Rubik's Cube is a game that has gained popularity in Nakuru over the past three years. The sport has seen a mushrooming of young champions in the city, with the 2023 national speed cube champion coming from the region.

Mtaa Wangu visits St Xavior Junior Secondary School for a sit down with the 2023 National 3 x 3 Speed Cubing Champion John Muthee.

On arrival we find the Grade 7 student solving a cube puzzle prepared by his coach Michael Makanga.

On the table are 2 by 2, 3 by 3, 4 by 4 and a triangular Rubik's cube, which he is expected to solve in the shortest time possible.
John is able to solve each cube in less than 15 seconds.

Immediately afterwards, we sit down with him to talk about how he got into the sport and how things have been going since he started playing. This is what he had to say.

When did you first come across a Rubik's Cube?

The first time I played with a Rubik's Cube was last year when I was in sixth grade. My friend Giftone had the cube in class and I asked him if we could try to sort the colours together. I would say that I was attracted to the cube at first sight. I just had the eagerness to solve it.

Who taught you how to solve the Rubik's Cube?

I would say I am a self-taught cuber. I watched J Perm's YouTube tutorial to learn how to solve the Rubik's cube using Giftone's cube. I remember winning the cubing competition at the Kenya National Library Service, Nakuru branch with what I had taught myself on YouTube. This caught the attention of teacher Michael who brought me to the 3D learning programme to train me and improve my skills in the game.

How would you describe your first experience of solving a cube?

I will not lie, the first week of learning how to solve a cube online was frustrating. It kept me up until 12am just trying to get a complete solution. However, when I cracked my first solution, I was extremely happy.

How many types of Rubik's cubes can you solve and how many competitions have you entered?

I can easily solve a 2 in 2, a 3 in 3 and a triangle. Since February 2022, I have participated in six tournaments, some in Nakuru, Kericho and the last one was the Peponi House Twist and Turn in Nairobi on the 13th of March. I have come first in all the 3 by 3 tournaments I have been to and second in the 2 by 2 and Triangle puzzles.

What is your best solve time in Speed Cubing?

I had 11.34 seconds solve during my training time at our school club, however the best record I have registered in the World Cube Association tournaments is 12.75 seconds and an average of 14.22 seconds.

Who has been your biggest supporter in this sport?

My mum and dad have been my biggest supporters in my cubing career. Getting a good quality Rubik's Cube to use in competition is very expensive. I am currently using a sh 5,000 x-man tornado magnetic cube that my dad imported from China, an upgrade from the locally available sh 300 cubes that break easily.

Wanjirukinuthia20@gmail.com

Meet 13 year old John Muthee from Nakuru, the 2023 National Rubik's Cube Champion

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Purity Kinuthia