Bob Burton wasn't always a whiz at the Rubik's Cube. But he's come a long way since then.
The Rutgers College sophomore found himself competing against some of the world's fastest solvers Saturday at the International Rubik's Cube Tournament in San Francisco.
"I was playing around with friends. We were timing ourselves, and I was always coming in last," Burton said about his history with the cube.
Unhappy with his losses, he went home and kept practicing.
Three-and-a-half years of experience later, Burton not only solves the cube in as little time as 29 seconds but has also competed in several world tournaments.
The mathematics and cell biology and neuroscience major - who aspires to either get a doctorate in math or become a brain surgeon - placed 23rd out of 40 in the 3x3x3 category on Saturday. In front of about 150 spectators and among world record holders from places as far away as Sweden, Hong Kong, and Japan, Burton finished with a time of 45.32 seconds.
In Rubik's Cube competitions, the standard 3x3x3 category consists of having each contestant solve the cube three times. They then rank the contestant by the best score of the three.
On Saturday, those whose time finished in the top 16 moved onto the second round.
The tournament - which was held at the Exploratorium and hosted by California Institute of Technology's Rubik's Cube Club - also had categories such as the 3x3x3 one-handed solve and the 3x3x3 blindfolded solve.
Burton also competed in the one-handed solv, finishing it in 167.35 seconds.
The competition drew world-record holders, many interested local people and Burton, a Kearny native.
Burton decided to enter the competition since he was already traveling with the University Men's Crew team, and California was only a short, cheap flight away.
"I saw [the tournament] online on a Rubik's Cube Web site," he said. "So I figured I might as well go."
Burton - who also participated in the 2003 World Championship Tournament in Toronto, where he placed 63rd out of 83 people - said he enjoyed himself.
"There was a larger turnout than expected, and a couple of new records were set," he said. "It was nice to compete again."
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