TTU Student Ranks Top-10 In The World For One-Handed Cube Solving

9.73 seconds. That is the time that got Tennessee Tech Senior Eli Parker ranked 10th in the world for a one-handed Rubik’s cube solve.

Parker competed in the Pittsburgh Summer A 2022 competition where he achieved the record breaking time.

“My soul left my body for a second, because I finally got top 10 in my favorite event that I have been practicing a lot for multiple years,” Parker said.

Parker said he began the sport eight years ago after a friend brought a cube to class. Parker said after his first solve, he made it his goal to get faster and faster.

“The main thing which I think is critical for any hobby is the enjoyment of it,” Parker said. “Ever since the first solve it’s just been like I’ve been curious to see what I can do better, how I can turn better and how I can solve a certain case more efficiently. On top of that, the community. I have so many friends in it and connections and I get to travel to competitions just to solve a cube a few times.”

Parker said it was a natural progression to reach one-handed solves. Parker said overtime, the ways to solve a normal Rubik’s Cube become old, so he wanted to expand on his skills.

“It spices it up to do one-handed or blind folded or a 6x6x6 cube,” Parker said. “One-handed to me has been more fun. I don’t have to see the next step as fast, my turning is great and I am able to do my algorithms fast enough. It is satisfying to see my times on it.”

Parker said while Tennessee Tech does not have a Rubik’s Cube club, he wants to organize a competition in the future.