Rubik's Cube solved in 10.88 seconds at world championships

Last Updated: Monday, October 8, 2007 | 12:05 PM ET

CBC News

More than 250 competitors from 33 countries tackled Rubik's Cube blindfolded, one-handed or with their feet at the three-day world championships in Hungary on the weekend.

On Sunday, Yu Nakajima, 16, of Japan won the main prize of $7,000 for twisting the cube into the winning position, where all like-coloured tiles are on the same face, at an average of 12.46 seconds over five attempts.

The competition included 17 different challenges for solving the classic six-sided, three-by-three cube puzzle.

The mechanical puzzle, invented in 1974 by Hungarian engineer Erno Rubik, sparked a global craze in the early 1980s. This was the first competition held in Hungary since the world championships began in 1982.

American Andrew Kang had the fastest single attempt, at 10.88 seconds, just off the world record of 9.86 seconds which was set by Thibaut Jacquinot in May.  

Fifteen-year-old Anssi Vanhala from Finland took the top prize for solving the puzzle with his feet in 49.33 seconds, while 18-year-old Ryan Patricio, from the U.S., defended his world title in the one-handed category with a new world record at an average of 21.13 seconds in five attempts.

Hungary's Matyas Kuti took the four-by-four and five-by-five cube competitions and also won several of the blindfolded events. His best time blindfolded was just over one minute, seven seconds.

The cube's inventor made a rare public appearance at the medal ceremony. "I'm glad the cube is reaching new generations, who face it with fresh wonder, curiosity and enthusiasm," Rubik said.