LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Some of the world's fastest speed cubers were in Louisville this weekend for a regional competition.

Speedcubing is the act of solving twisty puzzles, like the Rubik's Cube, as quickly as possible. The skills in speedcubing are directly applicable to abstract math and are useful traits for science and engineering, according to CubingUSA.

The Cubing USA Great Lakes Cubing Championship was held at the Kentucky International Convention Center from Friday to Sunday. It's the first time Louisville has hosted the event. 

Andrew Park competes in cubing

Andrew Park competes at the Cubing USA Great Lakes Cubing Championship was held at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, Ky. on Oct. 6, 2024.

Andrew Park is a fifth grader in Louisville. The 10-year-old has competed in more than a dozen speed cubing competitions in the past two years.

"I've gotten a PR in all of them," Park said.

He can complete some of the cubes in just three seconds.

"I practice a lot," Park said. "It's just fun to compete against yourself and others sometimes."

He keeps hand warmers in his pockets to stay ready.

"If your hands are cold, you hesitate a bit," Park said.

He was first introduced to a speed cube several years ago. He now knows the algorithm and the combinations to use. 

"I use a specific method," Park said. "I solve the cross, the first two layers."

Park was one of more than 300 competitors who participated in the regional tournament. 

Javier Gonzalez-Napoleoni, an organizer and CubingUSA delegate from Louisville, said it's the largest competition Kentucky has ever had. He said people from around the world competed.

"The community is super supportive, this area is really competitive. Kentucky has one of the fastest cubers in North America, Indiana does as well," Gonzalez-Napoleoni said. "These are high-class folks in the area. That's what brings in a lot of talent from Europe, Canada, Australia."

There were competitors as young as six years old, along with people in their 60s, according to Gonzalez-Napoleoni.

There were 17 different events, including a blindfolded competition.

"I've made a lot of friends, I've done really well," Park said.

To learn more about CubingUSA, click here.

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