- Title: BRAZIL-RUBIKS Australian takes title at World Rubik´s Cube World Championship
- Date: 20th July 2015
- Summary: WINNERS RECEIVING THEIR PRIZES PRIZE WINNERS ON STAGE
- Embargoed: 4th August 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Brazil
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAAFW9JAN655ZOJ6JUOP9A8XZYP
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Australian Feliks Zemdegs took the Rubik´s Cube world title for the second year on Sunday (July 19) at the tense and sweat-dripping 2015 World Championship finals which reunited the world´s meanest "speedcubers" in Sao Paulo.
Zemdegs came in with a cool second win, completing the traditional 3x3x3 Rubik´s Cube in a staggering 5.695 seconds, narrowly missing world record holder, American Collin Burns who completed it in 5.25.
"Firstly, the competition was really really awesome, well-run, the venue was really nice, all the people were really nice. The win was also really nice as well. Because I won last time, I was sort of less nervous this time because I had already won one so that sort of helped a bit, but yeah it was obviously really cool," said Zemdegs after collecting his prizes.
There are a total of 17 different Rubik's Cube competitions at the event. Players are timed to see who can complete the puzzle the fastest.
Most people are familiar with the standard 3x3x3 Rubik's cube, but they might be surprised to know in the world of competitive speedcubing cubers compete with 2x2x2 cubes all the way up to 7x7x7 Rubik's cubes.
However, the main event is the standard 3x3x3 Rubik's Cube, a popular toy that was first invented 41 years ago by Hungarian professor Erno Rubik as a way to challenge his architecture students.
And while most people have fiddled with the toy, few have probably ever been able to complete it -- without removing the coloured stickers, of course.
The 3x3x3 With Feet competition might be one of the most interesting, but even more impressive is the blindfolded competitors who must memorize the cubes before solving them with their eyes covered.
Contenders in the 3x3x3 Multiple Blindfolded challenge complete a series of puzzles one after the other without ever removing their blindfolds - a remarkable feat by any standard.
According to the official rules, the competitors must declare how many cubes they intend to complete within the first 15 minutes of time allotted.
The first Rubik's Cube World Championship was held in Budapest in 1982 and the competition is now held every two years, with this year's instalment being the eighth official event.
According to Brazil´s best, Gabriel Dechichi, who completed the 3x3x3 cube in 10.050 seconds, the host nation is growing in the sedentary sport with some super speedy cubers.
"Brazil is growing a lot. It is already very big, but it has to grow a lot for us to win the world title. We have loads of very quick people so I am sure we will get there," said Dechichi.
Prize money is allotted to the winners of each of the 17 events with 20 percent of the pool going to the winner of the 3x3x3 Cube event -- the main event in the cubing world. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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