Un británico dedica 27.400 horas a lo largo de 26 años para resolver el cubo de Rubik

¿Cuánto se tarda en resolver un cubo de Rubik? El empeño de cada uno, el tiempo que se dedique y la habilidad son algunos de los factores que servirían para hacer el cálculo. Se da el caso de personas que lo hacen en apenas unos segundos y otros, como es el protagonista de esta historia, que lo han solventado en años.

Hablamos del británico Graham Parker, que vive en la localidad inglesa de Portchester, que ha dedicado 27.400 horas de su vida a lo largo de 26 años para resolver el conocido cubo de Rubik, informa The Telegraph.

Parker compró el juguete en 1983 y siempre se ha marcado como reto resolverlo. Incluso ha pasado interminables noches sin dormir buscando la manera de que cada cara del cubo estuviera del mismo color.

"Me he perdido importantes eventos de mi vida por solucionar el cubo y he pasado noches sin dormir pensando cómo hacerlo", ha comentado al citado diario. "Mis amigos se han ofrecido a solventarlo y sé que puedo encontrar la solución en Internet, pero quería hacerlo por mi mismo", continúa.

Lágrimas de alegría

¿Y qué pasó cuando consiguió el reto? "Cuando coloqué la última pieza en su lugar y vi que cada cara tenía su color, lloré de alegría", contesta Parker, que incluso ha tenido algún que otro problema matrimonial por el complicado cubo.

Ray Hodgkin, miembro del World Cube Association (WCA), que organiza competiciones del cubo de Rubik, comentó que Parker es la persona "que más tiempo ha tardado en completar el cubo". "Estoy impresionado por la dedicación de Graham ya que el cubo puede ser algo muy frustrante", comentó.

Rubik's Cube finally solved after 26 years by avid fan

Delighted Graham, 45, from Portchester, Hants, has been tirelessly trying to solve the riddle of the Cube since he bought the toy in 1983.

Married dad-of-one Graham has endured endless sleepless nights and after more than 27,400 hours he finally managed to conquer his personal Everest.

Builder Graham said: "I cannot tell you what a relief it was to finally solve it. It has driven me mad over the years - it felt like it had taken over my life.

"I have missed important events to stay in and solve it and I would lay awake at night thinking about it.

"Friends have offered to solve it for me and I know that you can find solutions on the web but I just had to do it myself.

"I have had wrist and back problems from spending hours on it but it was all worth it.

"When I clicked that last bit into place and each face was a solid colour I wept."

Long-suffering wife Jean, 47, said the cube has frequently put a strain on their marriage, causing blazing rows between the pair.

Jean even admits at times it has felt as though there has been three people in their marriage for the past 26 years.

Understanding Jean said: "When I met Graham he was already obsessed with the cube - spending hours on it every day.

"I have often thought about getting rid of it but I knew he would not rest until he had solved it, which thankfully he has done."

Ray Hodgkin of the governing body for Rubik's Cube competitions, the World Cube Association (WCA), said: "I think this is definitely the longest it has ever taken someone to complete a Cube.

"I am impressed by Graham's dedication - the Rubik's Cube can be a very frustrating thing. The WCA would like to congratulate him on his achievement."

The Rubik's Cube was invented in 1974 by Hungarian sculptor Erno Rubik but was originally called the Magic Cube.

More than 300 million have been sold worldwide and there are an astonishing 43 quintillion different possible configurations and only one solution.

Support group 'Cubaholics' was set up in 1980 to help addicts kick the habit and Rubik's cubes are so compulsive they have given rise to two medical conditions - Cubist's Thumb and Rubik's Wrist.

Erik Akkersdijk of the Netherlands holds the record for a single solve with a time of 7.08 seconds.