THE RUBIK’S REVOLUTION
Toys “R” Us Rubik’s Cube Challenge Champ Chia-Wei Lu Competes in Asian Tilt
Toys “R” Us launched a series of competition that tested the agility and challenged the speedcubing talents of Filipinos. The Pre-Finals battle began in July at the Midtown Wing of Robinsons Ermita, followed by challenges in Trinoma in August 31, Metro East last Sept. 14, and finally in Galleria last Sept. 28, 2008.
The Rubik's Cube Speed Challenge 2008 Grand Finals, held in the activity area of Robinsons Galleria, brought together the four champions of the 4 pre-finals, as well as speedcubers of different ages, Rubik’s Cube enthusiasts and spectators who were awed by the showcase of skill and speed. After a mind-boggling and exciting Grand Finals competition, Jan Jerome Bautista of the Metro East leg was 3rd runner-up, Brian Uy from the Trinoma leg was 2nd runner up and John Robert Anguluan who competed in the Galleria pre-finals placed 1st runner-up. But it was 16-year-old Chia-Wei Lu who emerged as the Grand Champion, garnering an average score of 16.2 seconds in five rounds. As the Philippines’ King of the Rubik’s Cube Speed Challenge, he brought home a new Sony Playstation 3, and a Toys “R” Us customized Gold Rubik’s trophy.
More importantly, Chia represented the country in the Toys “R” Us Asian Rubik’s Championship held in Hong Kong on November 8. He placed 6th among 7 players from other countries such as Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan, Macau and Hongkong. In an exhibition game held in the same event, Chia successfully wowed the audience by solving the Rubik’s cube blindfolded.
During the Grand Finals, the audience was also amazed watching the special events where the youngest participant, six-year old JR Simbulan, finished all sides of a 3X3 in only 36 seconds. Jeremy Nable also impressed the crowd by solving a 3X3 cube in 42.31 seconds, using only his right. Reynaldo Mape Jr., on the other hand, clocked at 100.83 seconds—not quite as impressive you say? Try it the way he did it…blindfolded!
Grab your own Rubik’s cube at Toys “R” Us and experience that it is “hip to be square!”
“Toys “R” Us is the world's largest specialty toy retailer and the country’s exclusive distributor of Rubik’s Cube.