Rubik's Cube world record smashed in California


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A new king of the Rubik's Cube has been crowned, with a “speedcuber” solving a 3x3x3 cube in 3.13 seconds.

Max Park, 21, smashed the previous record of 3.47 seconds during an event in Long Beach, California, on Sunday.

In a video that has since gone viral, Mr Park can be seen taking a few moments to study the cube before the clock starts.

His fingers then fly over the puzzle, and the room erupts into cheers as he sets the cube down in triumph at the 3.13-second mark.

Mr Park is a Rubik’s Cube speedsolver with several Guinness World Records titles, including the fastest time to solve cube sizes from 4x4x4 through to 7x7x7, and the fastest average time to solve a puzzle one-handed.

Guinness World Records has called him “without a doubt one of the best speedcubers in the world right now”.

He is also a YouTube sensation, with videos showing him solving ever more complex cubes garnering tens of thousands of views.

Speaking to Guinness World Records in 2019, Mr Park's parents explained that their son, who has autism, got into “cubing” as a way of helping him socialise with others.

“Max has this motto – 'Don't think, just solve',” his parents said.

“You'll notice they [competitive Rubik's Cube solvers] are always a lot slower when they come to the competition and that's all mental, so I think Max just thought, 'Don’t think, just solve, you already how to solve it, you just do what your hands are telling you to'.”

  • Banksy's 'Girl with Balloon' made entirely out of Rubik's Cubes by Andrey Maslov. All photos courtesy Dmitri Maslov
    Banksy's 'Girl with Balloon' made entirely out of Rubik's Cubes by Andrey Maslov. All photos courtesy Dmitri Maslov
  • 'Girl with Balloon' is one of British graffiti artist Banksy's most well-known works. EPA
    'Girl with Balloon' is one of British graffiti artist Banksy's most well-known works. EPA
  • Andrey at work on his Banksy masterpiece.
    Andrey at work on his Banksy masterpiece.
  • It took 280 Rubik's Cubes to make the Banksy.
    It took 280 Rubik's Cubes to make the Banksy.
  • Andrey's portrait of the first spaceman, Russian Yuri Gagarin.
    Andrey's portrait of the first spaceman, Russian Yuri Gagarin.
  • Left, the portrait of Yuri. Middle, the pixel guide created by Andrey's father. Right, the Rubik's Cube version.
    Left, the portrait of Yuri. Middle, the pixel guide created by Andrey's father. Right, the Rubik's Cube version.
  • Andrey at work on his Yuri portrait.
    Andrey at work on his Yuri portrait.
  • Andrey at work.
    Andrey at work.
  • Andrey Maslov can solve a Rubik's Cube in under 10 seconds.
    Andrey Maslov can solve a Rubik's Cube in under 10 seconds.
  • Andrey Maslov at work. Courtesy Dmitri Maslov
    Andrey Maslov at work. Courtesy Dmitri Maslov
  • A famous portrait of physicist Albert Einstein sticking his tongue out in 1951. Getty.
    A famous portrait of physicist Albert Einstein sticking his tongue out in 1951. Getty.
  • That same picture, recreated by Andrey.
    That same picture, recreated by Andrey.
  • He often works on portraits with his friends.
    He often works on portraits with his friends.
  • Andrey has been speedcubing for about a year and a half.
    Andrey has been speedcubing for about a year and a half.
  • An unnamed portrait recreated by Andrey.
    An unnamed portrait recreated by Andrey.
  • The original of the unnamed portrait recreated by Andrey.
    The original of the unnamed portrait recreated by Andrey.
  • The surrealist painting 'The Son of Man' by Rene Magritte. AFP
    The surrealist painting 'The Son of Man' by Rene Magritte. AFP
  • Andrey's take on 'The Son of Man'.
    Andrey's take on 'The Son of Man'.
  • Andrey's first Rubik's Cube that he ever solved was his father's....
    Andrey's first Rubik's Cube that he ever solved was his father's....
  • ... however, his father Dmitry Maslov, has never learnt how to solve it himself.
    ... however, his father Dmitry Maslov, has never learnt how to solve it himself.
  • Heroes of legendary video games created in a 3D shape.
    Heroes of legendary video games created in a 3D shape.
  • The shape taking form.
    The shape taking form.
  • Andrey owns more than 70 Rubik's Cubes, Pyraminxes and cuboids.
    Andrey owns more than 70 Rubik's Cubes, Pyraminxes and cuboids.
  • Andrey at work.
    Andrey at work.
  • The idea for the masterpieces series came after Andrey began creating Rubik's Cube art for his speedcubing shows.
    The idea for the masterpieces series came after Andrey began creating Rubik's Cube art for his speedcubing shows.
  • A lost Soviet mosaic on the wall of a neighbouring house - "young technicians assembling a rocket".
    A lost Soviet mosaic on the wall of a neighbouring house - "young technicians assembling a rocket".
  • Andrey often creates 3D objects too.
    Andrey often creates 3D objects too.
  • Super Mario, in Rubik's Cube form.
    Super Mario, in Rubik's Cube form.
  • Heroes of legendary video games.
    Heroes of legendary video games.
  • Heroes of legendary video games.
    Heroes of legendary video games.
  • Heroes of legendary video games.
    Heroes of legendary video games.
  • Heroes of legendary video games.
    Heroes of legendary video games.
  • Heroes of legendary video games by Andrey Maslov. Courtesy Dmitri Maslov
    Heroes of legendary video games by Andrey Maslov. Courtesy Dmitri Maslov
  • Heroes of legendary video games by Andrey Maslov . Courtesy Dmitri Maslov
    Heroes of legendary video games by Andrey Maslov . Courtesy Dmitri Maslov
Updated: June 16, 2023, 7:02 PM