Rubik’s cube, a puzzle solving game is the latest fad among students in Trashigang Middle Secondary School. The puzzle game became popular after a video of two students solving the puzzle cube became popular on social media site Facebook.
Kinzang Wangdi, a 13-year-old class eight student of Trashigang Middle Secondary School in Trashigang is a champion in solving the Rubik’s cube puzzle among his friends in the school.
Kinzang Wangdi’s best record in solving the puzzle cube currently stands at 18 seconds. Although way behind the current world record of 5.25 seconds, Kinzang Wangdi is practicing everyday with a hope to beat the world record one day.
He said, he practised the game for 30 minutes every day when he gets home from school. He started learning the game this year.
Closely following his record is his 10-year-old younger brother, Tshering Dendup, studying in class five. Inspired by his elder brother, Tshering Dendup, learned to solve the puzzle cube from his brother. Currently he can solve the Rubik’s cube puzzle within 30 seconds. Both brothers use the Internet for tips to improve their techniques and speed in solving the puzzle cube.
Tshering Dendup hopes to beat his brother soon.
The two brothers, whose video became popular on Facebook, has now inspired other students in the school. Many students have started learning to solve the puzzle cube. The Rubik’s cube is easily available in gift and toy shops.
Some scientific studies attribute many positive benefits of playing the Rubik’s cube game. The puzzle game helps in increasing general concentration, improves hand to eye coordination and increase learning capacity amongst others.
Given the benefits and popularity of the game, Trashigang Middle Secondary School management said a Rubik’s cube solving competition should be organized in the future like in other countries.
Vice Princpial Thinley Namgyal said, if such competitions are organised, it would motivate the students. It would also help keep students engaged in productive activities.
Although there are different variations of the Rubik’s cube, the standard 3 by 3 Rubik’s cube is popular among students. The Rubik’s cube, also known as magic cube was invented by a Hungarian sculptor and professor of Architecture Erno Rubik in 1974.