ProStar
Legend
Feliks Zemdegs. Saying the name causes all cubers in the room to look around in excitement. They are searching for the greatest cuber in history, the two-time world champion, the Usain Bolt of cubing. An unprecedented legacy of dominance surrounds Zemdegs, and he will forever be known as the greatest cuber in history. Feliks is a legend, and behind every legend is a story. The story of how he became known not just as the greatest cuber during a series of years, but the greatest cuber ever.
Feliks Aleksanders Zemdegs was born on December 20, 1995. In April 2008, the 12 year-old Zemdegs stumbled upon several YouTube videos featuring people solving the cube. This inspired him to buy his first cube and watch Dan Brown’s popular tutorial How to solve a Rubik’s Cube. He instantly fell in love with the cube, and started timing himself immediately. On April 24, 2008, Feliks joined the SpeedSolving.com Forums. He posted about his crazy progress on the forums, and when doubted he posted a video of him getting an 18.46 Average of 5, saying, “Yeah a lot of people didn't believe me!!!!!!!!!! But this video proves otherwise Mwhhahahahaha!!!!!!!”. Five hours later, he confessed that in all his solves he pre-solved the cross, apologizing and promising to stop. Feliks continued to post updates and videos of his progress, until he was averaging well under 15 seconds in April of 2009. These times turned many heads, and pressure began to build as he prepared to attend his first WCA competition. He didn’t disappoint.
By the end of New Zealand Championships 2009, Feliks held 13 Continental Records and 4 National Records. After his second competition, Melbourne Summer Open 2010, Feliks held 2 World Records, 12 Continental Records, and 1 National Record, with one of the World Records being the first sub-10 second 3x3 Average. Any skeptics of the skill of 14 year-old Zemdegs were silenced. In late 2010, Feliks attained the 3x3 Single World Record, breaking it twice during Melbourne Cube Day 2010, at 7.03 and 6.77 seconds. During that competition he also was the first cuber with a sub-8 second 3x3 Average, having achieved the first sub-9 second average earlier that year. By June 2011, Feliks had broken the 3x3 World Records 12 times, with his most recent records being a 5.66 single and 7.64 average. Throughout this time, he also dominated other NxNs, breaking the 2x2 World Records twice, the 4x4 World Records 9 times, the 5x5 World Records 5 times, the 6x6 World Records twice, and the One-Handed World Records three times. He also got a World Record in 4x4 Blindfolded, for a total of 34 World Records in just under two years of competing. On October 14-16, 2011, the WCA held the World Rubik’s Cube Championship 2011. Everyone expected Feliks to dominate, and he won the first three rounds by an average of almost a second. But then in the finals, nerves struck the young boy, and Zemdegs placed third with a 9.58 second average. Despite his unexpected loss in the 3x3 Final, Zemdegs still broke 5 World Records during the 2011 World Championships, one of which being the first ever Sub-1:00 5x5 Average.
Feliks continued breaking records, unmatched in skill for 3x3, 4x4, and 5x5. Then Mats Valk, an experienced cuber from the Netherlands, finally caught up to Feliks after two years of total dominance on March 2, 2013 with a World Record 5.55 3x3 Single, the first 3x3 World Record not set by Feliks since Tomaz Żołnowski’s 10.07 3x3 Average on April 4, 2009. Conversation erupted in the community about how Feliks’ unmatched reign was coming to a close, that soon his 3x3 Average World Record would fall as well. Kevin Hays had already taken over 6x6 and 7x7, perhaps he would soon take Feliks’ 4x4 and 5x5 records as well. The buildup to the 2013 World Rubik’s Cube Championship, the community ecstatic to see the inevitable showdown of Zemdegs vs. Valk. The match was intense, but a +2 second penalty on Mats’ final solve resulted in Feliks getting crowned as the world champion. The hype was immeasurable. Feliks wasn’t finished. He was just starting. Although Feliks still had Mats to rival him and others were catching up, he still continued to dominate the 3x3 Average World Record. He had, however, started to slip away with the 3x3 Single World Record as others started to reach his skill level. After Valk’s 5.55, newcomer Collin Burns made his single appearance in the record books with a 5.25 in 2015, two years after Valk’s record. As the 2015 World Rubik’s Cube Championship approached, Feliks held the World Record for 3x3 Average(6.54), 5x5 Single(48.42), 5x5 Average(51.93), 6x6 Average(1:47.60), and 3x3 One-Handed Single(6.88). By the end, Feliks had taken home World Championship titles for 2x2(2.33), 4x4(30.54), 5x5(52.62), and 3x3 One-Handed(11.85). He also won 3x3 with a 7.56 average, placing himself forever in the record books as the first—and currently only—person to win 3x3 for two World Championships in a row. Although still obviously dominating, Feliks failed to recapture the 3x3 Single World Record, as Lucas Etter got a 4.90 3x3 solve in late November 2015, the first ever sub-5 second solve, a few months after Collin’s record. That record stood almost a full year until Mats got a 4.74 second solve in early November 2016. But then Feliks jumped back into the 3x3 Single World Record scene with a 4.73 second solve in December 2016, which he achieved while sitting next to Valk.
All was going well for Feliks, and he continued to top the record lists. But then young, autistic 15 year-old Max Park jumped onto the scene. Max started competing back in 2012, and he achieved the 3x3 One-Handed Average World Record in 2016, but it wasn’t until 2017 that he became a household name for cubers. In April, Max broke the 4x4 World Record with a 25.53 average. Later that month, Max Park broke Feliks’ 7 year unbroken streak of holding the 3x3 World Record Average with a 6.39 average. Feliks had some serious competition again, and not just for the 3x3 Single World Record. A year later, Max had completely taken over big cubes, holding both World Records for 4x4, 5x5, 6x6, and 7x7, as well as the 3x3 One-Handed Average World Record. Feliks’ 8 year reign was being seriously challenged. Feliks took back the 3x3 Average World Record, and continued to hold it without interruption. He also stole back the 3x3 Single World Record with a 4.22 after it had been passed around a few more times. The single, however, was not in his possession for long. Very unexpectedly, the record was taken by Yusheng Du, who broke the record from 4.22 to 3.47, the first sub-4 second solve. Feliks was left with only the 3x3 World Record Average and 3x3 One-Handed Single World Record, although he improved the 3x3 average greatly, from a 5.97—the first sub-6 average—to the current World Record, 5.53. Recently, Max Park took the 3x3 One-Handed Single World Record with a 6.82 solve, which stands today.
Currently, the only World Record Feliks holds is the 3x3 World Record Average, although he still owns 14 Continental Records. He is also ranked top-10 in 13 different categories. But although Feliks reign is fading in all events other than 3x3, his legacy still surpasses that of any other cuber. So far in his career, he has held 121 World Records—Close to 2.5 times more than any other cuber, 206 Continental Records, and 6 National Records. He has also broken countless barriers, including: the first Sub-7 and Sub-6 second 3x3 singles; the first Sub-10, Sub-9, Sub-8, Sub-7, and Sub-6 second 3x3 averages; the first Sub-40 4x4 Average; the first Sub-1:00, Sub-50, and Sub-40 second 5x5 Singles; the first Sub-1:00 and Sub-50 second 5x5 Averages; the first Sub-9 and Sub-8 second 3x3 One-Handed Singles—both on the same solve—; and the first Sub-15 second 3x3 One-Handed Average. So yes, Feliks is slowly fading from the forefront of the cubing scene. But he will forever be remembered as the greatest cuber of all time, unprecedented in accomplishments. Because FAZ does rule.
Feliks Aleksanders Zemdegs was born on December 20, 1995. In April 2008, the 12 year-old Zemdegs stumbled upon several YouTube videos featuring people solving the cube. This inspired him to buy his first cube and watch Dan Brown’s popular tutorial How to solve a Rubik’s Cube. He instantly fell in love with the cube, and started timing himself immediately. On April 24, 2008, Feliks joined the SpeedSolving.com Forums. He posted about his crazy progress on the forums, and when doubted he posted a video of him getting an 18.46 Average of 5, saying, “Yeah a lot of people didn't believe me!!!!!!!!!! But this video proves otherwise Mwhhahahahaha!!!!!!!”. Five hours later, he confessed that in all his solves he pre-solved the cross, apologizing and promising to stop. Feliks continued to post updates and videos of his progress, until he was averaging well under 15 seconds in April of 2009. These times turned many heads, and pressure began to build as he prepared to attend his first WCA competition. He didn’t disappoint.
By the end of New Zealand Championships 2009, Feliks held 13 Continental Records and 4 National Records. After his second competition, Melbourne Summer Open 2010, Feliks held 2 World Records, 12 Continental Records, and 1 National Record, with one of the World Records being the first sub-10 second 3x3 Average. Any skeptics of the skill of 14 year-old Zemdegs were silenced. In late 2010, Feliks attained the 3x3 Single World Record, breaking it twice during Melbourne Cube Day 2010, at 7.03 and 6.77 seconds. During that competition he also was the first cuber with a sub-8 second 3x3 Average, having achieved the first sub-9 second average earlier that year. By June 2011, Feliks had broken the 3x3 World Records 12 times, with his most recent records being a 5.66 single and 7.64 average. Throughout this time, he also dominated other NxNs, breaking the 2x2 World Records twice, the 4x4 World Records 9 times, the 5x5 World Records 5 times, the 6x6 World Records twice, and the One-Handed World Records three times. He also got a World Record in 4x4 Blindfolded, for a total of 34 World Records in just under two years of competing. On October 14-16, 2011, the WCA held the World Rubik’s Cube Championship 2011. Everyone expected Feliks to dominate, and he won the first three rounds by an average of almost a second. But then in the finals, nerves struck the young boy, and Zemdegs placed third with a 9.58 second average. Despite his unexpected loss in the 3x3 Final, Zemdegs still broke 5 World Records during the 2011 World Championships, one of which being the first ever Sub-1:00 5x5 Average.
Feliks continued breaking records, unmatched in skill for 3x3, 4x4, and 5x5. Then Mats Valk, an experienced cuber from the Netherlands, finally caught up to Feliks after two years of total dominance on March 2, 2013 with a World Record 5.55 3x3 Single, the first 3x3 World Record not set by Feliks since Tomaz Żołnowski’s 10.07 3x3 Average on April 4, 2009. Conversation erupted in the community about how Feliks’ unmatched reign was coming to a close, that soon his 3x3 Average World Record would fall as well. Kevin Hays had already taken over 6x6 and 7x7, perhaps he would soon take Feliks’ 4x4 and 5x5 records as well. The buildup to the 2013 World Rubik’s Cube Championship, the community ecstatic to see the inevitable showdown of Zemdegs vs. Valk. The match was intense, but a +2 second penalty on Mats’ final solve resulted in Feliks getting crowned as the world champion. The hype was immeasurable. Feliks wasn’t finished. He was just starting. Although Feliks still had Mats to rival him and others were catching up, he still continued to dominate the 3x3 Average World Record. He had, however, started to slip away with the 3x3 Single World Record as others started to reach his skill level. After Valk’s 5.55, newcomer Collin Burns made his single appearance in the record books with a 5.25 in 2015, two years after Valk’s record. As the 2015 World Rubik’s Cube Championship approached, Feliks held the World Record for 3x3 Average(6.54), 5x5 Single(48.42), 5x5 Average(51.93), 6x6 Average(1:47.60), and 3x3 One-Handed Single(6.88). By the end, Feliks had taken home World Championship titles for 2x2(2.33), 4x4(30.54), 5x5(52.62), and 3x3 One-Handed(11.85). He also won 3x3 with a 7.56 average, placing himself forever in the record books as the first—and currently only—person to win 3x3 for two World Championships in a row. Although still obviously dominating, Feliks failed to recapture the 3x3 Single World Record, as Lucas Etter got a 4.90 3x3 solve in late November 2015, the first ever sub-5 second solve, a few months after Collin’s record. That record stood almost a full year until Mats got a 4.74 second solve in early November 2016. But then Feliks jumped back into the 3x3 Single World Record scene with a 4.73 second solve in December 2016, which he achieved while sitting next to Valk.
All was going well for Feliks, and he continued to top the record lists. But then young, autistic 15 year-old Max Park jumped onto the scene. Max started competing back in 2012, and he achieved the 3x3 One-Handed Average World Record in 2016, but it wasn’t until 2017 that he became a household name for cubers. In April, Max broke the 4x4 World Record with a 25.53 average. Later that month, Max Park broke Feliks’ 7 year unbroken streak of holding the 3x3 World Record Average with a 6.39 average. Feliks had some serious competition again, and not just for the 3x3 Single World Record. A year later, Max had completely taken over big cubes, holding both World Records for 4x4, 5x5, 6x6, and 7x7, as well as the 3x3 One-Handed Average World Record. Feliks’ 8 year reign was being seriously challenged. Feliks took back the 3x3 Average World Record, and continued to hold it without interruption. He also stole back the 3x3 Single World Record with a 4.22 after it had been passed around a few more times. The single, however, was not in his possession for long. Very unexpectedly, the record was taken by Yusheng Du, who broke the record from 4.22 to 3.47, the first sub-4 second solve. Feliks was left with only the 3x3 World Record Average and 3x3 One-Handed Single World Record, although he improved the 3x3 average greatly, from a 5.97—the first sub-6 average—to the current World Record, 5.53. Recently, Max Park took the 3x3 One-Handed Single World Record with a 6.82 solve, which stands today.
Currently, the only World Record Feliks holds is the 3x3 World Record Average, although he still owns 14 Continental Records. He is also ranked top-10 in 13 different categories. But although Feliks reign is fading in all events other than 3x3, his legacy still surpasses that of any other cuber. So far in his career, he has held 121 World Records—Close to 2.5 times more than any other cuber, 206 Continental Records, and 6 National Records. He has also broken countless barriers, including: the first Sub-7 and Sub-6 second 3x3 singles; the first Sub-10, Sub-9, Sub-8, Sub-7, and Sub-6 second 3x3 averages; the first Sub-40 4x4 Average; the first Sub-1:00, Sub-50, and Sub-40 second 5x5 Singles; the first Sub-1:00 and Sub-50 second 5x5 Averages; the first Sub-9 and Sub-8 second 3x3 One-Handed Singles—both on the same solve—; and the first Sub-15 second 3x3 One-Handed Average. So yes, Feliks is slowly fading from the forefront of the cubing scene. But he will forever be remembered as the greatest cuber of all time, unprecedented in accomplishments. Because FAZ does rule.
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