Jayakarthi’s journey into speedcubing began with his discovery of the Rubik’s cube, an 80 rupees puzzle that would ignite his passion. It wasn’t a quest for intellectual challenge or a desire to solve it that drew him in; it was simply the cube’s vibrant allure. For the first couple of weeks, the cube sat untouched, merely a decorative item in his room.
One day, a spark of curiosity ignited in Jayakarthi. Determined to solve the cube at least once, he searched online for solutions, facing challenges due to the scarcity of Tamil tutorials. Frustration turned to hope when he discovered an article by Feliks Zemdegs, a renowned and distinguished figure in the cubing community.
With patience and persistence, Jayakarthi followed Zemdegs’ instructions. After 4 hours and 20 minutes of effort, he finally solved the cube for the first time. That moment marked the beginning of his obsession. He began solving the cube 4-5 times a day, his times gradually improving with each attempt.
A few months later, Jayakarthi came across a YouTube video featuring Feliks Zemdegs. To his astonishment, Zemdegs solved the cube in a mere 7.4 seconds. This discovery was both inspiring and eye-opening for Jayakarthi, who at that time took 25-30 minutes to solve the cube. Intrigued by the concept of speedcubing, he dove deep into research and learned that speedcubing was a prominent sport internationally.
The urge to excel in speedcubing grew stronger, but there was a barrier—he needed a proper speedcube, which cost around 900 rupees. His parents denied it, unwilling to spend such an amount on what they considered a toy. Determined, Jayakarthi saved the money meant for a new Diwali dress and secretly purchased the cube.
The onset of the COVID-19 lockdown turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Jayakarthi by providing ample time. He practiced relentlessly, solving 250-300 cubes daily. Over months of intense practice, his solving time plummeted from 25-30 minutes to a remarkable 25-30 seconds.
Eager to test his skills, Jayakarthi signed up for a Cubelelo competition. By securing third place in his very first competition, he received a 2×2 and a pyramid cube. Eventually, he entered more competitions gaining invaluable experience. He mastered single-handed cubing and blindfolded cubing, becoming a mentor on weekends. Jayakarthi continues to compete locally, inspiring others with his journey from a casual buyer to a speedcubing prodigy.
Jayakarthi’s story is a testament to the power of curiosity, perseverance, and the unyielding pursuit of passion. From a simple attraction to a colourful cube, he carved out a niche for himself in the world of speedcubing, proving that with determination, one can transform any interest into a remarkable talent.
NARDHANA SRI. R
I CSE – 2
