Rubik's UK Championship announced this October in Coventry

The country’s fastest Rubik’s Cube solvers will go head-to-head for the title of UK champion in Coventry this month.

The Rubik’s UK Championship 2023, presented by The UK Cube Association, is the national championship for speedcubing in the UK and will take place at Coventry Building Society Arena for a second year running.

The event, which will be held from the 20 October to 22 October, will see 500 competitors battle it out across 16 different events, including the standard 3x3x3 Rubik’s Cube, as well as other sizes, from 2x2 all the way up to 7x7. Those with the highest speed hands will take on challenges including “twisty puzzles” like the Pyraminx, Megaminx, Clock, Skewb, and Square-1.

Some competitors will also try for the fastest time in challenges such as completing the standard cube with one hand, and even blindfolded. All solves from the competition will be officially recognised by the World Cube Association, the global governing body.

Competitors from over 25 nations will be present, but only those representing the United Kingdom will be eligible for the elusive Champion title.

James Alonso was just 13 when he became UK Champion last year, he said: “Winning the UK Championship last year was the craziest experience I’ve ever had. I’m just super excited to compete again this year, and, regardless of who wins, the experience of sharing a huge venue with hundreds of competitors from across the globe is unmatched.”

With the world record holder Yiheng Wang of China having an average time of just 4.48 seconds at the age of only nine, its clear competitors in speedcubing have been getting younger and younger. In 2023 the average age for a UK competitor is just over 14, more than five years lower than when the UK held its first competition in 2008.

Daniel Partridge, 14, started cubing during the pandemic in 2020 and has since gone on to set a European record in Pyraminx, the same event where he hopes to reclaim his UK Champion title this year.

He said: “Becoming Pyraminx Champion again would be great, but even if I don’t, competitions aren’t just about the results.

“I wouldn’t be competing at all if it weren’t for the amazing friends I have now, getting to see them all is what makes the Rubik’s UK Championship so special.”

The event this year is sponsored by the Rubik's brand, the iconic Rubik's Cube is one of the most influential toys in history, intriguing minds of all ages, and without Ernő Rubik's invention almost 50 years ago, the world of speedcubing would not be where it is today.

Sam Spendla, of the UKCA, said: “The collaboration between the UKCA and Rubik's is exciting for all involved, and we're honoured to be working with them to craft the 2023 edition of our National Championship.”

Competitions are held weekly across the UK, with over 40 held in 2023 so far. This represents a huge step up for the UK speedcubing scene, numbers have grown dramatically since the pandemic, with 2023 projected to have more than four times the number of competitions as 2019. The annual UK Championship always stands out as a highlight, with more than double the number of competitors of any other competition in the UK this year.

Spectators will be permitted to attend across the weekend by paying a £5 fee at the Hall 2 Ticket Office whilst the competition is ongoing, and tickets are still available. The fee grants you access to all three days of the competition, including the final day on the 22nd of October where the new UK Champion will be crowned. More information, including the competition schedule is available on the WCA website here. https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/competitions/RubiksUKChampionship2023