Speed master at solving cube

Speedcubers solved the Rubik's Cube in lightning speed during a competition at the weekend.

They came from across the country to compete in Palmerston North last Sunday at an all-day event where a 15-year-old Wellington boy broke a New Zealand record.

Speedcubing is an exciting spectator sport where competitors solve the famous Rubik's Cube and similar puzzles against the clock.

Overall winner and record breaker was 15-year-old Finn Trass from Wellington.

His grandparents from Palmerston North were there to cheer him on - silently to not break his concentration. Finn broke the New Zealand record average of 9.33 seconds with a time of 8.72.

He has been speedcubing for almost three years and practised an hour or two every day after school and on the weekends.

Finn said that competitions are much harder than practising at home. "At home, I can do it over and over to get a good time, but in the competition, we only have five solves, so there is a lot of pressure," he said.

His grandparent Evelyn and Tony Trass said they were in awe of Finn's hobby.

"He has tried to teach us, but it didn't work so well. I think we're too old," Evelyn said.

AUCKLAND speedcuber that was named fastest girl, 10-year-old Angela Braganza.

The event was an official World Cube Association (WCA) sanctioned speedcubing competition, held at the Community Leisure Centre.

The Rubik's Cube has been tantalising and enchanting people for more than 40 years.

Ernõ Rubik created it in 1974. Ernõ, a professor from Budapest In Hungary, wanted to help his students understand three-dimensional problems, and his solution was the Rubik's Cube.

His cube did things that the world hadn't seen before. It twisted and turned yet it didn't break.

PALMERSTON North Speedcuber Logan McKinnon.

¦ If you are interested in joining Manawatu's Cubing Society, contact William Palmer on 022 340 7350.