6-Year-Old Sets New Women’s World Record in Rubik’s Cube Speed Solving

A six-year-old Chinese girl has achieved a milestone by setting a new women’s world record for solving a 3×3 Rubik’s Cube in just over four seconds. State media reported the accomplishment on Tuesday. The young speedcuber, Lian Yunzhi, broke the women’s 3×3 average world record twice within three days. She did so at two World Cube Association certified competitions in Wuhan and Guangzhou, according to the state broadcaster CCTV on Monday.

Lian recorded averages of 4.52 and 4.27 seconds after solving the Rubik’s Cube five times. Lian Yunzhi, only six years old, made headlines by setting an apparent women’s world record for solving a 3x3x3 Rubik’s Cube in under five seconds at a sanctioned competition in China.

Lian, who hails from Chengdu in China’s southern Sichuan province, is noted as “the first female speedcuber to average under 4.5 seconds,” according to CCTV. A video broadcast by CCTV showcased Lian sporting a red gingham bow on her head, as she adeptly maneuvered the Rubik’s Cube. Upon solving the puzzle, she placed the cube on the table, clapped her hands, and fist-pumped the air with excitement.

Nicknamed “Zhizhi,” Lian was introduced to the Rubik’s Cube when she was enrolled in a class as a child. Her mother, Lin Yangxi, informed local media outlets, as reported by AFP news agency. Lin “gradually realized” the potential of cubing as an “excellent activity for fostering a child’s comprehensive abilities,” and shifted her focus toward this pursuit, she told Chengdu’s Red Star News.

Today, Lian has mastered over 1,300 Rubik’s Cube solving algorithms, dedicating 2 to 3 hours to daily practice, according to Lin. Images from Red Star News depicted Lian’s trophies proudly displayed on a shelf in her home. Lin commented, “Solving a Rubik’s Cube improves focus, memory, logical thinking, spatial awareness, and helps develop a healthy mindset toward winning and losing.” She emphasized the importance of logical reasoning in finding optimal solutions rather than merely memorizing formulas.