Spanish woman sets European record for solving Rubik cube with her eyes shut

Berta García Parra solved the puzzle, which left the world scratching its heads throughout the whole of the 1980s, in just 20.38 seconds during the Rubik Cube Open Championships this week in El Escorial, near Madrid, beating over 90 other competitors.

They came from all over the world, with participants from Hungary, the USA, Perú, Poland, Greece, China and Romania, and competed in 15 categories.

The top three competitors were all Spanish – Manuel Prieto solved the cube in 10.29 seconds; Alberto Pérez de Rada came second by finishing it in 11.61 seconds, and Rafael Rodríguez was third in 11.74 seconds.

But Berta's achievement was even more spectacular, as she finished the Rubik puzzle in 20.38 without looking at it.

She already held the national record of completing a Rubik cube in 21.44 seconds with her eyes shut, and has now beaten her own and that of Spain, as well as setting new record for Europe.

Berta's time is also the third-fastest ever seen in the world.

According to El Escorial town hall, the oldest competitor at the Championships was Jesús Masanet, aged 56, and the youngest was Alejandro Fernández, aged six.