Six-year-old Lian Yunzhi sets women's Rubik's Cube world record twice in three days
Chinese speedcuber Lian Yunzhi recorded average times of 4.52 and 4.27 seconds at World Cube Association events in Wuhan and Guangzhou, becoming the first female competitor to average under 4.5 seconds in the 3x3 category.
World records in Wuhan and Guangzhou
Six-year-old Chinese speedcuber Lian Yunzhi broke the women's world record for the 3x3 Rubik's Cube twice in three days at tournaments sanctioned by the World Cube Association. Competing in Wuhan and Guangzhou, Lian achieved consecutive official averages across five completed solves at each event. In the Wuhan competition, she recorded a five-solve average time of 4.52 seconds. She improved on that mark shortly afterward in Guangzhou, registering an average time of 4.27 seconds. The results made the Chengdu native the first female competitor worldwide to record an official average below 4.5 seconds. State broadcaster CCTV televised footage of the Guangzhou solve, showing Lian in a red checkered hair bow manipulating the puzzle pieces at high speed, placing the completed cube onto the table, clapping her hands, and raising her fist in celebration.
- Wuhan competition
- 4.52 s
- Guangzhou competition
- 4.27 s
Early start and progression to coaching
Known by her family nickname Zhizhi, Lian was introduced to puzzle solving at age four after receiving a cube as a gift from her parents. Her mother, Lin Yangxi, enrolled her in an introductory cubing course alongside other extracurricular activities, including regular music and dance lessons. Over time, her family observed her aptitude for the puzzle and decided to prioritize speedcubing over other pastimes. When her initial technical development slowed during early practice at home in Sichuan Province, her parents took her from Chengdu to Shanghai to train under professional coaches. Photographs released by Red Star News show shelves in the family home filled with tournament trophies accumulated during her youth competitions.
- Begins cubing after receiving a puzzle from her parents and enrolling in lessons
- Family travels from Chengdu to Shanghai to work with professional speedcubing coaches
- Sets women's 3x3 world record with a 4.52-second average across five solves
- Lowers women's 3x3 world record to a 4.27-second average across five solves
Algorithmic study and training regimen
To reach competitive speed, Lian undertook an intensive training schedule requiring two to three hours of daily practice over the past year. During this preparation, the six-year-old competitor memorized and mastered more than 1,300 separate solving algorithms used to resolve diverse puzzle configurations. Speedcubing at this level requires competitors to recognize geometric patterns immediately and execute calculated sequences of rotations without hesitation. Her daily regimen involved repeated five-solve sets to build finger dexterity, visual recall, and inspection efficiency under simulated tournament conditions.
Cognitive development and methodology
Lin explained to local media that she chose to concentrate family efforts entirely on the activity after realizing it was an effective tool for cultivating a child's overall abilities. The training structure emphasizes analytical reasoning and spatial orientation while teaching young competitors to maintain emotional balance during tournament events.
Solving the Rubik's Cube improves concentration, memory, logical thinking, spatial awareness, and helps develop a healthy mindset towards winning and losing.
Her mother stressed that competing at the highest level requires deep tactical comprehension rather than simple rote learning.
It is not just blind memorization of formulas, but using logical reasoning to find optimal solutions.
Lian continues her daily practice schedule in Chengdu following her performances in Wuhan and Guangzhou.
