On June 26, 2010, Abel Brata and his fellow cubers from the Jakarta Rubik’s Cube Club (JRCC) worked with the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) to hold a speedcubing competition at Plasa Festival in Jakarta. The guest star was Haiyan Zhuang from China, invited by Abel Brata, who in 2010 held the world record for a single blindfolded 3×3×3 solve, at 30 seconds. The event also featured a fun exhibition duel between Haiyan Zhuang (world record, single blindfolded) and Muhammad Iril Khairul Anam (world record, multiple blindfolded). Iril took the Multi-BLD world record from Tong Jiang of China in January 2010 by solving 15 Rubik’s Cubes blindfolded in 1 hour.
The event was not just a showcase of impressive cubing skills but also a positive activity promoting a healthy, fulfilling lifestyle, in contrast to the destructive nature of drug abuse. It was organised with the BNN to raise awareness of the dangers of drug abuse and to promote positive alternatives such as speedcubing.
Speedcubing, the sport of solving Rubik’s Cubes as quickly as possible, demands mental focus, hand–eye coordination and problem-solving skills. It is a challenging and rewarding activity that gives those who take part a sense of accomplishment and pride. By showcasing speedcubers like Haiyan Zhuang and Muhammad Iril Khairul Anam, the event showed the positive impact the sport can have on individuals and communities.
The event was also a chance for people to come together, socialise and share their passion for speedcubing. It gave participants a sense of community and belonging, and encouraged camaraderie and mutual support among competitors. By highlighting the positive side of speedcubing, it helped break down stereotypes about cubing and showed that it can be a fun, challenging and worthwhile activity for people of all ages and backgrounds.
The competition organised by Abel Brata and the JRCC with the BNN was a positive, impactful event that celebrated speedcubers’ talent while promoting a healthy lifestyle. Events like these help promote positive alternatives to drug use and encourage people to pursue their passions in a healthy, productive way.
