x3 FMC also known as Fewest Moves Challenge, and 3x3 multi-blind are also regulated and hosted in competitions.^[1]

As of July 2023, the world record for the fastest single solve of a Rubik's cube in a competitive setting stands at 3.13 seconds. This record was achieved by Max Park at the Pride in Long Beach 2023 event on June 11, 2023.^[2][3] Additionally, Yiheng Wang set the record for the average time of five solves in the 3x3x3 category at 4.36 seconds at the 2024 Philippine Championship on July 5, 2024.^[4][5] Speedcubing participants are predominantly under the age of 20, and numerous countries organize international competitions throughout the year.^[6] The widespread popularity of the Rubik's Cube has led to an abundance of online resources, including guides and techniques, aimed at assisting individuals in solving the puzzle.