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1944
Ernő Rubik is born in Budapest, Hungary. He grows up to become an architect, designer and university professor.
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1974
Rubik creates the first working prototype of the cube. This is the official birth date of the world’s favourite toy.
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1975
Rubik patents the ‘Magic Cube’ and Hungarian toy-manufacturer Politechnika begins the difficult task of mass-production.
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1977
The first ‘Magic Cube’ is sold in a Budapest toyshop.
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1980
Ideal Toy Corporation begins exporting the cube from Hungary. The ‘Magic Cube’ is renamed the ‘Rubik’s Cube’.
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1981
A publication entitled ‘You Can Do the Cube’ was produced by Patrick Bossert, a 12-year-old schoolboy from England. The book goes on to sell 1.5 million copies.
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1982
The first annual International Rubik’s Championships are held in Budapest. More than 100 million cubes have now been sold and Rubik’s enters the Oxford English Dictionary.
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1990
Ernő Rubik becomes President of the Hungarian Engineering Academy. He later establishes the International Rubik Foundation to support talented young designers.
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1995
Diamond Cutters International creates the ‘Masterpiece Cube’ for Rubik’s 15th birthday – a fully-functional, 185 carat Cube made of solid gold and encrusted with coloured jewels.
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2005
The cube celebrates its 25th anniversary on 26 July. A special, limited edition Rubik’s Cube is produced to mark the occasion.
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2007
World Rubik's Cube Championships are held in Budapest from 5-7 October, marking the 25th anniversary of the competition. Ernő Rubik was there to award the prizes in person.
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Today
Ernő Rubik is now enjoying his retirement but the Rubik’s Studio continues to design games and work with young designers in Hungary and beyond.