July 11, 2011 : Interview with Speedsolving.com member Tim Reynolds : Currently (at the time of this interview) has attended 51 official WCA competitions, organizing many of them, including US Nationals 2010 at MIT (Cambridge, MA). He is the former Continental Record holder (North America) for 3x3 fewest moves (31 in 2008), and Pyraminx Single (7.22 in 2008) / Average (8.85 in 2008).

Location: Cambridge, MA during the school year; Pleasantville, NY during the summer.

Occupation: Student at MIT

What is your favorite event, why?
3x3 fewest moves. My background academically is mostly mathematics, and this has the most direct cube theory applications of any event in my opinion. Unlike most events, which are the same thing over and over, fewest moves feels like a new experience every time, and leaves opportunities for a lot of creativity. It's also the only event you can decide not to try the scramble they give you--you can do the inverse instead!

What made you become interested in solving puzzles?
Back in 2003, I went to a summer camp and Andy Camann was there as well. This was shortly before WC2003, so the world record was 22.95 still. During the talent show, Andy solved it in about 18 seconds, which was pretty cool. I tend to get pretty competitive about things, and so once I learned to solve the cube I just wanted to get faster and faster. Plus, solving Rubik's Cubes is a geek stereotype, so that was a reason to practice.

What, in your opinion, is your biggest "cubing" accomplishment?
My successes in big cubes blindfolded, particularly 5x5. In 2008, for the 2 weeks before I went to college, I did 2-3 attempts at 5x5 per day. I never got one. I estimate that I had done about 60 attempts before my first success in December 2010. The time was 28 minutes, which was faster than my first 3x3 success (32 minutes)--I guess that's a claim to fame. My second success was about a month later, at UIUC Spring 2011, which was awesome even if the solve itself was disappointing. I still haven't gotten a third success. So my 5x5 BLD accuracy rate is certainly no great accomplishment, but getting one at all felt great.

What are your other hobbies?
I'm a casual runner, but as I said I get pretty competitive about things, so I decided to run a marathon. Unfortunately I hurt my knee 2 months before the race, but I'll run one sometime soon, I hope. I used to say that computer programming was a hobby, but it's turned into more of a career path than a hobby. I guess it still counts as a hobby.

What is/are your pet peeve(s)?
These come and go, but one that I noticed today was when people use too many ellipses in emails.

What will the future of cubing be like and how would you like cubing to progress?
If we continue to grow, I imagine there will develop a hierarchy of competitions. Worlds will have very hard qualification times, while more local competitions will have easier cutoffs. In order for us to continue to grow, though, we need to become more well-known: most people still have no idea we have frequent competitions. News coverage of competitions will help this tremendously.

So far, what has been your most enjoyable cubing experience?
It's not as much the competitions but the time hanging out with cubers before or after the competitions that I love. This is when people are not doing last-minute practicing and trying to decide whether another drop of Maru Lube would help, but just hanging out, doing stupid relays, talking about the cube community, or other things like that. US Nationals 2009 stands out in this respect, as do Worlds 2007 and 2009, Toronto Fall 2010, and cubeCentric 2011.

October 19, 2010 : Interview with Speedsolving.com member Feliks Zemdegs : Currently (at the time of this interview) holds the World Record for 3x3x3 Average (8.52 Seconds), 4x4x4 Single (34.41 Seconds), 5x5x5 Single and Average (1:02.93/1:07.59), 2x2x2 Average (2.35 Seconds), and 3x3x3 One-Handed Average (14.76 Seconds).

Location:
Melbourne, Australia

Occupation:
Student

What is your favorite event, why?
My favourite event is probably the 3x3 speedsolve. It’s the main event of the WCA, and the one I practice most. Some other events that I practice a lot at the moment are 4x4 and 7x7. I've basically given up on 5x5, and OH, as I don't think I will be able to beat my official personal best's for a long time, if ever. I'm also getting into more memory oriented events, like multi-BLD, and big-cube BLD. My memory methods really suck though. I want to attempt a 5x5 BLD soon.

What made you become interested in solving puzzles?
I was browsing youtube, and noticed the youtube awards. Dan Brown’s “How to solve a Rubik’s cube” video was listed as the best instructional video. I checked around the house to see if we had a Rubik’s cube, but after not finding anything, I went out and bought a cheap $5 cube from a shop. Later that day I solved the cube with the video, and began to explore all the cubing videos. I watched the most popular ones of course. I was pretty happy when I beat the 3 year old girl in this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSqUcrFJ498

What, in your opinion, is your biggest "cubing" accomplishment?
My biggest cubing accomplishment would definitely be my 9.21 average World Record. After the first solve I definitely didn’t think I was going to get it, as it was going to be 11.xx or so, but luckily I was saved by a PLL skip. I was thrilled to get it, as I honestly didn’t think I could, after the first solve. I remember finishing my 4th solve, and Dene exclaimed “Wow it’s already sub 10!” At that point it felt like all the pressure had been lifted off, and I was able to relax, and I pulled off the fastest solve in the average. I think that in my future competitions, I will be able to relax more, as I have already achieved my goal. (After watching the 10.91 on camera, I was kicking myself for not doing the easy 2gll case, instead of a locky Chameleon – G perm :P)

What are your other hobbies?
I don’t really have other hobbies. I played the piano for a bit, but I wasn’t very good. I play the alto saxophone for 3 bands. I can juggle 4 balls, and do some 3 ball tricks, but that’s about it in the way of hobbies.

What is/are your pet peeve(s)?
Umm, don’t really have any major pet peeves. One thing I do hate explaining is when people ask me “are you the best in the world” because I always have to explain about the single, and average of 5 categories.

What will the future of cubing be like and how would you like cubing to progress?
I think the future of cubing will be more speed oriented, and focus less on the participation. I do hope that everyone will still be able to have solves in major events, and it will not be invitational, or have competing limits. I think that a sub 8 global average is possible, and possibly a sub 7 average of 12. I want to see that all events remain competitive, and world records keep on being broken.

So far, what has been your most enjoyable cubing experience?
My most enjoyable cubing experience was probably one of my competitions. The New Zealand competition was my first comp, and it was really cool meeting Dene, and other cubers, and participating in a competition. The Melbourne Summer Open 2010, however, was much more fun for me, as all of the Melbourne cubers had such a great time, and I didn’t stuff up much at all . The Australian nationals, the 2 day competition was very fun too, and also tiring. I get an incredible feeling when I do an official solve, as I know that it will be in the WCA database, and it will be displayed on the world rankings. I'm looking forward to the Asian championships in a few weeks too.

May 23, 2010 : Interview with Speedsolving.com member Andrew Kang : Currently (at the time of this interview) is ranked 47th in the world for 3x3x3 Average (11.89 Seconds). He has held 4 continental records (3x3x3 & 4x4x4 Average), placed 2nd at the 2007 World Championship, and is the 2008 US Nationals Champion (3x3x3).

Location:
Alpharetta, Georgia, USA

Occupation:
Student

What is your favorite event, why?
3x3 because it's the only event I'm good at.

What made you become interested in solving puzzles?
My friend Daniel demonstrated a 75 second solve in orchestra class back in 2005 and told everyone that he was creating a cube club at school that year. I was intensely fascinated with the cube and learned how to do my first solve in October of 2005.

What, in your opinion, is your biggest "cubing" accomplishment?
There is a lot of things that I am proud of, but the biggest thing that I am proud of is placing 2nd in the 2007 World Championship in Budapest. Meeting Erno Rubik and having him autograph a shirt for me in front of the media is something I'll never forget. A close second is becoming US Champion in 2008.

What are your other hobbies?
Currently, Starcraft 2 and Osu! take up my time when I'm not cubing. I'm also a fan of going to the gym.

What is/are your pet peeve(s)?
My biggest pet peeve is when cubers attack/troll other cubers on forums and instill a unwelcoming atmosphere into the cubing community.

What will the future of cubing be like and how would you like cubing to progress?
For speed, I believe a consistent sub 9 average is the human limit in the 3x3 event. I hope that as the community will still be welcoming to newcomers so that everyone can enjoy what the Rubik's Cube has to offer.