Puzzle Solver

Park and his wife, Miki, first realized there was something different about Max when he was about 6 months old. He didn’t react to loud noises and seemed to live in his own world. As Max grew, he had a hard time engaging with others and making eye contact. He struggled to understand nonverbal cues, like pointing and people’s facial expressions. Max also had a hard time with tasks that required fine motor skills, such as picking up coins and placing them in a piggy bank. Then someone handed him a Rubik’s Cube.

Max’s parents thought manipulating the toy could help improve their son’s dexterity. Little did they know it would end up changing his life. Today Max is one of the world’s best speedcubers—people devoted to solving cube puzzles as fast as humanly possible.

Park and his wife, Miki, noticed something when Max was about 6 months old. He didn’t react to loud noises, and he seemed to live in his own world. As Max grew, he had a hard time talking with others and making eye contact. He struggled to understand nonverbal cues, like pointing and the looks on people’s faces. Max also had a hard time with fine motor skills. For example, picking up coins and putting them in a piggy bank wasn’t easy. Then someone handed him a Rubik’s Cube.

Max’s parents wanted him to handle the toy. They thought it could help improve his motor skills. But they didn’t know it would change his life. Today, Max is one of the world’s best speedcubers. These people work to solve cube puzzles as fast as humanly possible.

Max became fascinated with speedcubing after watching videos on YouTube. He practiced with his Rubik’s Cube constantly. Then, when he was 10, he asked to participate in his first competition. His parents agreed. They thought it could be a great opportunity for their son to learn to interact with others. “We didn’t care if he won,” says Park. “We just wanted him to practice waiting in line, taking his turn, and listening to directions.”

At the event, Max’s parents noticed that he recognized the faces of speedcubers he’d seen on YouTube. He remembered their cube-solving times and was excited to see them in person. Best of all, Max seemed to be having fun.

Max watched speedcubing videos on YouTube, and he was fascinated. He practiced with his Rubik’s Cube constantly. When he was 10, he asked to take part in his first contest. His parents agreed. They thought it could be a great way for Max to learn to interact with others. “We didn’t care if he won,” says Park. “We just wanted him to practice waiting in line, taking his turn, and listening to directions.”

At the event, Max’s parents noticed something. Max had seen these speedcubers on YouTube, and now he recognized their faces. He remembered their cube-solving times and was excited to see them in person. Best of all, Max seemed to be having fun.

When it was time for Max to compete, his parents weren’t sure what to expect. He would have to solve five scrambled puzzles as quickly as he could. Max was allowed 15 seconds to inspect each one before the timer started. To tally his score, judges would throw out his fastest and slowest times and average the remaining three. Max stepped up to the challenge.

When he finished, says Schwan Park, “we asked a bystander, ‘Is his time any good?’” The person replied, “Top 100 in the world.” His parents just shrugged. Maybe there were only 100 people in the world doing this, they told themselves. In reality, the number is closer to 100,000. A huge group of kids and adults all over the world are into cubing just like Max.

The time came for Max to compete. His parents weren’t sure what to expect. He would have to solve five scrambled puzzles as quickly as he could. Max could take 15 seconds to look at each one. Then the timer would start. To add up his score, judges would throw out his fastest and slowest times. They would average the other three. Max stepped up to the challenge.

Schwan Park says that when Max finished, “we asked a bystander, ‘Is his time any good?’ ” The person answered, “Top 100 in the world.” His parents just shrugged. Maybe there were only 100 people in the world doing this, they thought. But really, the number is closer to 100,000. A huge group of kids and adults all over the world are into cubing just like Max.

The next time Max’s parents took him to a competition, he came in second place. Five years later, he set his first world record. At last count, Max held 29 records in six different speedcubing events. They include fastest average times for solving four different-sized cubes: a 4 x 4, a 5 x 5, a 6 x 6, and a 7 x 7. He also holds the record for fastest average time for solving the traditional 3 x 3 cube—one-handed.

When Max’s parents took him to his next contest, he came in second place. Five years later, he set his first world record. At last count, Max held 29 records in six different speedcubing events. They include fastest average times for solving four cubes of different sizes. These cubes are a 4 x 4, a 5 x 5, a 6 x 6, and a 7 x 7. He also holds a record for the original 3 x 3 cube. That record is for fastest average time solving it—with one hand.

Max’s parents are thrilled that Max stumbled upon something he loves doing—and does better than almost anyone else in the world. But more important, they’re excited about how speedcubing has helped him feel comfortable just saying hello to people he meets.

Max’s parents are thrilled. Max found something he loves doing, and he does it better than almost anyone else in the world. They’re excited that speedcubing has helped him feel comfortable just saying hello to people he meets. And that’s more important.

Around his fellow speedcubers, Max seems to have found his voice. Feliks Zemdegs, a record-holding Australian speedcuber, first met Max at the Cubing World Championship in 2017. “Max’s autism made it challenging to hold regular conversations,” Zemdegs recalls. “But it seemed as if he could talk about speedcubing for days straight.”

Max’s parents always hoped their son would get to this point. Park says they went from being told that their son had autism and would need assistance for the rest of his life to him showing them what was possible: “Max made us rethink everything.”

Max seems to have found his voice around other speedcubers. Feliks Zemdegs is a record-holding Australian speedcuber. He first met Max at the Cubing World Championship in 2017. “Max’s autism made it challenging to hold regular conversations,” Zemdegs recalls. “But it seemed as if he could talk about speedcubing for days straight.”

Max’s parents always hoped their son would get to this point. Park remembers how they were told that their son had autism and would need help for the rest of his life. Now Max is showing them what’s possible: “Max made us rethink everything.”