First Time at a WCA Cubing Competition? Read This!!
Taking part in a Rubik’s Cube competition is a lot simpler than it looks, and if you live in India, there are plenty of upcoming competitions that you could attend! The main procedure to do this is to create a WCA account, find a competition on the WCA website, register for the competition within the stipulated time and competitor limit, pay the registration fee as mentioned, bring a valid ID and your puzzles, attend
The newcomer tutorial at the competition will show your solutions!
That’s a lot of steps, and today we’ll guide you through how to navigate this entire process in a smooth and simple way. This blog will be the difference between having a smooth first-timer experience and a confusing registration process, whether you’re a beginner or a sub-15 solver attending your first competition.
What is a WCA Competition?
A WCA (World Cube Association) competition is an official speedcubing competition where speedcubers come together to solve twisty puzzles in the fastest times possible (or sometimes fewest moves!), with the times being recognized in official world rankings.
At a competition, you will get: Official personal records (PRs), National, continental, and world rankings, a WCA ID unique to you, experience competing under official regulations, and access to one of the best communities in the world (the cubing community!)
In India, there are plenty of competitions organized every month, and the list of puzzles (called events) that are included ranges from the cubic puzzles (2x2 - 7x7) to the megaminx, skewb, pyraminx, clock, square-1, and a few other variants of the Rubik’s Cube.
Note: You do NOT need to be ‘fast enough’ to attend a Rubik’s Cube competition! Most competitions have no cutoff for the Rubik’s Cube (3x3) event, and everyone is welcome to compete!
Step-by-Step Guide on Registering for a WCA Competition
Step 1: Create your WCA account
Go to the official WCA website and create a competitor account by hitting the ‘sign up’ button in the drop-down menu on the top right corner. After you enter your email address and password, you will need to enter your: Full legal name (exactly as it appears on your ID), Date of birth, Country of representation
Remember, your WCA account and WCA ID are not the same thing. You are creating your account yourself, and you will use it to register for competitions, whereas your unique WCA ID gets assigned to you after your first competition, once the results are published. This means that you do not have or need a WCA ID before your first competition.
Step 2: Find a Competition
Once your account is created, navigate to the ‘Competitions’ drop-down on the top menu bar and select ‘All’. Then, you will have many filters to choose from, but let’s just choose the region for now.
Select ‘India’ (or whichever country you’d like to see upcoming competitions in) from the ‘Region’ drop-down, and you will be able to see a list of all upcoming competitions that have been announced so far. Remember to keep checking this page, as competitions get announced all the time!
Once you find a competition that you’d like to attend, you need to check out the following details:
Competitor limit (under ‘General Info’) - This denotes how many total participants will be accepted to attend the competition. You want to register as early as possible to avoid missing out! You can check how many people are attending by looking at the ‘Competitors’ section at the top.
Events offered (also under ‘General Info’) - Always check which events/puzzles are included in the competition before you register, to make sure that you have the ones that you’re interested in solving!
Time limits & cutoffs (under ‘Events’) - This is crucial to understand. A cutoff implies that if you don’t finish under the stipulated time within the first 2 solves of your average, you may not be allowed to finish the average. A time limit implies that your solution must be under that stipulated time to be considered an official attempt.
Always remember to read the entire ‘Info’ tab, because it contains important details such as:
>Venue address, Schedule, registration instructions Payment instructions, Newcomer tutorial and info, Competitor duties, Guest policies, Rules unique to that competition (if any)
Step 3: Register for the Competition
Once you’re past these, in order to register for the competition, you must navigate to the ‘Register’ tab and read the registration requirements listed there. It will have clear instructions for both first-time and returning participants, as well as the registration deadlines and other additional information.
Next, scroll to the bottom of the page and choose the events that you’d like to compete in. Then, click ‘register,’ and you’ll receive a confirmation that your registration has been received. However, the process isn’t done yet!
It is mandatory to pay the registration fees mentioned once you register on WCA. Check out the same section for information about the same, and make the payment as written. If you have questions about anything, you can always reach out to the organizers by using their given emails on the ‘Info’ section of the competition page.
Remember that the registration fee is often paid separately, either through a payment portal, a sponsoring cube store, or via UPI. Don’t forget this crucial step! Once you make the payment, you can expect your registration to be accepted within roughly 48 hours. Keep an eye on your registration status until then, and once it turns to ‘accepted’, your name will show up on the competitor list as well.
Step 4: Prepare your Documents
As a newcomer/first-timer, you are required to bring a valid government-issued photo ID to your first competition that matches your mentioned legal name fully. This is done as a verification process to ensure that all competitors’ identities are protected and confirmed, and will only happen at your first competition!
Some acceptable forms of ID in India are:
- Passport
- Aadhaar Card
- Driving License
- PAN Card
- Student ID (usually, but not always, be sure to check the competition page for more)
Step 5: Prepare for the Competition
Once you’re past all these steps, just remember to bring your valid government ID and your own puzzles for the competition, as these are not provided at the competition. It’s also worth keeping your registration confirmation email handy as a backup.
Remember to arrive at least 20-30 minutes early to the competition so that you can complete your check-in process, get your documents verified, and find your relevant groups at ease! You can also familiarize yourself with the venue and understand the schedule beforehand.
Step 6: Attend the Newcomer Tutorial (DO NOT SKIP THIS!)
Most competitions have a newcomer tutorial, which every newcomer is expected to attend without fail.
This is a fun exercise in teaching you the rules and acquainting you with a variety of tasks, such as: How scrambling works, How judging works, How inspection works, Timer start and stop procedures (+2 penalties), DNF penalties, How groups work
Additionally, you can ask any questions you may have as well, so this is a great chance to clarify all your doubts in order to have your best performance at the competition!
What Happens After the Competition?
Once the competition is done, the results can take up to a few days to upload, and once this happens, you will receive an official WCA ID, which you need to claim! Your official profile is then formally created and your results enter the rankings and the official database of the World Cube Association.
Congratulations! You are now officially a WCA competitor.
Beginner Mistakes to Avoid:
- Waiting too long to register
- Missing the payment step
- Showing up without valid ID proof
- Not realizing cutoffs/time limits
- Skipping the newcomer tutorial
- Bringing untested/unofficial cubes(check WCA Regulations for official puzzle requirements)
- Treating it as just a ‘competition’ (remember to talk to people, make friends, and truly enjoy yourself!)
- For understanding the Rules for Competitors and Judges In WCA Competitions - Click here.
Best Cube Recommendations for WCA Events
Premium pick - GAN 12 MagLev 3x3 (Magnetic)
Budget Pick - Drift 3M v3 3x3 (Magnetic)
FAQs
Final Thoughts
Attending your first WCA competition in India is a wonderful experience waiting to happen. Now that you know the process:
Create account → Find competition → Register early → Complete payment → Bring ID and puzzles → Attend tutorial → Compete
You’re all set to go to your first competition. Remember, the goal is to have fun and make friends, joining this amazing speedcubing community that’s very excited to have you! Once you attend your first competition, you’ll probably want to register for your next one before you even leave the venue, and that’s the beauty of speedcubing.
-Akshaansh Chilakapati
