Main Events Schedule Venue Travel Registration Results Blog Contact

Qualification Information

How Qualifications Work: In order to make sure the competition is run on schedule, qualifications will be implement for all events. Below is an explanation of the qualification process.

Qualification Time: For each event, there is a qualification criterion. In order to meet the qualification standard, you must have achieved a result better than the listed criterion in an official WCA competition held between January 1, 2007 and July 31, 2009. All times, with the exception of Blindfold events, are WCA averages.

If you meet the qualification, you will proceed directly for the first round of the event. If you do not, you will instead enter into the qualification round of the event. The qualification round theoretically ensures that every participant, regardless of prior credentials, has an opportunity at the championship title.

US Qualifiers: This is the number of current US competitors who currently qualify for a given event.

A Standard: If a competitor performs better than the A Standard in the qualification round, he automatically qualifies for the first round of the competiton regardless of the number of competitors who have already pre-qualified.

B Standard: A competitor who performs better than the B Standard in the qualification round will have the opportunity to compete in the first round of the competition depending on availability in the event. After all A Standard competitors have been accepted, B Standard competitors will be ranked according to result and accepted into to event in order of ranking until all spots have been filled.

Size of Round 1: This is the target number of competitors we hope to have in the first round of each event. This number is subject to change as the we get registration information, but will be set by August 1, 2009. We reserve the right to change the size of the first round due to the unpredictability of competitors who register on the day of the competition.

Current Size: This is the number of registered competitors who meet the qualification standard for a given event. This number will be updated as registration progresses. We cannot give an exact number as we cannot predict competitors who register on the day of the competition.

Get the hint?: Please register. It will help us keep our numbers accurate!

Events

Main Events

Event Qualification Time US Qualifiers A Standard B Standard Size of Round 1 Current Size
3x3x3 Speedsolve 18 seconds 109 17 seconds 20 seconds 100 60
4x4x4 Speedsolve 80 seconds 37 75 seconds 90 seconds 48 36
5x5x5 Speedsolve 140 seconds 29 140 seconds 160 seconds 32 29
2x2x2 Speedsolve 7 seconds 42 6 seconds 9 seconds 48 33
3x3x3 Blindfolded1 120 seconds 17 150 seconds 180 seconds 24 16
3x3x3 One-Handed 30 seconds 35 30 seconds 40 seconds 48 32

Side Events

Event Qualification Time US Qualifiers A Standard B Standard Size of Round 1 Current Size
Fewest Moves N/A N/A 50 moves2 50 moves2 N/A 36
Rubik's Magic 2 seconds 44 2 seconds 3 seconds 48 17
Rubik's Master Magic 5 seconds 17 5 seconds 7 seconds 24 14
Megaminx 3 minutes 11 2.5 minutes 3.5 minutes 16 18
Pyraminx 14 seconds 20 12 seconds 20 seconds 24 24
Square-1 30 seconds 9 30 seconds 40 seconds 16 12
Rubik's Clock 20 seconds 9 20 seconds 30 seconds 16 11
6x6x6 Speedsolve 4 minutes 1 4 minutes 5 minutes 8 2
7x7x7 Speedsolve 5 minutes 1 5 minutes 7 minutes 4 1
4x4x4 Blindfolded1 N/A N/A See Notes3 N/A N/A 15
5x5x5 Blindfolded1 N/A N/A See Notes3 N/A N/A 8
3x3x3 Multi-BLD N/A N/A See Notes4 N/A N/A 20

Notes: 1. Blindfold qualification times are by best time. All other events are averages.
2. Solutions over 50 moves will not be graded and will be considered as DNFs.
3. Total time limit for all attempts in 4x4 and 5x5 BLD is 1 hour.
4. WCA time limits of 10 minutes per cube and 1 hour for the attempt will apply.

Event Formats

Main Event Formats

In the qualification round, if your first solve is over the time limit, you will be only allowed to complete a reduced number of solves. In most cases, you will be allowed two solves. In longer events (such as 6x6x6 or 7x7x7), you will only be allowed one solve.

Event Qual Round Time Limit R1 Format R1 Number R2 Format R2 Number R3 Format R3 Number
3x3x3 Speedsolve Avg of 5 3 minutes Avg of 5 100 Avg of 5 32 Avg of 5 16
4x4x4 Speedsolve Ave of 5 3 minutes Ave of 5 48 Ave of 5 16
5x5x5 Speedsolve Ave of 5 4 minutes Ave of 5 32 Ave of 5 12
2x2x2 Speedsolve Ave of 5 30 seconds Ave of 5 48 Ave of 5 16
3x3x3 Blindfolded Best of 2 10 minutes Best of 3 24 Best of 3 8
3x3x3 One-Handed Average of 5 90 seconds Avg of 5 48 Avg of 5 16

Side Event Formats

Event Qual Round Time Limit R1 Format R1 Number R2 Format R2 Number R3 Format R3 Number
Fewest Moves Best 2 N/A
Rubik's Magic Avg of 5 10 seconds Avg of 5 48 Avg of 5 16
Rubik's Master Magic Avg of 5 15 seconds Avg of 5 24 Avg of 5 12
Megaminx Best of 1 6 minutes Mean of 3 16 Mean of 3 8
Pyraminx Avg of 5 1 minute Avg of 5 24 Avg of 5 12
Square-1 Avg of 5 1 minute Avg of 5 16 Avg of 5 8
Rubik's Clock Avg of 5 1 minute Avg of 5 16 Avg of 5 8
6x6x6 Speedsolve Best of 1 10 minutes Mean of 3 8
7x7x7 Speedsolve Best of 1 10 minutes Mean of 3 4
4x4x4 Blindfolded3 Best of 3 N/A
5x5x5 Blindfolded3 Best of 2 N/A
3x3x3 Multi-BLD4 Best of 1 N/A

Notes: 3. Total time limit for all attempts in 4x4 and 5x5 BLD is 1 hour.
4. WCA time limits of 10 minutes per cube and 1 hour for the attempt will apply.