In 1980, at the age of 11, I got my first Rubik’s Cube. The 3-D puzzle was invented in 1974 by a Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture named Ernő
LUZ ZUNIGA/Stuff
Competitors from all over the country showed their skills and concentration abilities during the New Zealand Speedcubing Nationals 2020, at Nelson Trafalgar Centre, on Saturday.
As the clock ticks, fingers are flying. Frowning in concentration, the speedcubers deftly shift the coloured squares into position. Every second counts, and conversation is kept to a minimum. “I have gone into the wrong mode of solving,” a competitor sighs. “I have gone into reduction and I don t like reduction.” On Saturday, 63 speedcubers vied for a top spot at the New Zealand Nationals event at Nelson’s Trafalgar Centre. Among them was former Nayland College student Ben Kirby, who in 2018 set a New Zealand record of 6.35 seconds for the fastest 3x3 solve in the country.