Anthony Michael Brooks

Anthony Brooks solving a Rubik's Cube one-handed.

Anthony Michael Brooks is an American speed cubing champion. Recognized as an expert at solving small cubes (2x2 and 3x3), he has been ranked in the top five^[1] in the world in both categories - including a second-place finish at the 2015 Rubik's Cube World Championship. He has set eighty Belizean national records and three continental records^[2] in events recognized by the World Cube Association. While working as the Liberty Science Center's Speedcuber-in-Residence, Brooks set the Guinness World Record for most Rubik's Cubes solved underwater in a single breath with 5 cubes,^[3](which was broken in April 2015 when fellow American speedcuber Kevin Hays solved 8 cubes underwater^[4]) and also led the team that currently holds the world record for solving the Groovik's Cube, the world's largest functioning Rubik's Cube.^[5]

Appearances

Brooks has served as a performer at the World Science Festival and has twice performed on stage at the Liberty Science Center's annual Genius Award Gala^[6] for recipients and guests such as Bill Nye, David Blaine, Sir Richard Branson, Garry Kasparov, Susan Sarandon, and will.i.am. He also acted as the principal performer at the Beyond Rubik's Cube exhibition's world premiere.

Brooks has demonstrated speedcubing live on ABC,^[7] Bloomberg Television,^[8] CNN^[9] and NPR,^[10] and has been featured in segments aired on BBC,^[11] ESPN^[12] and NBC.^[13] He made his commercial debut in Volkswagen's "You Can't Fake Fast" ad campaign^[14] and his newspaper appearances include the New York Times,^[15] Wall Street Journal,^[16] and New York Daily News.^[17]

Volkswagen's "Fast vs Fast" commercial.

Personal

A graduate of The Science Academy of South Texas, Brooks currently studies International Business at the University of Texas at Arlington. He has taught numerous people how to solve the Rubik's Cube, including his mother and younger brothers. His mother now holds the Jamaican national record for solving a Rubik's Cube, and his brother, Brian, is one of Texas' top ranked speed cubers.

Notable Results

Current Personal Bests in Competition

Speedcuber Anthony Brooks pictured with Rubik's Cube inventor Erno Rubik (center) and Hungarian President Janos Ader (right) at the VIP opening of Beyond Rubik's Cube at the Liberty Science Center.

World Records

Former North American Records

World Championship Podiums

U.S. National Championship Podiums

External links

• Anthony Brooks' Speedcubing Website

References

1. ↑ http://www.worldcubeassociation.org/results/p.php?i=2008SEAR01
2. ↑ http://worldcubeassociation.org/results/p.php?i=2008SEAR01
3. ↑ http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records-6000/most-rubiks-cubes-solved-underwater/
4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ianENTXpVmM
5. ↑ http://blogs.lsc.org/2013/10/23/grooviks-cube-world-record-broken-at-lsc/
6. ↑ http://photos.nj.com/jersey-journal/2013/05/liberty_science_centers_genius_4.html
7. ↑ http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/win-date-brad-pitt-groupon-23482063?tab=9482930&section=1206852&playlist=23483250
8. ↑ http://www.bloomberg.com/video/speedcubing-101-how-fast-can-you-solve-the-cube-vZ7cB3~mTM~qPuASHYGcDw.html
9. ↑ http://edition.cnn.com/video/?/video/business/2014/04/25/qmb-rubiks-cube-40-year-anniversary.cnn&video_referrer=
10. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-05-20. Retrieved 2014-05-19. 
11. ↑ http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-27137284
12. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eajufb9Kqgg&feature=related
13. ↑ http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nightly-news/55050344/#55050344
14. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCiZNN3sGNk
15. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/07/science/rubiks-cube-enjoys-another-turn-in-the-spotlight.html?_r=0
16. ↑ http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324310104578509520377142866.html
17. ↑ http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/rubik-cube-record-holder-shows-skills-times-square-40th-anniversary-article-1.1762443