10 July,2011 08:20 AM IST | | Lhendup G Bhutia
A group of youngsters are holding a speedcubing tournament today to test if you can even try solving the famed Cube single-handedly
You are probably shaking the hand of India's fastest 3x3 Rubik's Cube solver," says 21 year-old Akshay Rao, while introducing Dharmesh Shahu. Despite the din of the traffic outside and Bollywood songs inside, a distinct clatter of noise can be heard inside a McDonald's outlet that stands outside Andheri station.
A blindfolded Dharmesh Shahu (left) competes with Akshay Rao
at speedcubing
Shahu's group includes five youngsters, all aged 18 to 21, solving different types of Rubik's cubes. Shahu smiles, asking us to time him. In a flurry of quick movements, he solves the cube within 14 seconds, but looks disappointed. "I average 12 seconds, and my best has been eight seconds," he says, adding that for mindbending results he needs quiet.
Sometime today, Shahu will get the opportunity of becoming India's fastest speedcuber. For this group of five students from Mithibai College is organising Speedcubing Mumbai Unlimited 2011, a tournament that will be recognised by the World Cubing Association.
The group has painstakingly gathered funds to invite a representative of the World Cubing Association, a prerequisite for any tournament to get official recognition. Speedcubing is a popular activity among the international Rubik's Cube community. Members come together to hold competitions, work to develop new solving methods, and seek to perfect their technique.
The Mumbai tournament is open to all and will feature different types of competitionsu00a0-- Rubik's Cube (3x3), Pocket Cube (2x2), Rubik's Revenge (4x4), Professor Cube (5x5), Pyraminx, Square 1, and even Rubik's Cubeu00a0-- One Handed and a Rubik's Cubeu00a0-- Blindfolded. Around 60 participants from different parts of the country, who play the game, have already registered, and another 220 have confirmed their presence on Facebook. On the spot registrations are also allowed.
Rao, who has participated in several Rubik's Cube competitions at college festivals, was the first to introduce the group to the game. "I saw someone fiddling with the Cube, two years ago. From then on, I would play it while travelling in local trains," he says.
While the whole group learnt to solve various versions quickly, to add to their challenge, they tried solving it with just one hand or blindfolded. "It adds to the challenge, and when blindfolded, you not only need to be sharp with your Rubik's Cube solving skills, but also with memory. Otherwise, you will go on and on," laughs Rao. On an average, Rao can solve a Rubik's Cube (3x3) in 40 seconds. Think you can challenge him?
At: 11 am to 8 pm, Atrium, Growels 101 Mall, Akurli Road, Kandivili (E)
Call: 9819839882
