The young Chinese speedcuber Lian Yunzhi, just six years old, shattered the women’s world record for a 3x3x3 Rubik’s Cube twice within three days. She set the initial record during a World Cube Association event in Wuhan on September 12, averaging 4.52 seconds across five attempts.
Within days, Lian traveled to Guangzhou and improved her own record, cutting her average to an astonishing 4.27 seconds. With this feat, she became the first female competitor to officially average under 4.5 seconds in a single event.
Speedcubing Record
Mastering speedcubing goes far beyond simply solving a Rubik’s Cube fast. At official competitions, participants must complete five solves, but only the middle three times count after discarding the fastest and slowest results.
Lian’s 4.27-second average in Guangzhou highlights both her incredible speed and remarkable consistency. Video from her Wuhan appearance reveals her solving one cube in roughly 3.54 seconds, though that time did not count toward her record.
Training and Progress
Lian’s progress has been remarkably rapid. According to reports from Chinese media, she first encountered the Rubik’s Cube at about four years of age. It initially took her around 90 seconds to solve, but she has developed into a skillful solver capable of producing sub-five-second competition averages.
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Her mother, Lin Yangxi, revealed that Lian has memorized over 1,300 solving methods and trains for roughly two to three hours daily. Her parents also arranged sessions with elite coaches in Shanghai as her talent grew.
Competitors must instantly spot patterns and apply the correct moves with blinding finger speed. The Rubik’s Cube was created in 1974 by Hungarian inventor Ernő Rubik and gained global fame after its 1980s commercial release.
Global Recognition
Lian’s achievement is particularly notable because the overall world record for a single 3x3x3 solve is held by a male competitor. Nine-year-old Polish speedcuber Teodor Zajder recorded a single solve of 2.76 seconds earlier in 2026. Lian’s 4.27-second achievement is therefore a women’s average record rather than the overall single-solve world record.
For Lian, however, the numbers are only part of the story. Video footage shows her celebrating after completing her record-breaking solves, pumping her fist and applauding. Her mother has described the cube as an activity that has helped develop concentration, memory and logical thinking, while also giving her daughter greater confidence.
