Xu Ruihang from Lishui, Zhejiang province. [Photo/WeChat ID:wxlishui]

At the Rubik's Cube World Cube Association Asian Championship 2024 held in Malaysia on Nov 4, Xu Ruihang, a high school freshman from Lishui, Zhejiang province, set a new Asian record for solving a 3x3 Rubik's Cube in just 3.24 seconds.

Xu, 16, previously made history at age 13 by breaking the world record for the average time to solve a 3x3 Rubik's Cube with a time of 5.48 seconds, and became the first Chinese person to achieve this feat.

Previously, at the WCA Beijing Spring Competition in 2021, Xu achieved an average of 5.96 seconds in the 3x3 event, ranking first in Asia and third in the world.

Xu's ability to teach himself has been the key to his success. He has searched for new algorithms online and engaged with fellow cubers worldwide to deepen his understanding of solving cubes.

According to Xu, solving the Rubik's Cube is a way for him to relieve stress, which is a major reason for his passion for the activity.

"Being in high school, I practice for 20 minutes in my free time each day to stay sharp. I hope to have the opportunity to break the world record in the future," said Xu.