2020 Predictions Review & Update

3 years ago

Speedcubing Thoughts

Hi all, 

I’m painfully aware that the last blog post on the site was at the end of 2019 (and that I should have posted this one 6 months ago!). It looked forward to 2020 and what may have been in store for the speedcubing world. Of course, we all know the story of the last 15 months or so and everything that has unfolded - but it has remained quite a big period for cubing in my view. In lieu of in-person competitions, a host of different parties worked to create online formats of competitions which brought cubing to thousands of participants and audience members simultaneously. YouTube and Twitch cubing continues to grow, and I suspect a little Netflix original documentary helped to ignite even more interest in the hobby. More on all of that later, after a brief review of my 2020 predictions and goals.

My 2020 predictions were as follows:

My 2020 goals were:

I’ll refrain from posting predictions and goals or 2021 given just how many unknowns there appear to be at this stage, and most of my predictions tend to be WCA/competition-based. We’ve been fortunate enough to have competitions in Australia this year but practicing has not really been front of mind for me. It seems like a World Championship is unlikely at this stage but who knows what can change from here, although I won’t hold my breath – the last 12 months have taught me to keep my expectations low, when the pandemic first hit I thought it would all be cleared up/contained like other recent viruses/diseases and I’d get to go to Euros in Amsterdam in July 2020!

I would like to finish my ZBLL journey this year, This probably looks like full T, U, L, half of Pi, and some H. I’m still a bit skeptical on the practicalities of Pi and H but suspect my recognition will improve over time. Basically, I’d like to get to a point where I’m confident that there’s not much more low-hanging fruit in terms of algorithms I can learn, and with the use of my algs. We’ll see how this goes 

There was plenty more that took place in 2020 that I alluded to in the beginning of the post. I was emailed in late 2018 by a woman named Sue Kim who approached me with her idea to create a documentary on speedcubing with the goal of pitching it to Netflix. Over the years I’ve heard a number of similar stories and people starting projects that never come to fruition. There are documentaries that have been created but either tailored to more of a speedcubing audience (Chris Olson’s work), or short documentaries focused on Erno and the cube, rather than the speedcubing aspect. I said I was happy to help and wished her the best of luck with the project, not really thinking it would go anywhere. A couple of months later and Sue let us know that that Netflix loved their idea and gave the pitch a green light, and that they were coming to Sydney and Melbourne in July 2019 to shoot!

Thankfully from my end, the time commitments were quite low – they mostly shot footage at the two competitions (Warm Up Sydney, and Worlds 2019), and the week or two around it. I wore a microphone for the entire 6 days of competing, but apart from that, it wasn’t very intrusive or distracting. The filming team were very subtle and captured everything completely naturally, and never had any requests or set up any shots (apart from a few interviews).

I heard back from Sue in January when they sent across the draft version of the documentary and was really overwhelmed by what they had been able to create. I knew that she was an excellent producer and that this was her passion project for a few years, but this was completely next level. The editing was truly lovely and creates standards that I can’t quite live up to – I’m glad there weren’t any comps for the months after the release.

The reception and feedback was overwhelming. Any free time I had in August and September was essentially spent trying to respond to as many people (including, would you believe, Adele) as I possibly could who shared kind words about the documentary and trying to make the most of a once in a lifetime event.

It seems like it’s the gift that keeps on giving, but earlier this year it was actually shortlisted for the Documentary Short category at the Oscars which is absolutely hilarious and absurd – although didn’t score a nomination in the end. 

Also I don’t know about you guys, but I feel like the next few years are shaping up to be one of the most potentially awesome and competitive periods for 3x3 speedcubing if we can get back to some semblance of normal. I’m really blown away by the ability of these kids to churn out sub 6 solves like nothing, whether that’s Tymon, Leo & Matty, or Ruihang, Yezhen, Yiheng who are only going to get better from here – Max is going to have to work hard to stay ahead of the game, although I’m sure he can do it. I thought the excuse of age being barrier to turning speed was rubbish until the last 12 months or so but now I think I’m firmly in that camp. 

Looks like more and more competitions are being held around the world each weekend, a sign that hopefully the worst is behind is. Take care everyone!


Thoughts on this blog

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Akash Sreedharan

Akash Sreedharan Posted 3 years ago

Hi Feliks,

I agree that the next few years will be potentially awesome for speedcubing, and even more so if there will be more competitions. I personally have watched 'Speedcubers' 34 times (as of 6/6/21). The first time I did so was after a (online) singapore primary math olympiad competition. My mother ( who is not a cuber btw) admires your sportsmanship. That movie also inspired my brother to start cubing, and he has been my only cube partner during these covid times.

Just a question, how do you set-up your Gan 11 m pro? I tried referring to this https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1etN_cYzamRragAUqp06ybWQmBOP91s3WeZNn0spiVT4/edit#gid=0

but there are no Yellow GES in the Gan 11.

 


Akash Sreedharan

Akash Sreedharan Posted 3 years ago

also, are cube hybrids allowed in competitions? I used the core of the gan 356 air m and the pieces of the Gan 356 m to make a hybrid, and it is my favourite OH cube.


Lewis Potts

Lewis Potts Posted 3 years ago

Hi I love the update! I can wait for a new world record. 


Akash Sreedharan

Akash Sreedharan Posted 3 years ago

there was a wr broken 2 days ago...check youtube


Lewis Potts

Lewis Potts Posted 3 years ago

Oh was it 3x3?

 


bob bill

bob bill Posted 3 years ago

3x3 average of 5. (5.48)


Akash Sreedharan

Akash Sreedharan Posted 3 years ago

by ruihang xu


Marcos Rodriguez

Marcos Rodriguez Posted 3 years ago

beeting WR is getting really hard now that the bar is so high


A SpeedCuber

A SpeedCuber Posted 3 years ago

Yah we hopped on this train a bit too late. . .


bob bill

bob bill Posted 3 years ago

i was born a few years two late :/

 

Eli Carr

Eli Carr Posted 3 years ago

I think it's crazy all these world records are being broken. 


A SpeedCuber

A SpeedCuber Posted 3 years ago

Bob same! Does anyone know where I can get new magnets and tension things for my Gan X? I don't really want spend another $60 on a cube when mine works fine 


A SpeedCuber

A SpeedCuber Posted 3 years ago

I lost them btw


Akash Sreedharan

Akash Sreedharan Posted 3 years ago

Hi Feliks,

I just watched Tingman's video about the speedcubedb data. Any idea why you might be faster with red cross than the other crosses?


Lewis Potts

Lewis Potts Posted 3 years ago

I am white cross but I try do red yellow orange green but get like 1m or something like that


Gloria Collins

Gloria Collins Posted 3 years ago

I started in March 2021 and now my ao100's 26.66.


Shrihari K R

Shrihari K R Posted 3 years ago

Hey Feliks, thanks for making me sub 20!! But I ditched CFOP and switched to Mehta and I avg 17ish rn. I came to CubeSkills as a beginner in June 2020.


Lewis Potts

Lewis Potts Posted 3 years ago

How are you sub 20 I have been cubing for a year and a half and still not sub 20


Andy Chou

Andy Chou Posted 3 years ago

`


bob bill

bob bill Posted 3 years ago

Lewis Potts, what is your current average, do you know full cfop, and can you say an estimated solve break. Then we can advise you


Lewis Potts

Lewis Potts Posted 3 years ago

Bob bill I do not use full cfop and I average 35 seconds now.  I had a brake for a 3 or 4 weeks but I   was like 28 seconds before the break.


bob bill

bob bill Posted 3 years ago

solve break means how long it takes you to solve each step lol


bob bill

bob bill Posted 3 years ago

i suggest learning full cfop or at least 2 look oll and pll if you dont know that already. pll should be learned before oll.


Eli Carr

Eli Carr Posted 3 years ago

Well, I never thought I'd hear of such a method as Mehta.


Jack Maclear

Jack Maclear Posted 3 years ago

hi


Jack Maclear

Jack Maclear Posted 3 years ago

I average 18s


Gloria Collins

Gloria Collins Posted 3 years ago

How long have you been cubing for?


Sangeet Roy

Sangeet Roy Posted 3 years ago

Hey guys if anyone knows what is the I cube notation

 


bob bill

bob bill Posted 3 years ago

each face has a letter R=right and it’s pretty simple to figure out the rest M is middle, D is the bottom U Is top and if it’s just the letter than you turn that face clockwise but if it has ‘ then it’s “prime” so counterclockwise. And you judge witch way is clockwise/counterclockwise by holding that face facing you


bob bill

bob bill Posted 3 years ago

here’s a video that explains it much better 

https://youtu.be/PhcnmY7_RkQ


Steven Crowther

Steven Crowther Posted 3 years ago

:)


Akash Sreedharan

Akash Sreedharan Posted 3 years ago

@Sangeet Roy

Imagine you are holding the cube with white on top , green in front. 

R - Turn the Right (Red) face clockwise so that the top now has 1 1x3 Green Bar.

U - Turn the Up (White) face clockwise so that the front face now has an orange bar

F - Turn the Front (Green) face clockwise.

D - Turn the Down (Yellow) face clockwise

B - Turn the Back (Blue) face clockwise

L - Turn the Left (Orange) face clockwise

 

R' e.t.c. turn anticlockwise instead

R2 e.t.c. turn 180 degrees

 


Hamzah Subhi

Hamzah Subhi Posted 3 years ago

im 8


Akash Sreedharan

Akash Sreedharan Posted 3 years ago

M - turn the middle slice on the 'y' line clockwise(downwards)

E - turn the middle slice on the 'x' line clockwise(towards the right)

S - turn the middle slice on the 'z' line clockwise

 

x - rotate the whole cube along the L layer

y - rotate ... U layer

z - rotate ... F layer

r, u, l e.t.c. - Turn the layer and the corresponding middle slice

 


Devan Williamson

Devan Williamson Posted 3 years ago

hi Feliks, Can you come to NZ to compete?


Aarav  Tomar

Aarav Tomar Posted 2 years ago

Hi Feliks, please post more blogs about tips and tricks. Thanks


Aarav  Tomar

Aarav Tomar Posted 2 years ago

Love this site BTW


Aarav  Tomar

Aarav Tomar Posted 2 years ago

I learn most of the things here oll,pll etc


Pauline Natalie

Pauline Natalie Posted 2 years ago

This is a really great site and picking up a Rubik's cube was my best new hobby during the pandemic :)


Jds Soo

Jds Soo Posted 2 years ago

Please put a tutorial for the other WCA events please


Muhammad hashir

Muhammad hashir Posted 2 years ago

how I can get better at 4x4. I average 1 min  5 secs


Ian Graff

Ian Graff Posted 2 years ago

Best Mega Algs!


Ian Graff

Ian Graff Posted 2 years ago

There needs to be a new blog post!


Agastya Vegunta

Agastya Vegunta Posted 1 year ago

when are you going to post 2x2 algs

 

 

 

 


Henry Langfeldt Gould

Henry Langfeldt Gould Posted 1 year ago

Hi feliks i have been trying to get sub 15 for about a year and I finally got it thanks to you


Cyrill Lim

Cyrill Lim Posted 1 year ago

hi

 


Aadil Arif

Aadil Arif Posted 7 months ago

hi

i am big fan

 


Maykon Sharon

Maykon Sharon Posted 6 months ago

Hello, great week of training and learning cubes for us!


Rithik  The Speed Cuber!!!

Rithik The Speed Cuber!!! Posted 4 months ago

I learned the 3x3 2x2 and pryaminx and I think I should learn the megaminx next what do you suggest

 


Keith Reed

Keith Reed Posted 4 months ago

megaminx is a lot of fun I recommend the westland method the way Felicks does it


Rithik  The Speed Cuber!!!

Rithik The Speed Cuber!!! Posted 4 months ago

okay

 


Brian Bolaños

Brian Bolaños Posted 2 months ago

I have just signed in just to find out that he doesn't post blogs any }more :'v

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


charlie holmes

charlie holmes Posted 1 month ago

hi Feliks are you going to show methods for 2x2 3BLD FMC Pyraminx Skewb Square-1 4BLD 5BLD and Mult-Blind


charlie holmes

charlie holmes Posted 1 month ago

also do you still compete in 3BLD and Pyraminx



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