Tyson Mao
Tyson Mao | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | May 8, 1984 |
| Education | California Institute of Technology (BS) |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Spouse | Joyce Huynh |
Tyson Mao (born May 8, 1984) is an American Rubik's Cube speedsolver. He is a co-founder and a former board member of the World Cube Association, the organization responsible for overseeing competitive Rubik's Cube events. In 2005, he set the world record for the 3×3×3 blindfolded event.[1] In 2006, he appeared as a contestant on the CW Television Network's Beauty and the Geek.[2]
Personal life
[edit]Mao was born in San Francisco, California to a Taiwanese American family; his parents were immigrants from Tainan, Taiwan. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area[3] and previously used to work as a Poker Product Manager for Zynga.[4] He graduated from the California Institute of Technology in 2006 with a degree in astrophysics.
In 2017, Mao opened the Wursthall Restaurant & Bierhaus in San Mateo, California with partners Adam Simpson and J. Kenji López-Alt.[5]
Rubik's Cube career
[edit]Mao began solving the Rubik’s Cube during its second surge in popularity in 2003. Initially using a beginner’s method, he later advanced to techniques such as the Petrus and CFOP methods. He is credited with popularizing the “Caltech move,” a technique that solves the three diagonal corner permutations in blindfolded solving. In addition to his competitive achievements, he has been a key organizer of major Rubik’s Cube competitions in the United States, including the US Nationals (through 2013) and various events at Caltech.
Tyson Mao's beginner method
[edit]Mao developed a method aimed for beginners presented as an eight-part video series, which was formerly available on Rubiks.com. This instructional method gained additional attention after it was featured in the 2006 film The Pursuit of Happyness. His approach uses a simplified layer-by-layer method, incorporating elements designed to reduce the complexity of by reducing the amount of algorithm memorization needed.
Media appearances
[edit]Mao has appeared on various television programs and media outlets, including:
- Beauty and the Geek Season 2
- CNN's Anderson Cooper 360° (Air date: December 15, 2006)
- Identity
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (Air date: January 27, 2006)
- Twins
- USA Network: Show Us Your Character
- Good Morning America (Air date: February 4, 2008)
References
[edit]- ^ "World Cube Association History for 3x3x3 Blindfolded World Record". World Cube Association. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
- ^ Merrin, Tarra (2006-01-12). "'Beauty and the Geek' returns to TV". Canoe.ca. Archived from the original on 2007-10-18. Retrieved 2007-12-12.
- ^ "Tyson Mao – Rubik's Cube Master and Co-Founder of World Cube Association".
- ^ "Office Crashers: Why It's Fun and Games Inside ZyngaVille". YouTube.
- ^ "Internet Food Guru J. Kenji Lopez-Alt Opening Real Life Beer and Sausage Hall". Eater SF. Retrieved 2017-12-27.
External links
[edit]- "Brain Trust Behind 'Beauty And The Geek' Says More Stereotype Breaking In Works". The Tampa Tribune. 18 January 2006. Archived from the original on 2006-02-14. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
- Brothers square off in cubing contest, San Francisco Chronicle
- Tyson Mao at IMDb
- Tyson's Blog