BUDAPEST, Hungary — A 16-year-old took the top prize of $7,000 at the Rubik’s Cube world championship Sunday, solving the puzzle five times in an average of 12.46 seconds.
But the fastest single attempt was a cool 10.88 seconds, just off the world record of 9.86 seconds.
Yu Nakajima of Japan won the main event for twisting the classic 3×3 cube — which has nine colored tiles on each on its six sides — into the winning position, where all like-colored tiles are on the same face.
Andrew Kang of the United States, who came in second for the main event, set the best time for a single attempt at the championship. The world record has been held by Thibaut Jacquinot of France since May.
More than 250 competitors from 33 countries took part in the event.
The cube’s inventor, engineer Erno Rubik, made a rare public appearance at the medal ceremony, helping to hand out the main awards.
Other competitors showed their skill by solving the cube one-handed or with their feet.
Finland’s Anssi Vanhala, 15, was fastest with his feet at 49.33 seconds, although his favorite cube — which players customize with everything from silicon lubricants to talcum powder — was stolen during the competition.
Ryan Patricio, 18, a high school senior from Temecula, Calif., defended his world title in the one-hand category with a new world record, averaging 21.13 seconds in five attempts.
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