A six-year-old girl from Chengdu, China, has made a remarkable mark on competitive speedcubing, setting a new women’s world record for the average time to solve a 3×3 Rubik’s Cube.
Lian Yunzhi, known by her nickname “Zhizhi,” broke the women’s 3×3 average world record twice this month at World Cube Association-certified competitions in Wuhan and Guangzhou.
She first recorded an average of 4.52 seconds before lowering the mark to 4.27 seconds. Each average was calculated from five solves, making the achievement particularly notable in a sport where fractions of a second can separate elite competitors.
Who is Lian Yunzhi, the six-year-old speedcuber?
Lian is a young speedcuber from Chengdu who began learning the Rubik’s Cube after being enrolled in a class as a child.
Cubing was initially one of several extracurricular activities in her schedule, alongside dance and music lessons. Her mother, Lin Yangxi, later recognized that Lian had a particular aptitude for solving the puzzle and decided to focus more heavily on cubing.
The decision has produced extraordinary results in a remarkably short period.
Lian now competes at officially recognized speedcubing events, where competitors solve standardized puzzles under rules established by the World Cube Association.
How fast did Lian solve the Rubik’s Cube?
Lian’s latest record is based on an average of five official solves.
Her two record-setting performances were:
- Wuhan: 4.52-second average
- Guangzhou: 4.27-second average
- Latest improvement: 0.25 seconds
- Event format: Five 3×3 solves for each average
The five-solve format is important because a competitor’s official average is not simply their single fastest attempt. Speedcubing competitions use prescribed rules to calculate averages, making consistency an important part of the challenge.
Lian’s 4.27-second average also made her the first female speedcuber to record an official average below 4.5 seconds, according to the information provided.
That means her achievement was not based on one unusually fast solve. She demonstrated the ability to repeatedly solve the puzzle at extraordinary speed.
What makes a 4.27-second Rubik’s Cube average so difficult?
Solving a Rubik’s Cube quickly requires considerably more than simply turning the puzzle as fast as possible.
A competitive speedcuber must recognize the cube’s configuration, recall the appropriate algorithms and execute a sequence of precise movements with minimal hesitation.
At Lian’s pace, the entire process takes only a few seconds.
That leaves almost no room for pauses between recognizing a pattern and deciding what sequence of moves to perform.
The challenge combines several skills:
- Pattern recognition: Quickly identifying the cube’s configuration.
- Memory: Recalling large numbers of algorithms.
- Spatial reasoning: Understanding how pieces will move after each sequence.
- Finger dexterity: Executing turns rapidly and accurately.
- Concentration: Maintaining focus throughout the solve.
- Consistency: Repeating the performance across multiple attempts.
How many Rubik’s Cube algorithms has Lian mastered?
Lian has reportedly mastered more than 1,300 algorithms used in solving the Rubik’s Cube.
Algorithms are predefined sequences of moves that allow speedcubers to manipulate particular pieces or configurations without disrupting parts of the puzzle they have already solved.
For competitive cubers, memorizing algorithms is only one part of the process. They also need to recognize which sequence applies to a particular configuration and execute it accurately.
Lian reportedly practices for two to three hours every day, giving her a substantial amount of time to build both memory and muscle coordination.
Her training illustrates why competitive speedcubing is closer to a specialized performance discipline than a casual puzzle hobby for elite competitors.
When did Lian start solving the Rubik’s Cube?
Lian was introduced to cubing through a class when she was young.
Her mother, Lin Yangxi, said she viewed the activity as a way of developing a range of abilities, including concentration, memory, logical thinking and spatial awareness.
Lian initially participated in several activities, including dance and music. Over time, however, cubing became the activity in which she showed the greatest interest and ability.
Her mother subsequently encouraged her to devote more attention to speedcubing.
The progression demonstrates how an activity introduced as an extracurricular class can develop into serious competitive training when a child shows sustained interest and aptitude.
What does Lian’s mother say about speedcubing?
Lin has emphasized that the benefits of cubing extend beyond learning formulas.
She said solving the puzzle can help children develop focus, memory, logical thinking and spatial awareness. She also described competition as an opportunity for children to develop a healthier attitude toward both winning and losing.
Her comments highlight an important distinction in speedcubing: memorization can make solving faster, but competitors also need to understand the puzzle and recognize efficient solutions.
At the highest levels, those skills work together.
Is speedcubing just about memorising formulas?
Not entirely.
Although algorithms are central to competitive solving, speedcubers must also make rapid decisions.
A memorized sequence is useful only if the competitor can recognize the situation in which it applies. They must inspect the puzzle, identify patterns and select the appropriate sequence almost instantly.
This is why speedcubing involves a combination of memory and problem-solving.
For younger competitors in particular, repeated practice can also build familiarity with the physical mechanics of the puzzle. Turning the cube becomes increasingly automatic, allowing more mental attention to be devoted to recognizing the next step.
What is the World Cube Association?
The World Cube Association, or WCA, is the organization that governs official speedcubing competitions around the world.
It establishes competition regulations, recognizes official events and maintains world records across numerous puzzle categories.
The standard 3×3 cube is the most recognizable event, but official competitions also include other puzzle formats and solving disciplines.
For a record to count as an official world record, it must be achieved under the WCA’s competition rules at a recognized event.
That distinction separates official speedcubing records from impressive performances recorded casually or online.
Why does Lian’s record matter?
Lian’s performance stands out not simply because she is six years old, but because she has reached an elite level in a discipline where tiny differences in execution matter.
Her record also illustrates the increasingly young age at which some competitors are entering organized speedcubing.
Children can begin learning the mechanics of a Rubik’s Cube relatively early, and repeated practice can gradually transform basic familiarity into advanced pattern recognition and algorithmic fluency.
But Lian’s achievement should not be taken to mean that intensive training is necessary or appropriate for every child.
Her mother has described cubing as an activity that supports broader skills, but individual children will respond differently to competitive training and extracurricular activities.
What happens next for the young record-holder?
For now, Lian’s 4.27-second average places her at the center of the women’s 3×3 speedcubing record conversation.
Whether she can lower the mark further will depend on future competitions and performances.
Speedcubing records are inherently difficult to hold because competitors around the world are constantly attempting to improve their times. At elite levels, shaving even a few hundredths of a second can require extensive practice and increasingly efficient techniques.
For Lian, the bigger story may be how quickly she has progressed.
At just six years old, she has already demonstrated the combination of memory, spatial reasoning, concentration and physical precision required to compete at the highest level of her discipline.
Her 4.27-second average is a striking reminder of just how much can happen in a few seconds when preparation meets exceptional execution.
