Meet Ziyu Ye, the Chinese speedcuber who solved a 2×2 Rubik's Cube in 0.39 seconds to set a Guinness World Record

Ziyu Ye has set a world record after solving a 2×2×2 cube in just 0.39 seconds at a competition in China. The Chinese speedcuber achieved the record at the China Hefei Open 2025 in Hefei, Anhui, on October 25, 2025. Guinness World Records lists Ye’s time as the fastest recorded solve of a 2×2×2 rotating puzzle cube.

Ziyu Ye Sets 0.39-Second 2×2×2 Cube Record

Ye’s record came during the first round of the 2×2×2 Cube event at the Hefei Open 2025.

The World Cube Association’s competition records show that Ye’s five solves in the round were 1.94, 1.31, 1.38, 1.46 and 0.39 seconds. The WCA recorded his 0.39-second solve as a world record.


The Hefei Open 2025 was held on October 25, 2025, in Hefei, Anhui, China. The WCA lists 190 competitors for the competition.

Ye Breaks the Previous 0.43-Second World Record

Ye’s performance broke the previous 2×2×2 Cube world record of 0.43 seconds.

That record was held by Poland’s Teodor Zajder, who recorded the time at the Warsaw Cube Masters 2023 in Warsaw, Poland, on November 5, 2023.

Ye’s 0.39-second solve improved the previous mark by 0.04 seconds, according to Guinness World Records.

Ziyu Ye’s 2025 Speedcubing Results

The record was part of Ye’s competition results during 2025.

Cubing China’s 2025 annual summary records Ye competing in 15 competitions and 119 rounds across six events during the year. The summary also records his 0.39-second 2×2×2 Cube solve at the Hefei Open 2025 as a world record.

His events during 2025 included the 3×3×3 Cube, 2×2×2 Cube, Skewb, Pyraminx, 3×3×3 One-Handed and 4×4×4 Cube.

The annual summary records 21 podium finishes for Ye across those events, including results in the 2×2×2 Cube, Skewb and 3×3×3 Cube.

What Is a 2×2×2 Cube

The 2×2×2 Cube is a smaller version of the traditional Rubik’s Cube. It has eight corner cubies and does not have the center and edge pieces found on a standard 3×3×3 Cube.

Rubik’s official website describes its 2×2 as a pocket or mini Cube and says it has more than 3.6 million possible permutations.

The 2×2×2 Cube is also an official World Cube Association competition event. The WCA includes it among its recognized events and sets regulations governing how competitions are conducted.

How 2×2×2 Cube Speedcubing Works

Competitive speedcubing involves solving scrambled puzzles as quickly as possible under standardized competition rules.

For the 2×2×2 Cube, WCA regulations specify how scrambles are generated and how attempts are conducted. The regulations state that scrambles must produce random states from positions that require at least four moves to solve.

Ye’s 0.39-Second World Record

Ye’s performance is listed by Guinness World Records as the fastest time to solve a 2×2×2 rotating puzzle cube.

He set the record in Hefei on October 25, 2025, beating Zajder’s previous 0.43-second mark from 2023.