Chinese schoolgirl Lian Yunzhi has set a new world record in solving the 3x3x3 Rubik’s Cube, becoming the first female speedcuber to average under 4.5 seconds. At just six years old, Lian achieved this milestone after competing in two events held in Hubei and Guangzhou provinces earlier this month.

During the competitions, Lian completed the puzzle five times at each event and posted an average solve time of 4.27 seconds. The records mark a notable achievement in the speedcubing community, highlighting both her rapid problem-solving skills and consistency under pressure.

Lian, who hails from Chengdu, first encountered the Rubik’s Cube in a childhood extracurricular class. Since then, she has developed her abilities through dedicated practice, spending two to three hours daily honing her technique. She has memorized more than 1,300 cube algorithms, a key factor in her ability to solve the puzzle swiftly.

A video from the competition captured Lian’s performance as she swiftly unscrambled the cube, then placed it on the table as she celebrated with claps and a fist pump. Her mother, Lin Yangxi, emphasized the broader benefits of speedcubing for children, citing improvements in focus, memory, logical thinking, and spatial awareness. Lin also noted that the activity fosters a healthy attitude toward competition by teaching participants to approach challenges with logical reasoning to find optimal solutions.

Lian Yunzhi’s record-setting performance not only underscores her individual talent but also contributes to the growing visibility of young competitors in the global speedcubing community.