Who's going to Us open= qualification is tough

[fanwuq]

No way. I can qualify for nothing. Some are very close. If I go, I could only do FMC, Pyraminx, Megaminx, and multi-BLD. So, I won't go.

[philkt731]

Phil, there's a strong strong chance more events will be held at the Minnesota Open, I just can't commit to them now as I would much rather not hold an event than to have someone come and drop "their" event. But yes, bring your 5x5x5 and blindfold.

Ok, sounds good. BTW, is it ok if I don't have a blindfold , I just use a bandana t ocover my eyes at home...

[Hadley4000]

I registered a moment ago. Don't have flight/hotel yet. The "official" hotel looks expensive to me, at least for a single person. Where will you be staying, what's the price, will you be sharing rooms?

There goes my chance for clock...

[masterofthebass]

Hadley, again... Just because a non-US is there, doesn't mean you won't be national champion. And BTW, you need to be better than 12s to beat both me and Tim Sun.

[Swordsman Kirby]

Hadley, again... Just because a non-US is there, doesn't mean you won't be national champion. And BTW, you need to be better than 12s to beat both me and Tim Sun.

Oh hi...

No way. I can qualify for nothing. Some are very close. If I go, I could only do FMC, Pyraminx, Megaminx, and multi-BLD. So, I won't go.

What's wrong with doing 2/3 solves but not getting an average? I did that for BLD last year at the US Open.

Same boat as Pat. Have fun all, I want to see some NARs broken (again).

I can't believe I didn't get clock average that time.

[Tyson]

I have no plans set in stone but it is "only" a 5 hour drive so I want to go so bad. Its a bit upsetting that I will barely qualify for anything bu OH and speedsolving and speedsolving I wont even get probably past the first round. idk OH and hanging out is all I really care about i suppose... but it would be fun to qualify to at least do an average on all the 2x2-5x5 cubes.

I just read this. The main reason why we don't have an opportunity for averages is because of time. If we have time, we will allow people who did not advance to complete their averages.

Also, I wish it was clear, but BLD qualification is based on single as WCA does not measure averages for BLD.

[Mike Hughey]

Also, I wish it was clear, but BLD qualification is based on single as WCA does not measure averages for BLD.

Thanks for the clarification, Tyson - I figured that, but it is nice to have it stated clearly. Now I have something to shoot for in Cincinnati this weekend (probably in vain, but hey, I can dream!). 3x3x3 BLD and 5x5x5 are the only events I really have a shot at prequalifying for - both are tough, but possible for me.

At least this year, thanks to the side events (especially big cubes BLD!), I won't be relegated to being purely a spectator on the second day, like I was last year.

[Tyson]

I apologize that these days, if you don't have very fast times, it is very possible to end up as merely a spectator on the second day. But I think this is just a consequence of the sport growing. Before, it used to be very easy for anyone to be "world class." These days, "world class" really does mean at the top of the world.

It's unfortunate that the qualification times have to be so stringent, but look at it on the bright side. We can still have a national championships and invite everyone. At least, right now, anyone can walk into the competition, compete, and however unlikely, have a very direct route at winning the championships. In many events, championship events are by invitation only.

So, it kind of a tough call. On one hand, it is a competition and we want everyone to be able to participate. However, it is the national event of the year, and so we do want to see the very best that the United States has. I think it's somewhat of a compromise, but at least people who aren't the fastest get to compete in the same event as the very best.

[Mike Hughey]

I think the current format is great, for exactly the reasons you give! And I had a lot of fun last year even though I didn't compete in anything the second day. What I think is more unfortunate is that at our current growth rate, it could become invitational pretty quickly. But if that happens, I guess we can still be pretty happy that cubing has grown so well.

If it gets too big, maybe you could still have it be a "US Open" and work it like pro golf - have regional qualifiers where the top 2 or 3 (or a number based on the number of competitors) at each qualifier can get in. That way it's still possible (however unlikely) for an unknown to come out of nowhere and still win it all.

[alexc]

alex, for pre-qualifying, you need to have official averages faster than the qualification time. That means that you are 1.09s away from qualifying.

Oh, sorry, I thought it was singles. Nevermind, my bad...