European Competitors Head to Bangkok, Thailand for the World Rubik’s Cube Championship 2011

BANGKOK, October 4, 2011 -

- Top Speedcubers from 19 European Countries to Vie for Title of “World Rubik’s Cube Champion”

10.74 seconds is the time to beat at the 2011 World Rubik’s Cube Championship.  Nearly a hundred competitors from 19 European Countries, ranging from the United Kingdom to Slovenia, are preparing to make the trip to Bangkok, Thailand October 14-16, 2011, joining some 250 others from as far away as Japan and Australia, to earn their places in Rubik’s Cube history - from speedcubing to solving the Cube blindfolded.  The three-day event taking place at the Baiyoke Sky Hotel, Thailand’s tallest building, culminates with the crowning of the “World Rubik’s Cube Champion” with the 3×3 Rubik’s Cube event.  

Will another European be crowned champion?  This year, Breandan Vallance of the United Kingdom will be defending his title that he won in 2009 in Dusseldorf, Germany with an average solve time of 10.74 seconds.  Glory, however, isn’t the only motivating factor for competitors - former 3×3 world record holder, 21-year-old Erik Akkersdijk from The Netherlands, cites the global Rubik’s Cube community and the chance to travel to new cities around the world as major motivators for competing.

“Nowadays my motivation is the possibility to travel to foreign countries and meet cool people from all over the world,” said 21-year-old competitor, Erik Akkersdijk, who set the previous 3×3 Rubik’s Cube world record in 2008 with a solve time of 7.08 seconds.  ”I mean, which other hobby gets you to Bangkok?!”

While solving a Rubik’s Cube in a matter of seconds may seem daunting to some, competitors heading to the 2011 World Rubik’s Cube Championship reveal that time, patience, practice, and setting goals are crucial to success.  According to Daniel Sheppard, a 22-year-old competitor from Surrey, England and current world record holder for solving the 4×4 Rubik’s Cube blindfolded, “It’s not as hard as you think to learn to solve one.  Most think that you have to be some sort of mathematical genius to have a chance, but you really don’t!”

For fans of the Rubik’s Cube that have never mastered the world’s most famous puzzle, a free solution guide that teaches one method to solve the Cube can be downloaded at Rubiks.com.  Once the Cube’s algorithms have been learned and memorized, fans can test their wits and dexterity in new and even strange ways - speedcubing and solving the Rubik’s Cube with feet or blindfolded are just some of the talents showcased at the 2011 World Rubik’s Cube Championship.

The World Rubik’s Cube Championship is comprised of 19 official events, including the following speedsolving events:  2×2 Rubik’s Cube, 4×4 Rubik’s Cube, 5×5 Rubik’s Cube, one-handed 3×3 Rubik’s Cube, 3×3 Rubik’s Cube (fewest moves), 3×3 Rubik’s Cube with feet, Pyraminx, Square-1, Megaminx, Rubik’s Clock, Rubik’s Magic, Master Magic, 3×3 Rubik’s Cube blindfolded, 4×4 Rubik’s Cube blindfolded, 5×5 Rubik’s Cube blindfolded, and Lucky Draw.  Each of the events have varying cash prizes for the winners.

For additional details about the 2011 World Rubik’s Cube Championship, visit the official website.  For more information about the Rubik’s Cube, including fun facts, visit www.Rubiks.com or visit the official Rubik’s Facebook page.

About The Rubik’s Cube

The fiendishly difficult, but entrancing Rubik’s Cube (350 million have been sold since its launch in 1980) may have 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 - that’s 43 quintillion - possible combinations on its six coloured faces - but it has only ONE solution.  Once it has been ’scrambled’ you solve The Cube by twisting its fifty-four squares around the ingenious central axis - until all six faces consist of solid blocks of colour.

Now once again enjoying enormous popularity worldwide, the iconic Rubik’s Cube’s fascination and fun factor is undiminished.  Rather, it is magnified by the power of the web’s social networking possibilities, providing super-celebrity status for the ‘wonder boy’ Speedcubers - some of whom solve the puzzle in less than 10 seconds, or just over a half a minute - blindfolded.  

Rubik’s Cube® is a registered trademark of Seven Towns Ltd.

Mike Rush, +1-617-585-5792, mrush at 360publicrelations.com, or John LeRoy, +1-617-585-5791, jleroy at 360publicrelations.com, both of 360 Public Relations