The Megaminx cube is a dodecahedron-shaped puzzle similar to Rubik’s Cube, featuring 12 faces with 50 movable pieces to rearrange, including center and corner pieces.
Advanced methods allow solvers to perform orientation and permutation of last layer edges with fewer sequences (and total moves) than beginner algorithms, thus enabling solvers to crack the cube piecemeal.
World Records
Since its introduction internationally in 1980, Rubik’s Cube has evolved into an array of puzzles designed to test brainpower with various degrees of difficulty. These include the standard 3-by-3 cube as well as 4-by-4 versions and 5-by-5 and 6-by-6 variations; there’s even the Pyraminx, an altered 3-by-3 in pyramid form; and last but not least there is the Rubik’s Clock that features nine clocks where all hands must point toward noon!
Miller, 15, began solving Rubik’s Cubes when Santa brought them on his Christmas list. As soon as he saw how good he was at them, he started competing in World Cube Association events around the globe using a StackMat timer with touch-sensitive pads activated when lifting began and placed down again to stop timing – this device tests competitors against one another using timed events using touch-sensitive pads activated when lifting started then placing back down again stopped the clock.
Cho has recorded several impressive WCA times at World Cube Association tournaments, such as finishing a megaminx puzzle (a dodecahedron-shaped dodecahedron with 50 movable pieces) in an hour and six minutes and solving a 3x3x3 cube while blindfolded. His feet solving skills have him ranked third nationally; currently, he’s working toward qualifying for this year’s world championship tournament in India.
Eli Kirk is a Mechanical Engineering major at CWU who regularly competes. She won a national title for foot solving and is one of the fastest female cubers for standard 3×3 cube. Additionally, she excels in solving skewb cubes – an event in which competitors attempt to solve an irregular cube – making her a top competitor at both events.
European Records
Rech Miller has been solving puzzles since he was 8 years old. Santa used to leave Rubik’s Cubes under his Christmas tree each year for him to practice at home before starting competitive events run by judges from World Cubing Association.
Cubers participate in competitive cubing by solving four puzzles–the 3x3x3 Cube, Rubik’s Clock (4 sides), Megaminx (12 sides) and Pyraminx dodecahedron–in a time limit set by organizers. A device known as StackMat has touch-sensitive pads to start the clock timer and remove one hand from cube when desired to stop clock.
Rech has used his friend’s technique to place in the top 10 worldwide in Megaminx competition, win two national 6×6 cube championships, and set various speedcubing records – but still hasn’t won overall World championship yet; hoping that might change next year! In the meantime, Rech is taking on new challenges: solving cubes with twisted centers known as Skewbs is now his focus!
North American Records
Megaminx puzzles resemble Rubik’s Cube in shape, yet feature more moveable pieces. There are 12 faces and center pieces, 20 corner pieces, and 30 edge pieces in all, each of which has its own color that can be moved around by rotating it against another center piece or rotated freely around its own face axes. Furthermore, each face can also be rotated if its color matches any corner or edge pieces that share its color; and any face with multiple colors can even be oriented by twisting these corner/edge pieces that share its colors axis.
Megaminx comes in two basic variations, the 6-color and 12-color versions. The former utilizes the six common puzzle cube colors of white, yellow, blue, red, dark green and orange; with opposite faces sharing each color. While its 12-color variant features different hues for every face. Solving it may prove more challenging due to visually similar edges being joined together during solving and scramble, leading to “impossible” permutations during solve or scramble that must be manually corrected afterward.
Speedcubers employ specially-designed cubes made out of plastic designed specifically for competition, distinct from those sold at department store toy sections. When beginning their timers they must be held with both hands on touch-sensitive pads before returning the cube to these pads in order to stop it and restart it later on.
South American Records
Competitors not only compete with a 3×3 cube but also with other puzzles such as pyramid-shaped (Pyraminx), dodecahedron-shaped skewb (Skewbminx), and 12-sided megaminx puzzles resembling a Rubik’s Clock in contests. Each of these uses different cube types from those commonly found at department store toy sections for optimal playback.
Eli Kirk, a mechanical engineering major at Central Washington University (CWU), possesses immense skill when it comes to solving these kinds of cubes, particularly megaminx cubes. In January of this year he set the North American record in this event.
He excels at competing in a type of competition known as the pyraminx, in which competitors must solve a skewed cube with minimal moves – an event which he has had great success at and is currently among the top 10 nationally in this category.
