Estonia to hold its first nationwide school cubing contest

Estonia’s first nationwide Rubik’s Cube competition for school students is opening for registration, while speedcuber Kaur Tuule says anyone can learn to solve a cube blindfolded with enough practice. ERR reported the news in its television programme Ringvaade.

Tuule, a seven-time Estonian champion in solving the classic cube, teaches nearly 70 students in four schools. He said learning the logic and practising the algorithms were key, along with developing finger dexterity.

The competition will have 17 events, including cubes ranging from 2×2 to 7×7 and other puzzles. Competitors will solve some cubes one-handed and some blindfolded. Other challenges involve matching shapes rather than colours.

Tuule’s student Herta Johanna Vinnal said she had been solving cubes for two years. After memorising algorithms, she said, repeated practice helped her get faster and set new records.

Tuule, 21, said the world’s best speedcubers were much younger than him, and he was working on exercises to improve his finger speed. He is among Estonia’s leading 3×3 cube solvers, but said he was not necessarily the best at solving every type of cube.

Registration for the school competition is open until February, and the competition period begins next week. Tuule said students who cannot yet solve a cube still have time to learn and take part.