Feliks Zemdegs
Feliks Aleksanders Zemdegs (born December 20, 1995) is an Australian speedcuber from Melbourne, renowned for his dominance in competitive Rubik's Cube solving and other twisty puzzles, having set a total of 121 world records across multiple events.[1][2] Zemdegs discovered speedcubing at age 12 in 2008 after watching YouTube videos, solving his first 3x3x3 cube in under an hour and quickly progressing to break his debut world record of 6.77 seconds in 2009.[2] By 2015, at age 19, he had secured 12 world titles and around 70 world records, including defending his 3x3x3 title at the World Cube Association Championship in Brazil, establishing him as arguably the sport's greatest competitor at the time.[2] His achievements include two overall World Championship victories in 2013 and 2015, along with numerous wins in events like 2x2x2, 4x4x4, and 5x5x5 solving.[2] As of 2025, Zemdegs remains active in competitions, participating in 168 events overall with over 10,000 completed solves, and holding current personal bests such as a 4.16-second single solve and 5.53-second average for the 3x3x3 cube, alongside national and continental records in larger cubes.[1] He has amassed 776 gold medals, 160 silvers, and 76 bronzes in his career, continuing to influence the speedcubing community through consistent top performances in Australian and international tournaments.[1][3]Early life
Family background and childhood
Feliks Aleksanders Zemdegs was born on 20 December 1995 in Melbourne, Australia, to parents of Latvian descent.[4] His family also has Lithuanian roots through his maternal grandmother, reflecting a blend of Baltic heritage that influenced his upbringing in Melbourne's suburban environment.[5] Zemdegs grew up as a quiet and unassuming child in a supportive household.[4] During his childhood, Zemdegs developed interests in reading and music, becoming an avid reader and learning to play both piano and saxophone.[2] He attended St Kevin's College, a private Catholic school in Toorak, Melbourne, where he was known for his studious nature and positive reputation among peers and teachers.[6] Zemdegs graduated in 2013, achieving a perfect study score in VCE English and earning an ATAR of 99.90, which highlighted his academic aptitude.[7] In 2008, at the age of 12, Zemdegs encountered the Rubik's Cube through online videos, marking the beginning of his engagement with speedcubing.[3]Introduction to cubing and initial achievements
Feliks Zemdegs discovered the Rubik's Cube at the age of 12 in 2008, when he stumbled upon speedcubing videos on YouTube that sparked his interest in solving the puzzle quickly.[8] Inspired by these demonstrations, he obtained a cube and began teaching himself through online tutorials, starting with basic layer-by-layer methods commonly used by beginners.[3] Over the following months, Zemdegs progressed rapidly by studying advanced resources, transitioning to the CFOP method (Cross, F2L, OLL, PLL), which became his primary solving technique for speedcubing. This self-directed learning allowed him to refine his skills without formal coaching, supported by his family's encouragement during this early phase. By mid-2009, he had honed his abilities enough to enter competitions, debuting at the New Zealand Championships in July, where he won multiple events including the 2x2x2, 3x3x3, 4x4x4, and 5x5x5 Cube categories.[3][9] Zemdegs' early successes extended to Australian events in 2009 and 2010, where he secured national titles and began climbing the World Cube Association rankings. At the Australian Nationals in 2010, he claimed victory in the 3x3x3 event with an average solve time of 9.16 seconds, marking a significant improvement from his debut and establishing him as a rising talent in the Oceanic cubing community.[1][10] These initial achievements propelled him into the global top rankings within his first year of competing, setting the stage for further dominance.[1]Competitive career
Rise to prominence (2008–2013)
Feliks Zemdegs began competing in World Cube Association (WCA) events in 2009, quickly achieving early local successes in Australia and New Zealand that built his foundation in speedcubing.[1] His breakthrough came in 2010 at the Melbourne Summer Open, where he set his first world records: a 3x3x3 average of 9.21 seconds, marking the first sub-10-second official average, and a 4x4x4 single of 42.01 seconds. Later that year at Melbourne Cube Day, he further established dominance by setting the 3x3x3 single world record at 7.03 seconds. These achievements propelled him into international recognition as a teenage prodigy in multiple events, including 3x3x3 and larger cubes. In 2011, Zemdegs made his debut at the World Rubik's Cube Championship in Bangkok, Thailand, where he won gold in the 2x2x2, 4x4x4, 5x5x5, and 6x6x6 events while securing third place in 3x3x3 with an average of 9.58 seconds.[11] Domestically, he claimed victory in the 3x3x3 event at the Australian Nationals with an average of 8.27 seconds, alongside multiple national records in other puzzles.[12] Throughout 2008–2013, he amassed numerous wins at Asia-Pacific competitions, demonstrating early mastery in 3x3x3, 4x4x4, and blindfolded events, often setting continental records in the process.[1] During his high school years, Zemdegs developed a rigorous training regimen centered on nightly practice sessions at home, focusing on the CFOP method for 3x3x3 solves with advanced lookahead techniques to minimize pauses.[13] He occasionally practiced at school initially but shifted to dedicated home sessions to refine his finger tricks and mental planning, which contributed to his rapid improvement and consistent sub-10-second 3x3x3 averages by age 16.[8] This personalized approach, emphasizing deliberate repetition and efficiency, solidified his style as one of precision and speed across various cube sizes.World championships and major events (2013–2020)
Feliks Zemdegs solidified his status as a dominant force in speedcubing by winning the 3x3x3 speedsolve event at the World Rubik's Cube Championship 2013 in Las Vegas, achieving an average time of 8.18 seconds across five solves, ahead of Mats Valk's 8.65 seconds.[14] This victory marked his first world title in the flagship event, building on his pre-2013 records to establish him as the top competitor. He defended the title at the 2015 World Championship in São Paulo, Brazil, with a winning average of 7.56 seconds, again outpacing Valk who placed second at 8.56 seconds.[15] These consecutive wins highlighted his consistency under pressure, as he also secured multiple event victories in larger cubes during both championships. At the 2017 World Championship in Paris, Zemdegs finished fourth in the 3x3x3 final with an average of 7.28 seconds, as American Max Park claimed the title at 6.85 seconds.[16] Despite the 3x3x3 result, Zemdegs dominated the big cube events, setting world records in the 5x5x5 single (38.52 seconds) and average (46.24 seconds), as well as the 6x6x6 single (1:20.03).[16] He also won the 7x7x7 event with an average of 2:17.46, underscoring his versatility across puzzle sizes. Throughout this period, Zemdegs faced stiff competition from rivals like Valk, who frequently challenged him for podium spots in 3x3x3 events, and later Yusheng Du, whose 3.47-second world record single in 2018 ended Zemdegs' long-held 3x3x3 mark.[16] Beyond world championships, Zemdegs excelled in regional and invitational events. At the 2018 WCA Asian Championship in Agra, India, he placed fifth in the 3x3x3 final with an average of 7.36 seconds, contributing to the event's high-level international field.[1] He claimed victory in the speedcubing category at the inaugural Red Bull Rubik's Cube World Championship in Boston in 2018, where his performance included a then-world record 3x3x3 single of 4.22 seconds.[17] At the Melbourne Cube Days 2016, Zemdegs set a 5x5x5 single world record of 41.27 seconds, demonstrating his prowess in Australian nationals-style competitions.[18] The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted in-person cubing in 2020, leading the World Cube Association to adopt virtual formats for many events and halting traditional championships.[19] Zemdegs adapted to these changes, competing in online qualifiers and the digital Red Bull Rubik's Cube World Cup final, where he finished second to Max Park after a narrow defeat in the head-to-head.[20] This shift emphasized remote judging and live-streamed solves, allowing continued global participation amid restrictions.Recent competitions and comebacks (2021–present)
Following his dominant run through the 2010s, Zemdegs significantly reduced his participation in speedcubing competitions after 2020, prioritizing his university studies and emerging professional career in finance. He completed a degree in economics at the University of Melbourne and transitioned into a role at the Future Fund, Australia's sovereign wealth fund, where he works in investment management. This shift led to fewer events overall, with only sporadic local and regional appearances in 2021 and 2022, such as winning the 3x3x3 Cube event at Australian Nationals 2022 with an average of 6.83 seconds (best single of 6.46 seconds).[21][22] In 2023, Zemdegs attempted a return at major international events but faced challenges, placing 20th in the first round and 90th in the second round of the 3x3x3 Cube at Rubik's WCA World Championship 2023 in Incheon, South Korea, with a best single of 5.61 seconds. His performance at Australian Nationals 2023 was similarly modest, finishing 6th in 3x3x3 Cube with a 5.31-second single. These results reflected the impact of limited training time amid his full-time job, though he continued selective participation.[23] By 2024, Zemdegs showed signs of renewed engagement through international outings, securing 1st place in 3x3x3 Cube at Weston-super-Mare Autumn 2024 in the UK with a 5.80-second single and 2nd at Kewbz UK Open 2024 with a 5.26-second single. His momentum built into a stronger 2025, marking a notable comeback. At Australian Nationals 2025 in October, he won the 3x3x3 Cube event with a final-round average of 5.90 seconds and set a personal best average of 5.59 seconds in an earlier round, demonstrating refined consistency despite professional commitments. He followed this with a 1st-place finish at VIC State Championship 2025 (4.97-second single) and advanced to 23rd in the semi-final at Rubik's WCA World Championship 2025 in Seattle, achieving a 5.13-second single. Additional wins, such as at The Big Cube Melbourne 2025 (5.65-second average), highlighted his competitive edge in national opens.[24][25][26] Amid his finance career, Zemdegs has evolved his training approach to emphasize efficiency and mental preparation, incorporating short, focused sessions rather than daily marathons, as shared through his CubeSkills platform. This site, launched in 2017, offers tutorials and strategies that have mentored thousands of cubers worldwide, with Zemdegs providing advanced techniques on algorithms and lookahead. In 2025, he expanded this role by co-hosting a Cube Camp in Orlando with Max Park, offering personalized coaching on drills, mindset, and skill evaluation to aspiring competitors. Community discussions have speculated on a potential full-time return, fueled by his 2025 results, though Zemdegs has indicated cubing remains a passion project balanced with professional stability.[27][28][29]Records and techniques
World records
Feliks Zemdegs has established himself as one of the most prolific record-breakers in speedcubing history, setting over 121 official World Cube Association (WCA) world records across multiple events during his career.[1] These achievements, spanning from 2010 to the present, have consistently pushed the boundaries of solving times and contributed to his dominance in global rankings, where he has held the number-one position in several categories for extended periods.[1] His record-breaking journey began gaining momentum in the early 2010s, with significant milestones in the 3x3 cube event. In 2013, Zemdegs achieved the first official sub-6-second average of 5.97 seconds at the WCA World Championship in Las Vegas, marking a pivotal advancement in speedcubing standards.[30] He continued to refine this event through 2018, setting multiple world records for both singles and averages, including a 3x3 single of 4.73 seconds at the 2016 POPS Open, a 4.59-second single at the 2018 Hobart Summer Open, and a landmark 4.22-second single at the 2018 Cube for Cambodia competition.[31][32] For averages, notable breaks included 5.55 seconds at the 2017 Latin America Cubing Tour in Chía and 5.25 seconds at the 2017 Malaysia Cube Open, each surpassing prior benchmarks and influencing competitive strategies worldwide.[1] Zemdegs also excelled in larger cubes and alternative solving formats. In the 7x7 cube, he set an early world record average of 2:52.09 at the 2013 Australian Nationals, later improving the single to 2:23.55 at the 2015 WCA World Championship and 2:20.66 at the 2016 European Championship.[33][15][34] For the Megaminx, he established a world record single of 39.04 seconds in 2020 at the Robinson's Place Manila competition, demonstrating exceptional precision in this complex dodecahedral puzzle.[35] In one-handed 3x3 solving, Zemdegs holds the current world record average of 9.60 seconds, while his 6.88-second single from the 2015 Canberra Autumn event remains the current world record.[1][36] In blindfolded solving, Zemdegs contributed key records, including a 3x3 single of 16.22 seconds in 2019 and a 4x4 single of 3:37.80 in 2011, both former world records that highlighted his memory and execution skills under constrained conditions.[37][38] These accomplishments across diverse events—from standard 3x3 to big cubes, one-handed, and blindfolded—have cemented his legacy, with records often set at major competitions like world championships, underscoring his impact on the sport's evolution.| Event | Type | Time | Date | Competition | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3x3 Cube | Average | 5.97 s | July 2013 | WCA World Championship | Former (first sub-6) |
| 3x3 Cube | Single | 4.22 s | March 2018 | Cube for Cambodia | Former |
| 7x7 Cube | Average | 2:52.09 | September 2013 | Australian Nationals | Former |
| Megaminx | Single | 39.04 s | February 2020 | Robinson's Place Manila | Former |
| 3x3 One-Handed | Average | 9.60 s | Current (as of 2025) | Various | Current |
| 3x3 Blindfolded | Single | 16.22 s | April 2019 | Unspecified WCA event | Former |