Registration
The first step is to sign up for your speedcubing competition. Registration takes place at World Cube Association (WCA). Select Competitions > “All” at the top of the menu. Then you will find a list of all speedcubing competitions around the world. Note that you can search for competitions and sort them by country. When you have found a competition you want to participate in, click on the link to the competition and then find “Register” at the top left of the page. Quick links to all European competitions can be found here.
Things to bring
If it’s your first time competing, you need to bring a valid ID (e.g. passport) with you. You compete with your own cubes. This means that you need to bring cubes with you to the event or events you intend to compete in. If you are competing blindfolded, you also need to bring your own blindfold. Timers, mats and displays are already found at the competition venue. Apart from the cubes and possibly ID, there are no musts, but it can be smart to bring coffee, drinks and snacks. If there is food to buy on site, you will find that information on the competition page. (WCA)
At the competition venue
The first thing you have to do is register your arrival. You must be there at least 20 minutes before your first event. If you leave the venue at any time during the competition, you need to be back 20 minutes before it is your turn to compete again. You can find the competition schedule on the competition page (and often posted in the competition venue). At WCA Live the competition results are usually posted LIVE, where you can see if you have proceeded to the next round. After you have completed your check-in, you can go and sit in a free seat and warm up and socialize with other speedcubers. When it’s your turn to compete, your name or group will be called.
Time to compete!
Step 1.
When your name or group is called, submit your cube for scrambling. The scramblers are usually located somewhat shielded so that you cannot see the scrambles in advance. On the scrambling table there will be scorecards with names. Find your name and place your cube on that scorecard.
Step 2.
Once you have handed in your cube, DO NOT go and sit in your previous place. At the competition there is a special area for the group currently competing, called a “waiting area”. This location can be somewhat secluded or sometimes in a separate room. Here you sit and wait until a runner comes and picks you up by calling your name.
Step 3.
Follow your runner to the competition station that they show you. At the competition station you will complete your solve. Once you’ve solved the cube and approved the time the judge wrote down, you go back to the waiting area. You leave your cube at the competition station, it will be picked up by a runner and returned to the scramblers.
When you are back in the waiting area, you just have to wait to be picked up by a runner again. You repeat this for your 5 solves. Note that you are not allowed to discuss the scrambles in the waiting area. When you have completed your fifth solve, take your cube from the competition station.
Done!
For relatives and spectators
All official speedcubing competitions are open to the public and are free to watch. In rare cases, there may be a fee to enter the venue, for example if the competition is held in a museum where entry is usually not free. If this is the case, you will find information on the competition page. It is forbidden to take photos with flash and the audience must stand at least 1.5 meters away from the competitors. Respect any instructions from the organizer.
FAQ
The price differs from competition to competition but is usually around € 10 – 20. Current registration fees can be found on the competition page. Spectating is almost always free.
Yes, you are allowed to compete with stickerless cubes.
There are no age restrictions to compete. It is always good to bring a parent along if you are a bit younger though.
In the rules there is no time limit. However, if it takes too long, you may have to stop due to lack of time in the schedule. Therefore, the organizers usually always set some kind of time limit for how long one’s solve in a specific event can take at that particular competition. More information about this is always available on the competition’s WCA page.
Yes, competing with magnetic cubes is always allowed.
No, it is not allowed to compete with any type of electronic cubes.
Normally, you must register online in advance. If on-site registration is an option, you will find information about it on the competition page.
It differs from competition to competition. If there is food to buy in the venue, you will find information about it on the competition page.
Generally no. The organizer is not usually responsible for the sale of cubes. In some cases, for example, we at Cuboss can be on site. Sometimes you can buy used cubes from other competitors.
At the venue, there is usually a review and demonstration of how a speedcubing competition works. These are most often held before the start of the most popular events, such as 2×2 or 3×3. Contact the organizer if you feel unsure.
No. The cube must not be missing pieces/caps. This is because you can recognize a piece on the back with the help of your fingers. The cube must be whole and in good condition. If you have very worn stickers and are not sure if you can compete with the cube, ask the WCA delegate on site.
No, there are timers, mats and displays at the venue. All you need to bring with you are the cubes you will compete with and an ID if it is your first competition.
Results are uploaded LIVE at https://live.worldcubassociation.org/. There you can see your results and rankings. The green mark on the left indicates who will advance to the next round after everyone’s results in a round are published on the page.
If the event has a cutoff time of 5 minutes, you have two attempts to get a time under 5 minutes. If neither of the first two times is under 5 minutes, you may not do the remaining three attempts. Your best single time of your two attempts will be listed, but you will not be ranked with an average. You can find which events have a cutoff and which times apply on the event list of the competition website.
If the event has a time limit, that is the maximum time you have to solve the puzzle. If your time goes over the time limit, the judge will stop the attempt. Your official time will be DNF (did not finish).
Acting as a judge is not difficult, but you need to know the rules of the competition. Click here to learn how to judge.
At your first speedcubing competition, you are not forced to judge. However, we recommend that you take a look at what judges are doing so that you can join in and help out in the future. At subsequent competitions, you are expected to help out to ensure that everything runs smoothly. To learn how to judge, click here.You must judge in the events that you compete in yourself. Instead of everyone competing at the same time, the competitors are divided into groups. If you compete in 3×3 group 1, you can then judge in 3×3 group 2. You are more than welcome to judge in other events if you want, it is much appreciated. You can’t judge too much, only too little.
At your first speedcubing competition, you don’t have to help, but feel free to take a look at what runners are doing so you can join in the future.
As a runner, you go to the scrambling table and pick up a scrambled cube. Take the cube, scorecard and cover with you. Then you go to the waiting area and call out the name that you have on your scorecard. When you have found the person you are looking for, you take them to a free competition station. There you hand over the cube, scorecard and cover to the judge. Make sure the contestant never sees the cube. Instead of waiting for the cube to be solved, you bring a solved cube from another competition station with you on the way back. The judge holds the cube up in the air when it is ready and you can then go back to the scrambling table to repeat the process.
You are welcome to be a runner when needed and you have time. For a competition to be successful, you have to help at least as much as you compete. For example, if you compete in 3 rounds, you should be a judge/runner for at least 3 rounds. You can never help too much, any help is greatly appreciated. Since you do not need any knowledge of speedcubing to be a runner, relatives and spectators are welcome to join and help as runners as well.
No. You only need to be present at least 20 minutes before competing in your event. If you have competed before, it is also expected of you to help judge or be a runner. We recommend that you help as much as you compete. So if you compete in two events, you must help out in at least 2 groups of the same event. Then you can go home. If the competition is spread over several days, you only need to be present on the days when you are going to compete.
Yes, that is possible. If you want to cancel your registration, we recommend that you do so as soon as possible, so that someone else can get your place. To cancel your registration, contact the organizer of the competition. Info can be found on the competition page at WCA (World Cube Association).
If you want to add or remove an event that you have registered for, you can do so via the competition page at WCA.
Ask the organizer general questions about the competition you are participating in. Contact information can be found on the competition page. Ask questions about competition rules to a delegate (chief judge). To find out who these people are at your specific competition, head to the competition website over at WCA. All competition rules can be found here.