For many, solving a Rubik’s Cube is a seemingly impossible task. However, junior Ryan Wang not only solves Rubik’s Cubes, but also challenges himself to take the puzzle to a whole new level.
Wang started playing with Rubik’s Cubes when he was five years old. Determined to solve it, he learned how to solve the bottom two layers, but stopped cubing for several years. In seventh grade, Wang regained his interest in Rubik’s Cubes when his friend invited him to a Rubik’s Cube convention. After the convention, Wang toyed with the cube and eventually figured out how to solve the third and last layer. “It felt good, because this puzzle, which had stumped me [for many years]—I’d finally vanquished it,” Wang said.
At first, Wang could only solve a Rubik’s Cube in five minutes, but he eventually got his time to under a minute after his first year of seriously solving cubes. Now, Wang can solve a Rubik’s Cube in 6.4 seconds, only 2.2 seconds off from the world record. Wang attributes his record to his passion for solving Rubik’s Cubes and constant practice. “I have interest in it, and in order to get fast you have to invest time,” he said. “So it’s a lot of practice, but it’s also fast fingers and fast thinking.”
According to Wang, speedcubing is the perfect way to exercise his competitive spirit. “I used to be really competitive about getting a really good time, so getting a personal best was always gratifying,” he said. “Also, when you finally understand how a puzzle works it’s really rewarding.”
A master at solving the standard 3-by-3-by-3 cube, Wang has now expanded his repertoire to include all kinds of different puzzles. “You have non-cuboids which are like dodecahedrons, pyramids, other types of [three-dimensional] puzzles,” he said. “I do a lot of them, but I don’t know how to solve them yet.”
Wang also finds interest in manipulating the Rubik’s Cube’s unique structure. For example, he’s able to create patterns of colors on the cube and then solve it again. If solving the Rubik’s Cube in under ten seconds isn’t challenging enough, Wang finds other methods of challenging himself. “I can solve it one-handed,” he said. “Sometimes I can solve it blindfolded, but I’m working on that.”
Wang can be seen walking around on campus with a Rubik’s Cube in his hand, ready to be solved. Despite his busy schedule, he takes the time to practice every day.
In the future, Wang plans on creating a Rubik’s Cube club to share his passion with the whole school. “I have a club that I’m probably making next semester, so look out for it at the club fair,” he said.