Six-year-old girl sets women's Rubik's Cube world record twice
Coverage agrees a six-year-old Chinese girl broke the women's Rubik's Cube record twice this month, though outlets differ slightly on her exact average time.
What happened
Six-year-old Chinese speedcuber Lian Yunzhi broke the women's 3x3 Rubik's Cube world record twice within days at World Cube Association certified competitions.1245
According to state broadcaster CCTV, as reported by The Guardian, the record-breaking solves occurred at competitions in Wuhan and Guangzhou.5
Reports vary slightly on her exact average time, ranging from 4.27 seconds to just over four seconds or under 4.5 seconds.1245
One outlet detailed her training regimen, noting she learned more than 1300 algorithms and practiced two to three hours daily over the past year.3
What's agreed
Reported consistently by outlets in more than one region.
- Six-year-old Lian Yunzhi, from China, broke the women's 3x3 Rubik's Cube world record twice within a short span, in official World Cube Association competitions.12345
- Her average solving time was reported as roughly 4.27 to under 4.5 seconds.125
- Lian Yunzhi is described by multiple outlets as a young Chinese speedcuber.134
Where accounts differ
Each account is attributed to who makes it. We do not judge between them.
How it's framed
What each perspective puts first, based on headlines and summaries.
| Perspective | How it reads | What it puts first |
|---|---|---|
| European outletsEurope | Reports the record time and that it was broken twice in three days, based on a brief factual account.1 | record time, twice in three days |
| European outlets citing Chinese state mediaEurope | Attribute the record and details explicitly to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, noting the specific competitions and dates.5 | attributed to state media, specific competition details |
| Middle Eastern state-controlled outletMiddle East & Turkey | Reports the record twice in three days and the young age, without extensive sourcing detail.2 | record twice in three days, young age |
| Oceania private pressOceania | Focuses on the training and dedication behind the achievement rather than the record numbers alone.3 | practice routine, algorithms learned, dedication |
| Southeast Asian outlet citing state mediaSoutheast Asia | Presents the record as reported by state media, emphasizing the young age and the specific solve time.4 | state media reported, young age, specific time |
What the coverage leaves out
- None of the outlets reviewed reported reactions from the World Cube Association or official confirmation beyond state media attribution.
- None of the outlets reviewed detailed Lian Yunzhi's background beyond her nationality and training routine.
- None of the outlets reviewed reported on previous record holders or how this compares historically.
Why it matters
Sources (5)
Every outlet we drew on, grouped by where it is based. Read the originals for the full reporting.
Europe
- 1EuronewsFRPrivate
Watch: Six-year-old girl breaks women’s Rubik’s Cube world record
- 5The GuardianGBPrivate
Six-year-old Chinese girl ‘sets new women’s Rubik’s Cube world record’
Middle East & Turkey
- 2Al Jazeera EnglishQAState-controlled
Six-year-old sets Rubik’s Cube world record twice in three days
Southeast Asia
- 4VnExpress InternationalVNPrivate
Oceania
- 3The Sydney Morning HeraldAUPrivate