Anthony Michael Brooks
{{short description|American speed cubing champion|bot=PearBOT 5}}
Anthony Michael Brooks is an American speedcubing champion. He specializes in the 2×2×2 and 3×3×3 Rubik's cube, and was formerly officially ranked in the top five in the world in both categories by World Cube Association (WCA) rankings.{{cite web |title=Anthony Brooks {{!}} World Cube Association |url=http://www.worldcubeassociation.org/results/p.php?i=2008SEAR01}} Since learning to solve the cube in March 2008, he has become known for developing advanced speedsolving methods as well as frequently promoting speedcubing in the media. 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,{{cite web| url = http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records-6000/most-rubiks-cubes-solved-underwater/| title = Most rotating puzzle cubes (3x3x3) solved underwater {{!}} Guinness World Records}} 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.{{Cite web |url=http://blogs.lsc.org/2013/10/23/grooviks-cube-world-record-broken-at-lsc/ |title=Groovik's Cube World Record Broken at LSC - LSC Blogs |access-date=2013-11-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160218140357/http://blogs.lsc.org/2013/10/23/grooviks-cube-world-record-broken-at-lsc/ |archive-date=2016-02-18 |url-status=dead }} In July 2017, Brooks was featured on the debut season of FOX's Superhuman TV show.{{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jfpGaMVzrs| title = YouTube| website = YouTube}}
Media 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 for recipients and guests such as Bill Nye, David Blaine, Sir Richard Branson, Garry Kasparov, Susan Sarandon, and will.i.am.{{Cite web |title=Liberty Science Center's 'Genius Gala 2.0' | NJ.com |url=http://photos.nj.com/jersey-journal/2013/05/liberty_science_centers_genius_4.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520021504/http://photos.nj.com/jersey-journal/2013/05/liberty_science_centers_genius_4.html |archive-date=2014-05-20 |access-date=2013-05-27}} He also acted as the principal performer at the Beyond Rubik's Cube exhibition's world premiere.
Brooks has demonstrated speedcubing live on ABC,{{cite web| url = https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/win-date-brad-pitt-groupon-23482063?tab=9482930§ion=1206852&playlist=23483250| title = Video Win a Date With Brad Pitt on Groupon - ABC News| website = ABC News}} Bloomberg Television,{{cite web| url = https://www.bloomberg.com/video/speedcubing-101-how-fast-can-you-solve-the-cube-vZ7cB3~mTM~qPuASHYGcDw.html| title = Reference at www.bloomberg.com| website = Bloomberg News}} CNN{{cite web| url = http://edition.cnn.com/video/?/video/business/2014/04/25/qmb-rubiks-cube-40-year-anniversary.cnn&video_referrer=| title = CNN Video Experience}}{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} and NPR,{{cite web|url=http://www.sciencefriday.com/segment/05/02/2014/forty-years-of-mindbending-success-with-the-rubik-s-cube.html |title=Forty Years of Mindbending Success with the Rubik's Cube |accessdate=2014-05-19 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520021538/http://www.sciencefriday.com/segment/05/02/2014/forty-years-of-mindbending-success-with-the-rubik-s-cube.html |archivedate=2014-05-20 }} and has been featured in segments aired on BBC,{{cite news| url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-27137284| title = Iconic Rubik's Cube celebrates 40th birthday - BBC News| work = BBC News}} ESPN{{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eajufb9Kqgg| title = YouTube| website = YouTube}} and NBC.{{cite web| url = https://www.nbcnews.com/video/nightly-news/55050344/#55050344| title = Reference at www.nbcnews.com| website = NBC News}} He made his commercial debut in Volkswagen's "You Can't Fake Fast" ad campaign{{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCiZNN3sGNk| title = YouTube| website = YouTube}} and his newspaper appearances include The New York Times,{{cite news| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/07/science/rubiks-cube-enjoys-another-turn-in-the-spotlight.html?_r=0| title = Rubik's Cube Enjoys Another Turn in the Spotlight - The New York Times| website = The New York Times| date = 6 August 2012| last1 = Quenqua| first1 = Douglas}} The Wall Street Journal,{{cite news| url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324310104578509520377142866| title = Opportunities for Geniuses - WSJ| newspaper = Wall Street Journal| date = 28 May 2013| last1 = Simon| first1 = Lizzie}} and New York Daily News.{{cite web| url = http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/rubik-cube-record-holder-shows-skills-times-square-40th-anniversary-article-1.1762443| title = Rubik's Cube record holder demonstrates skills in Times Square for toy's 40th anniversary celebration - New York Daily News| website = New York Daily News}} In July 2017, he was featured on FOX's Superhuman TV show, in which he successfully solved 10 Rubik's Cubes in under two minutes.{{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jfpGaMVzrs| title = YouTube| website = YouTube}}
Personal life
A graduate of The Science Academy of South Texas, Brooks currently studies Economics and Business Administration 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 became the first person to compete under the Jamaican flag, and his brother, Brian, has seen success competing in Texas competitions.{{Cite web |title=Brian Brooks {{!}} World Cube Association |url=https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/persons/2008SEAR02 |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=www.worldcubeassociation.org}} In January 2017, Brooks became the first speedcuber to win the main event of 50 World Cube Association competitions, which he described as completing a "personal goal."{{cite web| url = https://www.instagram.com/p/BPtVIm9gI6S/| title = Login • Instagram}}
Notable results
= World records =
| class="wikitable" |
| Event
! Result ! Location ! Date |
|---|
| Rubik's Cubes underwater (single breath)
|5 |Liberty Science Center |August 1, 2014 |
| Groovik's Cube (largest functioning Rubik's Cube solve)
|4:29 |Liberty Science Center |October 19, 2013 |
= Former North American records =
= World Championship podiums =
| class="wikitable"
!Event !Place !Result !Competition !Date |
| 2×2×2
|2 |2.41 |World Championship |July 17–19, 2015 |
= U.S. National Championship Podiums =
External links
- [http://brookscubing.com Anthony Brooks' Speedcubing Website]
References
{{Rubik's Cube}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brooks, Anthony Michael}}