World Championships 2013 - Las Vegas

Regarding the cuber 5BLD...

Still relatively new to speedcubing, but in the past month or so I've become slowly familiar with the names of the top cubers. Names like Mats, Michal, and Feliks come to mind. I've watched tons of videos and all those guys are top notch.

But the guy who has consistently impressed me the most is 5BLD, whose name is Alexander Lau I believe. His speed, fluidity, and execution is absolutely incredible. I know he uses the Roux method...and I just have to say it's great watching him cube.

He's averaging ridiculous times, and he's only a lucky solve away from breaking the WR in my opinion.

My question is: Is he going to the World Championship in July? He better be. There's no reason for him not to go...unless money is an issue. Aside from that, he's poised to make a deep run and could place top 3 imo. It would be a shame if he couldn't make it. He is a roux cubing machine :)

Anyway, just wanted to say how great it is watching and learning from the best in the world, and maybe someday I'll be sub 20 ;)
 
What have you guys been saying about me when ive been away for like, 12 hours... lol.....

also no im not goin cuz dunwana and also parents dunwana and if i had to go id have to go with parents anyway so dunwana
 
What have you guys been saying about me when ive been away for like, 12 hours... lol.....

also no im not goin cuz dunwana and also parents dunwana and if i had to go id have to go with parents anyway so dunwana
Why don't you want to?

I'm curious, do your parents realize that you are one of the best 3x3 solvers in the world, and that you've spent a good portion of your life in the last year or two practicing?
 
I don't want to because I am not old enough to really enjoy myself there.
Yeah my parents know but at the same time they are extremely anxious about practically everything in my life, so they don't want me going to US. Not on my own at least
 
I don't want to because I am not old enough to really enjoy myself there.
Yeah my parents know but at the same time they are extremely anxious about practically everything in my life, so they don't want me going to US. Not on my own at least

What?!? There are TONS of things to do there for people under 18! Seriously, the list of things to do is crazy long! You can go to magic shows, cirque or acrobat shows, museums, roller coasters, shopping, eating the amazing buffets, go kart racing, dune buggying in the desert, arcades, etc etc. And you can walk through any hotel or casino and check out the gambling!!! The only thing you can't do is gamble or drink yourself...but pretty much everything else is available.

I really hope you reconsider. It's really is a trip of a lifetime and a city like no other :)
 
What?!? There are TONS of things to do there for people under 18! Seriously, the list of things to do is crazy long! You can go to magic shows, cirque or acrobat shows, museums, roller coasters, shopping, eating the amazing buffets, go kart racing, dune buggying in the desert, arcades, etc etc. And you can walk through any hotel or casino and check out the gambling!!! The only thing you can't do is gamble or drink yourself...but pretty much everything else is available.

I really hope you reconsider. It's really is a trip of a lifetime and a city like no other :)

It's not entirely about this. From chats we've had, he doesn't like to cube under pressure, and also doesn't like being singled out for attention. Can you imagine what it would be like at worlds for him? Also, flights are A LOT of money for us UK people, and so you would have to really want to go to make it worth the trip (like me :b).
 
And how does a 14yr old boy [sic] pay to do all these 'amazing' things? He has only been cubing a few years and hasn't done that many competitions. Historically he doesn't do as well at competitions as he does at home, so their is very little point in him paying thousands of pounds to fly to America so that he can not achieve what he is cabable of. Their is plenty of time ahead of him so he can go to Uk competitions and work on his nerves. Everyone knows he is a good cuber, so I doubt he needs to win this event for the self re-assuranc, not everyone wants to be made a fuss of like that.

Still, I hope at his next comp he gets like a LSE skip and gets leik a 3.xx, and everypony is leik ahhhh wew done yew so awsum and he is all leik gahhhh ah hate da lucky solve dis are so ghey.
 
And how does a 14yr old boy [sic] pay to do all these 'amazing' things? He has only been cubing a few years and hasn't done that many competitions. Historically he doesn't do as well at competitions as he does at home, so their is very little point in him paying thousands of pounds to fly to America so that he can not achieve what he is cabable of. Their is plenty of time ahead of him so he can go to Uk competitions and work on his nerves. Everyone knows he is a good cuber, so I doubt he needs to win this event for the self re-assuranc, not everyone wants to be made a fuss of like that.

Still, I hope at his next comp he gets like a LSE skip and gets leik a 3.xx, and everypony is leik ahhhh wew done yew so awsum and he is all leik gahhhh ah hate da lucky solve dis are so ghey.
Yeah, I agree. It probably costs to much and his parents would be very concerned because he is only 14. Hold on. 5BLD is 14? AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!
 
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It's not entirely about this. From chats we've had, he doesn't like to cube under pressure, and also doesn't like being singled out for attention. Can you imagine what it would be like at worlds for him? Also, flights are A LOT of money for us UK people, and so you would have to really want to go to make it worth the trip (like me :b).

Even if Alex wasn't insanely fast, I would still highly recommend to him (and anyone else) to consider coming to worlds, and remember that only a part of your experience will be cubing. Meeting everyone from around the world, as well as travelling to a place vastly different from home is why everyone comes to this event. Most people attending don't have a chance in hell at winning the title, they come for the overall experience. The experience which is definitely worth the money, in my opinion.

Apart from the 3x3 final, there won't really be any times where he'll be 'singled out'. Sure, he might get asked to sign a few autographs here and there. If he goes in with no expectations, and doesn't put pressure on himself, then I think he'll find that the competition is actually a lot of fun. From what you've said, it seems like you think he would focus solely on the 3x3 final for his entire trip, which is definitely not the way to go about things.

Sure, there would be pressure on him to perform, but no more than anyone else (Me, Mats, Michal, Rowe, etc.)


And how does a 14yr old boy [sic] pay to do all these 'amazing' things? ... their is very little point in him paying thousands of pounds to fly to America so that he can not achieve what he is cabable of. Their is plenty of time ahead of him so he can go to Uk competitions and work on his nerves. Everyone knows he is a good cuber, so I doubt he needs to win this event for the self re-assuranc, not everyone wants to be made a fuss of like that.

Good point, I realise that money may be an issue but I don't think anyone who attended WC2011, or any other world championships for that matter, regretted it because it cost too much. Maybe he could make a deal with his parents that if he wins any money, he could reimburse them?

I really hope you reconsider. It's really is a trip of a lifetime and a city like no other :)

Me too.
 
In all fairness, even in Vegas, the amount of cubers who don't go out and explore and stay in the hotel is a pretty large number. I don't think you'd be bored if you were to stay in the hotel most of the time. With the addition of the seminars + talent show + non-official competitions, the competition evenings ran until 9 or 10pm last year quite consistently (I think). Point is: Being under 21 will not prevent you from having a good time at a cubing event of this size in Vegas.
 
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