Young Chinese Girl Sets World Record in Rubik’s Cube Speedcubing

A six-year-old girl from China has set a new world record for solving the 3×3 Rubik’s Cube at women’s competitions, achieving a remarkable average time of just over four seconds. The achievement was reported by state media on Tuesday.

Young speedcuber Lian Yunzhi made headlines by breaking the women’s 3×3 average world record twice within three days at two competitions in Wuhan and Guangzhou, recognized by the World Cube Association (WCA). According to CCTV, China’s state broadcaster, she posted averages of 4.52 and 4.27 seconds after solving the cube five times each.

Lian, hailing from Chengdu in Sichuan province, is the first female speedcuber to achieve an average solve time under 4.5 seconds. A video posted by CCTV captured Lian, affectionately known as “Zhizhi,” confidently maneuvering the Rubik’s Cube with a red gingham bow in her hair. Upon completing the puzzle, she expressed her joy with a clap and a fist pump.

Lian was introduced to speedcubing when enrolled in a class as part of her extracurricular activities, including dance and music. Her mother, Lin Yangxi, explained to local media that she recognized cubing’s potential in enhancing her daughter’s comprehensive abilities. Lin decided to prioritize cubing, saying it fostered skills such as focus, memory, logical thinking, spatial awareness, and a balanced perspective on winning and losing.

Photos from Red Star News show Lian’s numerous trophies proudly displayed on a shelf at her home. Lin noted that successfully solving a Rubik’s Cube involves more than memorizing formulas; it requires logical reasoning to determine optimal solutions. Lian has mastered over 1,300 Rubik’s Cube solving algorithms and dedicates 2 to 3 hours daily to practice.