A University of Michigan student is one of the worldB次元官网网址檚 foremost B次元官网网址渟peedcubers,B次元官网网址� a person capable of quickly solving a RubikB次元官网网址檚 Cube. He also is an accomplished violinist.
Stanley Chapel says the two fields go hand in hand.
Not only does Chapel say he has equal interest in both, but the 21-year-old says the violin has aided in his speedcubing success.
B次元官网网址淩epetition, breaking things down into their smallest fundamental elements, all of these different things that we use to improve at an instrument, and being able to take these into the world of cubing has certainly been a huge help to my progression,B次元官网网址� said Chapel, a junior majoring in violin performance at the universityB次元官网网址檚 school of music, theater and dance.
Chapel, who grew up in Ann Arbor not far from the Michigan campus, solved his first 3x3 RubikB次元官网网址檚 Cube as a 14-year-old. Five weeks later, Chapel entered his first competition, solving the cube in an average of 22 seconds.
Fast-forward a year to 2017 in Paris, with Chapel placing fifth in both the 4x4 blindfolded and 5x5 blindfolded categories at the World Cube Association World Championship.
At the 2019 world championship in Melbourne, Australia, the recent high school graduate won both events.
Factoring in the time it takes for him to review the cube before placing the blindfold over his eyes, Chapel can solve one in around 17 seconds.
B次元官网网址淭he deeper I go into the realm of cubing technique, the more I find interest in pushing the boundaries of whatB次元官网网址檚 possible there,B次元官网网址� he said.
Chapel has certain inherent abilities: He is capable of remembering and applying thousands of algorithms to solve a RubikB次元官网网址檚 Cube and performing one of Johann Sebastian BachB次元官网网址檚 violin sonatas from memory.
But he also spends hours upon hours honing his craft, including doing regular hand stretches that help Chapel avoid the kinds of aches and pains that come with the frequent and frenetic turning of the cubeB次元官网网址檚 sides.
Chapel says years of playing the violin also has contributed to him having B次元官网网址渧ery, very fine motor control already built up.B次元官网网址�
Later this year, Chapel intends to defend his world titles in South Korea. Since the 2021 event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chapel is the reigning champion in both heading into the 2023 event in Seoul.
Once heB次元官网网址檚 done with school, though, Chapel isnB次元官网网址檛 sure how speedcubing fits into his future plans.
B次元官网网址淚 guess itB次元官网网址檚 cool to know that nobody is able to do this,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut, at the same time, giving myself a little bit of a reality check, itB次元官网网址檚 like, B次元官网网址楬ow much does that actually matter?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not going to pay the bills when IB次元官网网址檓 older,B次元官网网址� Chapel said, laughing.
B次元官网网址擬ike Householder, The Associated Press
