Xuanyi Geng 3.84 Rubik's Cube World Record Average

The current official 3x3 Rubik's Cube world record average is 3.84 seconds, set by child prodigy Xuanyi Geng (耿暄一) at the Beijing Winter 2026 WCA competition.
🏆 This result pushed the record further into the sub-4 territory, improving the previous world record average of 3.91 seconds by Yiheng Wang.

With this, Xuanyi now holds both major 3x3 world records: the single (3.05) and the average.
EDIT : Teodor Zajder broke the single record with the first sub-3 solution one month later.

Even after losing the average world record, Yiheng Wang remains one of the defining 3×3 competitors of the era. He has set multiple recent average world records and consistently ranks among the top results in the all-time averages, demonstrating exceptional consistency across competitions.

Xuanyi Geng (耿暄一) WCA statistics in 2026

For perspective: in 2008 the official 3×3 world record average was still above 10 seconds. Today, the best speedcubers are averaging under 4 seconds: a dramatic shift that highlights how much the sport has evolved in less than two decades.

Statistics

Xuanyi Geng's world record average is 3.84 seconds, set in the second round at the Beijing Winter 2026 competition. His five solves were 5.09, 3.96, 3.71, 3.84 and 3.37 seconds. The fastest (3.37) and slowest (5.09) were dropped, resulting in the official record average.

On the SpeedSolving.com forum, many experienced cubers focused on how quickly the record moved on from 3.91, and how remarkable it is to see multiple sub-4 solves inside a single average. Some commenters also pointed out that Xuanyi is among the youngest to ever hold the 3x3 average world record.

On Reddit, the reaction was similar: many were surprised the 3.91 average didn't stand longer, while others highlighted the raw difficulty of putting together an average with four solves under 4 seconds and still closing with a 3.37 single.

Video

Analysis

Xuanyi Geng's 3.84 world record average was achieved on January 11, 2026. At the time, he held both the 3×3 single world record (3.05) [EDIT: not anymore] and the average world record, becoming one of the few cubers in history to simultaneously hold both titles.

The record average consisted of the following solves:

(5.09), 3.96, 3.71, 3.84, (3.37)

The fastest (3.37) and slowest (5.09) solves were dropped, producing the official 3.84 second average. What makes this performance remarkable is that three of the counted solves were already well under 4 seconds, showing that the result was not just a lucky scramble but a display of consistent elite-level solving.

Community analysis highlighted several interesting technical aspects of Xuanyi's solving style. Unlike many top speedcubers who rely on standard CFOP with occasional last-layer shortcuts, Xuanyi is known for frequently using ZB-based techniques in his solves. This means he deliberately manipulates the cube during the last F2L pair so that the cross is already solved on the bottom, allowing him to finish the cube with a ZBLL algorithm and solve the last layer in a single step.

Observers also noticed that in two of the solves Xuanyi used pseudoslotting. In these cases the cross edges were not perfectly aligned while inserting early F2L pairs, but he intentionally solved pairs in temporary positions and corrected the cube later. This advanced technique can reduce move count and improve flow, but requires exceptional cube awareness.

Xuanyi is also known for his remarable lookahead and prediction. In some solves he is able to plan two or even three F2L pairs during inspection and early solving stages, allowing him to maintain extremely high turning speed without pauses.

The record average was achieved using a GAN 16 MagLev MAX UV speedcube. While several Chinese speedcubers recently switched to MoYu flagship cubes, Xuanyi has continued using GAN hardware. By setting this world record average he also became the first major recipient of GAN's 2026 prize pool, earning 100,000 CNY for breaking the record.

Some training footage released around the same time showed Xuanyi practicing recognition for the 493 ZBLL cases, which may explain how quickly he is able to identify favorable last-layer situations during official solves.

At the time of the record, the competitive rivalry between Xuanyi Geng and Yiheng Wang was becoming one of the defining storylines of modern speedcubing. Yiheng had dominated the average rankings for several years, but Xuanyi's rapid improvement suggested that a new generation of cubers was pushing the limits of what was thought possible.

Reconstruction

Unlike a single world record, an average world record has much less room for luck: one weak solve can ruin the attempt. This is why a 3.84 average is so impressive. It requires repeatable speed, calm execution, and strong recovery skills across five solves.

1️⃣
D F2 U' L2 D2 L2 D2 F2 R B2 R' B R' B2 F2 D' F L' R'
x z // inspection
U' R' D' r D' L // cross
d L U L' // 1st pair
U' L' U2 L U L' U' L // 2nd pair
U' F' R' U' R F // 3rd pair
U F R' F' R2 U' R' U R U R' // 4th pair/ZBLS
U' U2' R2 D r' U2 r R' U' R D' R' U' R' U2' // ZBLL

2️⃣
U R2 U2 B2 R2 D' B2 L2 D' L2 F D2 B2 R F U R2 B U2 R
R F' R' U' D R2' D2 R2 // xcross
U' R U' R' U R' U' R // 2nd pair
y' U R' U' R U R' U2' R // 3rd pair
U2 L' U' L U2' L' U L U' L' U L // 4th pair/ZBLS
U R' U' R U' R' U2' R U R' U2' R U R' U R U // ZBLL

3️⃣
U' L2 U' L2 F2 R2 D2 B2 U2 B2 R D R2 F L2 B2 D' F R B' R2
x' z2 // inspection
R2' U' D r2 U' r' // pseudo cross
U R' U' R U R' U' R2 // 1st pair
U' R' U R U' R' // 2nd pair
U2 L' U' L D // 3rd pair/finish cross
U' L' U2 L F U' R U' R' F' // 4th pair/ZBLS
U' R2 D R' U2 R D' R' U' R' U R U2' R' U2 // ZBLL

4️⃣
F2 D' L2 B2 L2 D F2 U F2 D B' U B L' R2 B' R' D L D
x' z // inspection
D r B' r2' R2 D R' D' // xcross
U2' R U' R' U R' U' R // 2nd pair
L' U L U L' U' L // 3rd pair
R U' R' F R' F' R2 U R' // 4th pair/ZBLS
U R2 D R' U2 R D' R' U' R' U R U2' R' U2 // ZBLL

5️⃣
B2 L2 U2 F2 U2 R2 U B2 F2 D2 F' D' R2 U2 R' U' R2 B' F2 L' F
x z // inspection
D r' D R' F2 // pseudo cross
U' L' U' L U R U' R' U R U' R' // 1st pair
y R U' R' U R U' R' D // 2nd/3rd pairs
y' U L F' L' F L' U' L2 F' L' F // 4th pair/ZBLS
R' U2' R U R' U R // ZBLL

Xuanyi repeatedly built efficient F2L and kept his last-layer steps short and controlled. A key takeaway was that this average wasn't built on a single perfect solve, but on stacking multiple elite solves back-to-back.

In a broader context, this record also strengthens the ongoing narrative of the current era: Xuanyi Geng and Yiheng Wang are pushing each other to levels the cubing world simply didn't have a reference point for a few years ago - and while Xuanyi holds the record today, Yiheng remains the benchmark for long-term dominance.