The Rubik’s cube, who doesn’t know it? Simply put, it is a puzzle in the form of a cube. It was all the rage in the eighties. But even in the current era there are enthusiasts who compete against each other for the fastest time during competitions and tournaments. Jan van Dorst (20) from Breda has been under the spell of the cube for years and will soon participate in the Dutch Championship ‘Speedcubing’, as it is known internationally.
Jan’s sister once took a Rubik’s cube from a grappling machine and as a 13-year-old he immediately found the puzzle very interesting. “I looked up on the internet how I could solve the cube as quickly as possible. In 2016 I took part in a competition for the first time”, Jan tells about his hobby.
Because for him it is mainly a hobby, he explains. “I train about three hours a week. Every month I play a competition somewhere in the Netherlands or Belgium. Then I really enjoy seeing everyone. Many of the participants are my friends and we all love that same game.”
“A friend of mine can do it in 22 seconds, and I mean look at it and solve it.”
Although he did win in 2016. He came third at the Dutch Championships with the Pyraminx, a Rubik’s cube in the shape of a pyramid. In addition to the ‘standard cube’ of 3 by 3, the NK also has various categories. The well-known cube increases in size to 7 by 7, it is cubed with one hand or you play the game blindfolded.
“Then you can first look at the cube, then you will be blindfolded and you have to solve the puzzle by heart.” He can do it himself in three minutes. “But that’s not very special. A friend of mine can do it in 22 seconds, and I mean look at it and solve it.”
It is therefore often about the fastest time and the sharpest focus. Jan also hopes to improve his personal record at the Dutch National Championships. “I can solve the standard 3-by-3 cube in 9.37 seconds.”
“It’s about how you solve the puzzle as quickly as possible with as few moves as possible.”
To be really good speedcube you have to practice a lot, says Jan. He himself has about sixty Rubik’s cubes at home. “Practice a lot and keep learning a lot. There are always new techniques to get even better. On the internet you can see how the best in the world solve it. You have to become more efficient. It’s about how you solve the puzzle as quickly as possible with as few moves as possible.” According to Jan, it requires intense focus to reach the top.
Jan cannot say which qualities you need to have to cube well. He himself studies Computer Science at TU/e. “But you don’t necessarily have to be very smart or academically trained. But it is noticeable that participants are often enthusiasts of computer science and mathematics,” he says with a laugh.
Omroep Brabant Radio is diving into The Feeling of the Eighties this week. We step into a time machine and go back about 40 years in time. You can still hear the best music from the 80s this whole week. Do you want to go to the movie ‘ET’ exclusively in the cinema? Listen to ‘The Feeling of the Eighties’ and win tickets!
