The World Cube Association is a governing body for competitions that involve solving mechanical puzzles operated by twisting groups of pieces. It was formed in 2004 by Ron van Bruchem and Tyson Mao to expand the popularity of speed cubing and standardize rules and regulations.
Speed cubing involves memorizing algorithms for moving the pieces of a cube to certain positions. It’s become a hugely popular pastime, especially among autistic people.
About the WCA
Aside from the main competitions, there are many smaller ones that are hosted around the world. These are good for gaining experience and trying out different cubes in a less competitive environment. There are also many opportunities to make friends and discuss the sport, which is always fun.
The success of this event led to the creation of a non-profit organisation that would regulate competitions while setting benchmarks and guidelines/regulations to be followed uniformly. This is how the WCA came about.
The WCA has forums where cubers, organizers and even the general public can post their doubts/suggestions/advice to improve the entire sport. These forums also provide a platform for discussing any issues that may arise at competitions. Currently, the WCA recognizes 17 events – 3x3x3 Blindfolded, 2x2x2, 4x4x4, Magic, Megaminx, Skewb and Square-1.
History
The WCA governs competitions for mechanical puzzles operated by twisting groups of pieces, commonly known as “twisty puzzles.” Although most cubers compete with the Rubik’s Cube, there are other variations, including dodecahedrons, tetrahedrons and even a cube that can be solved blindfolded.
The organization’s first competition took place in 2003. The inaugural event was five times bigger than the original 1982 championship, and featured far more categories of competition.
This event helped to spread the word about speed cubing. Soon, cubers were coming from all over the world to compete. They were competing in a sport that required a great deal of concentration and discipline. In addition, they were learning how to improve their times and break records. This event was a huge success, and it set the stage for the modern cubing movement.
Rules
The WCA governs competitions for mechanical puzzles operated by twisting groups of pieces, or “twisty puzzles.” These include the Rubik’s Cube and its variations. The WCA also sanctions official speed cubing competitions around the world.
To compete, you must register before the event begins. Once you’re registered, you’ll be assigned a competitor waiting area and assigned a judge to oversee your rounds. There are also delegates to help the judges and runners to bring your puzzles from the waiting area to the solving stations.
Each round has a time limit for each attempt, and the competitors who advance to the next round are determined by their ranking or results. A DNF (did not finish) is imposed if the solve is stopped before the timer has reached its limit.
Regulations
The WCA is responsible for regulating competitions worldwide for mechanical puzzles operated by twisting groups of pieces, commonly known as “twisty puzzles.” It’s a great way to meet new people and set some speed cubing records.
There are many rules and regulations that must be followed to compete in a WCA event. For example, all competitors must use approved puzzles and cannot have any electrical components. Using non-approved cubes is disqualifying, and can lead to a DNF (Did Not Finish).
The WCA board has the mission of “more competitions in more countries with more people having more fun under fair conditions.” They also work together with Senior Delegates to help open up cubing to more communities and countries. Competitions are typically held over a few days and have multiple rounds. There is a competitor limit for each round, so you should register early.
Forums
The WCA has an online community of Registered Speedcubers who discuss cubing-related topics. The forums are open to everyone and are a great way to communicate with the WCA community.
The WCA Forums are a good place to ask questions about cubing rules and regulations. There are also helpful educational resources on the forums to help competitors understand the regulations.
A few notable threads from 2022 include a proposal to add team BLD as an event, and a discussion about solutions to excessive competition demand, such as adding series competitions. Other topics discussed include a proposed simpler version of the regulations to make it easier for newer competitors to stay informed at competitions, and dropping article Y about temporary competitor waiting area restrictions. These are just a few examples of the many discussions in the forums.