Lian Yunzhi Sets Reported 3x3 Record Twice

Six-year-old speedcuber Lian Yunzhi set the reported women’s 3x3 average world record twice at World Cube Association-certified competitions in Wuhan and Guangzhou, recording averages of 4.52 seconds and then 4.27 seconds. The results make her the first female speedcuber reported to have averaged under 4.5 seconds. The two averages were achieved at separate competitions this month. In each event, the average was calculated from five solves, according to reports of the competitions. The World Cube Association certification was cited in those accounts, though the underlying results have not been independently confirmed here through official competition records. Lian is from Chengdu, in Sichuan province. Her mother, Lin Yangxi, said Lian practices for two to three hours each day and has learned more than 1,300 solving algorithms. Lin told local media that Lian first encountered cubing in an extracurricular class, alongside activities including dance and music, before the family focused more on the puzzle. Lin described cubing as a way to develop abilities such as concentration, memory and logical thinking.