A six-year-old girl from Chengdu has become the first female speedcuber to record an average solving time of less than 4.5 seconds in the 3×3 Rubik’s Cube category, according to Chinese state media.
Lian Yunzhi achieved the feat this month at two World Cube Association-certified competitions held in Wuhan and Guangzhou. She recorded an average of 4.52 seconds at one event before lowering it to 4.27 seconds at the other.
The averages were calculated from five solves in each competition, allowing Lian to twice surpass the previous women’s world record within the same month.
CCTV identified Lian as the first female competitor to break the 4.5-second average mark. Footage released by the broadcaster showed the young competitor rapidly manipulating the cube before placing it on the table and celebrating with a clap and raised fist.
Known by the nickname “Zhizhi,” Lian was introduced to speedcubing after her parents enrolled her in a Rubik’s Cube class when she was younger. Her mother, Lin Yangxi, told local media that the activity was initially one of several extracurricular pursuits her daughter participated in, along with dance and music.
Lin later decided to give greater attention to cubing after seeing its potential benefits for her daughter’s development. She told Chengdu-based Red Star News that she came to view it as an “excellent activity for fostering a child’s comprehensive abilities.”
Lian has since learned more than 1,300 algorithms used in solving the puzzle and spends between two and three hours practicing each day, according to her mother. Her collection of competition trophies has also grown, with photographs published by Red Star News showing the awards displayed at the family’s home.
Lin said the activity goes beyond learning sequences by memory.
“Solving a Rubik’s Cube improves focus, memory, logical thinking, spatial awareness, and helps develop a healthy mindset toward winning and losing,” Lin said.
“It’s not just about blindly memorizing formulas, but using logical reasoning to find optimal solutions,” she added.
