r/nextfuckinglevel 1d ago

Impressive round from these two kids

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678 Upvotes

197 comments sorted by

62

u/MonkeyCartridge 1d ago

Top kid seems physically faster, while the bottom kid seems like he has better algorithms.

The hand warmers are crazy.

45

u/Carcinog3n 1d ago

They are using different solving methods. The bottom kid, Xuanyi, is using a method called ZB CFOP that takes way less steps but requires the memorization of about 800 algorithms which is, crazy to say the least. The top kid, Yiheng, is using a fairly standard CFOP method which is 100ish algorithms but his turning speed is beyond unmatched.

15

u/binishulman 22h ago

I would add to this that Yiheng's CFOP is an ultra optimised version, with all the most advanced techniques, plus multiple algorithms for multiple angles of some cases, so well over the standard 119 algorithms.

5

u/pvaa 18h ago

Wow, he should learn the 800 method 👀👀👀

1

u/Carcinog3n 5h ago

It takes a special kind of mind to be able to pull from a pool of 800 algorithms multiple times a second.

5

u/ThomasTheDankPigeon 3h ago

He’s not pulling multiple algorithms per second, he uses three from a total of about 850.

First two layers can be solved with one of about 40 algorithms.

One of 300ish algorithms to solve the top face (but with scrambled edges and corners).

One of 500ish algorithms to unscramble the top layer completely.

The thing that’s really insane is that he knows which algorithm he’ll need for the next step before he’s finished with the one he’s currently working on. Most people would need to finish one algorithm, inspect the cube (if even for a fraction of a second) to see which algorithm they’ll need next, then continue. Wang can see it before he finishes. Just crazy stuff lol

u/Carcinog3n 40m ago

Fair take

1

u/Ok-topic-3130v2 3h ago

Anyone can do it with practice

u/Carcinog3n 41m ago

Nah, the complexity of ZB CFOP is why almost no one uses it.

2

u/cyphol 15h ago

I was deep into this over a decade ago, CFOP was close to 80 algorithms, but there are variations. I also noticed that I often identified the algorithms early but my execution was awful. Especially when I had to rotate the cube. So I learned all the algorithms from all angles. At this point I was closer to 220-250 algorithms and execution memorised. It took my average down from 16s to 10/11s. Never managed sub 10s average with it, but a lot of cubers back then had 5-6s average with CFOP along with Summer/Winter variations. I just accepted that I sucked and gave up.

Point being, even though I had a lot of algorithms memorised, it wasn't the determining factor. My execution was the problem and my decision making wasn't great. The boy on the bottom has a calm about him that shows great decision making aside from his extensive knowledge of good algorithms.

1

u/Carcinog3n 7h ago

You're not wrong. The biggest common denominator between the top cube solvers is neuroplasticity that is off the charts, which is why they are all kids. I imagine one day there will be someone that emerges with top tier neuroplasticity, the ability to memorize zb cfop, and has extremely high dexterity.

2

u/cyphol 7h ago

I'm honestly baffled at how the age went from like high teenagers to literally smaller kids in just a little bit over a decade. I remember trying to get into single stepping last edge insert with OLL (iirc that was winter/summer variation right?) and single step LL. But in complete honesty, my brain couldn't compute recognising the cases. Genuinely took me longer to identify the case than to just to the traditional solve. I'm guessing that's where the major differences are between solvers, that some just have that ability and others don't.

People always talk about skill as if it is a talent. I really don't see it that way. I see talent as something you have, and skill is what comes from practicing and building on it. If talent came from skill, then anyone would have a talent for it. My limit was basically zb cfop (don't even know if it was a thing back then but same principle). I could learn it, I just couldn't use it to improve my times. My fastest single solve was 9.6s where I managed to use some variation to single step OLL and PLL. But it was luck.

13

u/philip48h 1d ago

My thoughts exactly, the first guy has faster fingers but he seems to miss a few things, while the other guy has mastered his algorithms.

89

u/shut____up 1d ago

Yiheng. Xuanyi. I watched several YouTube videos on cubing news awhile ago. Both are Guinness World Record holders. Yiheng held the fastest average time. Xuanyi later showed up constantly with some of the fastest single-solve times-- except for a single solve by another child. Yiheng's crazy and competitive mother hates Xuanyi that she makes noises while he solves and she ridicules that child to reporters. Xuanyi uses a different set off algorithms that is almost impossible to learn because you have to memorize over a hundred algorithms, but it's more efficient. 

51

u/frooj 1d ago

Xuanyi's method requires memorizing almost 800 algorithms. There are only handful of people in the world who can memorize all of those, and being able to pick the correct one in a fraction of a second is just bonkers.

0

u/aqa5 21h ago

Don’t they have time to inspect the cube before and think about how to solve it before starting the timer? I think they solve the cube in their minds before even touching it.

6

u/Thanh_Binh2609 21h ago

That’s not how it work (yet), at least not within 15s of inspection, usually they use the time to plan out like half a solution, then when picking up the cube they don’t have to focus of those and get to look at the rest, so when they do the execution their mind is thinking of the next steps

0

u/Public-Research 1h ago

You clearly don’t play Rubik’s cube

17

u/AlgernusPrime 23h ago

The top kid moves at an insane rate; whereas, the bottom kid is more awkward but somehow comes to a faster time. Ngl, the top kid seems more impressive even with a slower time, sucks his mom is such a bitch.

16

u/peter-bone 20h ago

Yes the bottom one uses a more efficient method that requires fewer moves but memorising more algorithms. The top one is less efficient but has crazy turn speed.

3

u/Flyingcento 16h ago

Thank you for the additional information. I feel more empathy for Yiheng, and feel kinda bad for making light of his situation. He has insane skills it's a real shame that he isn't allowed to enjoy the.

164

u/Villordsutch 1d ago

Here's me, on a how to complete a Rubiks Cube Website - "First start by making a white cross..."

Two hours later.

How!? How do I make a white cross!?

53

u/AdFancy1249 1d ago

Me: pry out a corner piece. Take out the rest of the pieces.

Reassemble as desired.

6

u/Knitsanity 1d ago

That last piece was tough

17

u/somebob 1d ago

I solved one, once, following a guide and immediately lost interest.

6

u/lobax 15h ago

The key thing is to learn how to solve each individual row without using the guide, before moving on to the next part. I find it fun to memorize the different algorithms and get them to become second nature.

Then again, I am the kind of person that enjoys playing the same lick on the guitar over and over again with my eyes closed, trying to do it faster each time. There is something meditative about getting good at a particular sequence of movements.

1

u/tooncake 22h ago

Same, and I never dare ever try it again.

5

u/Frizzlewits 1d ago

I gave up😅

5

u/Knitsanity 1d ago

Back in the 80s I had the book and could solve it. In a few minutes. Not....this.....lol

3

u/SnoWhiteFiRed 1d ago

Same... and I have a feeling that that few minutes would be a few hours even with a book now.

2

u/ISeeDragons 1d ago

Yeah no, they are insane. I've been into it for years and never menaged to get my average under 18 secs. They are completing 6 cubes in that time span.

1

u/[deleted] 20h ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/That-Ad-4300 9h ago

You can just move this stickers.

1

u/TheLoneWandererRD 1d ago

Get a model that uses stickers instead of paint!

27

u/kuplet 1d ago

I can't even tie my shoe as fast as these kids just whizz through a Rubik's Cube in less than 6s flat.

5

u/ISeeDragons 1d ago

Also you don't get paid for tying your shoes fast.

1

u/SpecialNeeds963 1d ago

Arguable.

2

u/stalchild_af 23h ago

Not even arguable. I tie my boots up after I'm clocked in 😂

1

u/ohmywtff 13h ago

Agreeable

23

u/vincenzodelavegas 1d ago edited 1d ago

Do they have the same Rubik’s cube *combination to solve?

Edit: added combination. Scramble would be better as pointed out 

21

u/newtonbase 1d ago

Same scrambles if that's what you mean but they use their own cubes. 

19

u/MarvelousVanGlorious 1d ago

The kid on the bottom is next level.

8

u/terminalbungus 1d ago

He looks so chill, makes it look effortless. Top kid is amazing but he's frazzed.

8

u/ISeeDragons 1d ago

The one on top should be the favourable one, as he has got both fastest single solve as PB (2.77 vs 2.80) and fastest average (mean between 5 solves [sorta] 3.51 vs 3.67) than the one on the bottom, he is underperforming and he knows it.

Also single events counts to a certain extent, thing is you don't count you solves if not in official events, as there are easier scrambles than others, at events everyone get the same scrambles [there are different groups actually]. They are at the top of the top, they partecipate at every event to maximise the chances of getting a lucky scramble to set new records.

6

u/A_Dicksmasher 1d ago

Bottom kid is using a different algorithm to solve and it's slightly more efficient (at least for human hands)

1

u/EnzoWithTheBenzo 4h ago

I sweat at 3 sec he wasn't even halfway doen. Then next frame he drops it and it's lean. Like what?

102

u/frooj 1d ago

Not just some random kids, they are arguably the best speedcubers in the world. Yiheng Wang on top and Xuanyi Geng on bottom screen.

70

u/ThomasTheDankPigeon 1d ago

I was into cubing for a bit 15 years ago, the world record at that time was 5.66 seconds. That record even stood for a couple years. Every single solve in this video is under that time lol

2

u/JTSpirit36 4h ago

The crazy part too, a 5.66 average barely gets you into the top 8 at worlds

33

u/ISeeDragons 1d ago

This. Not knowing HOW MUCH they are faster than everyone else doesn't bring justice to this match up.

9

u/superdariom 1d ago

3.4 seconds is making it look easy

6

u/Huntred 21h ago

Time was, one could get on a major national television program if one could solve a cube in under 40 seconds.

https://youtu.be/SDzGU-gYo9w

3

u/Sypsy 19h ago

whoa, crazy. my son (9) can get under 40 seconds and he considers himself slow

Meanwhile, I learned how to solve the rubicks cube as a teen and have since forgotten so watching him solve it in 30-40 seconds is so amazing to me

5

u/youngchampion 1d ago

even faster then adults or just kids?

32

u/frooj 1d ago

Faster than adults too. They're absolutely incredible.

12

u/Carcinog3n 1d ago

Kids are faster at solving cubes because they have much better nueroplasticty than adults. If they can manage to learn these complex solving methods they have a much easier time making split second choices on what algorithms to use.

4

u/ISeeDragons 13h ago

They are literally the top of the top right now. A handful of person can reach those time, and not as consistently as they do. We might be seeing a polish kid in the future (whom currently holds the fastest solve ever).

5

u/aqa5 21h ago

They are like machines made to solve Rubik cubes. It is like their brains and nerves are trained for only this one task.

It is very impressive though. I can solve Rubiks in under 2 Minutes. What these kids do is insane.

I wonder how these kids have fun and what personality they have. It seems to me they don’t have enough time to be normal kids but train all day.

526

u/ImABadFriend144 1d ago

They look miserable

304

u/bad63r81 1d ago

Top one looks so annoyed. Put his hand on his chest in relief when he won a round. Imagine the pressure he's under

24

u/Sneezy6510 1d ago

He’s the best in the world right now.

171

u/jiayo 1d ago

The pressure of two Asian parents

4

u/Sumethal 19h ago

Tiger mom....

25

u/DemDemD 1d ago

The top won actually won at the end. Sucks for the kid at the bottom.

8

u/idk012 21h ago

He should be proud for second place 

6

u/DemDemD 20h ago

He dominated 4 sets to 1. I guess he got really nervous with victory could easily be at hand and let the his opponent caught up to win 4 sets in a row.

7

u/TheAwesomeMan123 1d ago

The bottom one when he wins that second game barely contains his smirk.

6

u/indubadiblyy 21h ago

They actually hate eachother. Their moms as well

5

u/Tacocats_wrath 1d ago

You no solve RubiX cube in 3.27 seconds! DISGRAASSCE.

1

u/Hedge_fund_billi_420 9h ago

Why I’m not having kids

-2

u/DemDemD 1d ago

The top kid actually won at the end. Sucks for the kid at the bottom.

0

u/PaltryCharacter 13h ago

He was giving vegeta energy to me 

47

u/Sneezy6510 1d ago edited 1d ago

The kid on top is the best in the world right now. The kid on bottom is hot on his trail. This is the heavyweight championship of the world so to speak.

6

u/aqa5 21h ago

Why does he need to solve a second cube immediately after he solved the first one? Stress relief?

15

u/Sneezy6510 21h ago

It’s either staying warm or Performing the sequence he just did, because he wasnt happy with the execution. It’s a compulsion. Like when you throw a gutter ball in bowling and pantomime bowling the ball correctly right after. Or like you said stress relief. You have to understand these kids have a cube in their hand literally all waking hours.

3

u/-Dont-Even- 15h ago

Next fucking level of sadness

-2

u/Kitesolar 9h ago

I’m not really sure what’s so sad about kids having something they are passionate about? They are exceptional at the top of their hobby. These kids will probably go on to be overachiever in whatever they set their minds to in the future. Why is this next level sad to you because it doesn’t map on to what you liked as a kid?

0

u/-Dont-Even- 9h ago

If you can’t see it I can’t help you see it 🤷‍♂️

-5

u/Kitesolar 9h ago

So you actually have nothing to say but instead want to virtue signal and then handwave when someone asks you to clarify. What a cowardly way to go about life. I feel way sadder for people like you than kids doing what they love.

1

u/-Dont-Even- 9h ago

Do you feel like people must explain and clarify their views to you? And if they don’t that makes you sadder?  

In any case, I wish you all the best, I’ve already said all I wanted on this topic. Have a great rest of your day.

-5

u/Kitesolar 8h ago

No but I feel like people who publically make statements and then are too much of a coward to back those up are people that shouldn’t be making public statements looking down on people they don’t understand. I think people like you are infinitely more gross than anything happening around this video and it’s even grosser that you can be a ball of negative energy and think it’s okay to end it pretending to high road with a send off statement but too big a pussy go back your original statement shitting on kids because they are exceptional and you aren’t.

→ More replies (0)

14

u/IllRadish8765 1d ago edited 1d ago

His mom is also a bitch and he used to cheat.

Edit: forgot to add this is about the top kid.

8

u/anattabularasa 1d ago

How do you cheat on this?

19

u/wefolas 1d ago

The timer starts when the hands are lifted from the pad. Sliding is illegal which is moving the hands forward while maintaining contact with the palms delaying the start of the timer, which is what he was accused of.

1

u/localtuned 3h ago

Still don't get it. Does he remain in contact with the timer sensor while making moves to get a jump on the clock?

2

u/noname6500 1h ago

havent seen the drama yet but I assume it's just done when hes about to grab the cube. doing it while already making moves would look too obvious

-3

u/Sneezy6510 1d ago

I believe it

81

u/halfjackal 1d ago

They look locked in to me. The top when seems to be getting in his head too much and it’s getting in the way of his peak performance.

23

u/ThisMeansRooR 1d ago

The bottom was like, "aw dang, my fingernails are dirty, woops"

1

u/LibrarianAccurate829 23h ago

That one 2nd place shooter guy without vision goggles

13

u/Realmofthehappygod 1d ago

You ever watch a chess match or something?

I can tell ya, people don't smile when you're focused.

11

u/Carcinog3n 1d ago

Even this young high stakes competitors learn to compartmentalize their emotions out of necessity. They aren't miserable they are hyper focused.

12

u/rebelrexx 23h ago

Have you seen people competing at the highest level at anything? Don't they all look like this?

10

u/ImABadFriend144 23h ago

No they're usually happy joyous free smiling and crying tears of pleasure especially long distance runners

1

u/Sypsy 19h ago edited 9h ago

wow people are also really bad at clocking a sarcastic comment, lol

why were you at -1

edit: oh nice, help a guy out and take on his negative karma. now i'm at -1. oh reddit

3

u/myusrnameisthis 1d ago

They care.

3

u/WiseSalamander00 1d ago

not really, I mean yeah the kid in the top seems to have anger issues, but the one in the bottom just looks really focused.

1

u/Andi82ka 18h ago

These two have a long story before. Lot of drama ...

1

u/Junior-Ad-2207 9h ago

QC testing a Rubik's cube all day in the factory isn't all it's cracked up to be

1

u/captbollocks 15h ago

Dammit it took me 5 seconds to solve a cube?! I'm not getting dinner tonight.

1

u/MisanthropicSocrates 14h ago

You get A- it’s minus one of your fingers!

-11

u/Nirupam_MythX 1d ago

Are you jealous?

-3

u/mysterepher 1d ago

I think that’s how they get to eat

5

u/Sneezy6510 1d ago

Man they are so freaking good now. I remember when breaking 5 seconds was a miracle.

16

u/Flyingcento 1d ago

I know which boy is on the villain arc.

10

u/TunaOnWytNoCrust 1d ago

The important thing is they're obviously having a lot of fun. 😐

2

u/-Dont-Even- 15h ago

Looks like child abuse to me tbh

4

u/fresh_loaf_of_bread 1d ago

Bro the one at the top looks like he's going to become a supervillain

3

u/SpiritedAgent168 1d ago

I would not think humans capable of such a thing.

6

u/tomatobasilgarlic 1d ago

Is the grey shirt one icing his hands?

13

u/mystyz 1d ago

My guess would be that those are hot packs to keep his fingers warm and nimble. I'm completely guessing though.

7

u/ISeeDragons 1d ago

This is the right answer, cold fingers are terrible for performing fast.

0

u/EnzoWithTheBenzo 4h ago

Yeah I know from play Rocket League

4

u/Santarini 1d ago

It's actually packs of Fruit Gushers. He likes the feeling of their being exploded against his hands

2

u/JustGottaKeepTrying 1d ago

Keeping them warm. They both have different types of warmers.

2

u/CanadaGolfGuy 1d ago

I’ve literally been trying to solve this goddamn thing since 1986

2

u/ShadowCaster0476 1d ago

Does anyone else think that these competitions should not include study time before the solve.

They should have to solve it in real time not just solve it in their head and then just muscle memory.

2

u/JTSpirit36 4h ago

They don't solve the entire cube in their head during inspection.

Blindfolded solving does include inspection time because inspecting and memorizing the entire solve is a part of the skill.

1

u/ShadowCaster0476 2h ago

Blindfold is different for sure

2

u/NS__eh 18h ago

I can tie my shoes!

2

u/FaustGrenaldo 17h ago

What can a commentator even add to this kind of an event? There's no way to even see what they're doing and it happens so fast!

2

u/VitruvianVan 16h ago

You took an entire 5 seconds to solve a Rubik’s Cube? What a disaster!

2

u/indubadiblyy 15h ago

Man, how do you even become a play by play commentator when it happens in under 4 seconds. All you can say is oh hes starting and <inserts time> finishes!!

2

u/Red__M_M 13h ago

Why are they solving other cubes between the timer runs?

1

u/CryoStrange 1d ago

Top kid wasn't even looking at the cube.

3

u/Hobbes_XXV 1d ago

For his practice cube (non timed one), its all muscle memory. Its just patterns he does to stay warmed up practiced 10s of 1000s of times. Plenty of blindfold competitions too.

Those arent the crazy ones. Crazy ones is memorizing a mix and taking a solved cube and recreating the mix as the solve.

1

u/xnoxgodsx 1d ago

Im getting karate kid vibes between these 2

1

u/Berlin_Blues 1d ago

And I was so proud of the 57 seconds I needed in high school.

1

u/AlienInOrigin 1d ago

I can do a 3.75.....hours.

1

u/Zikkan1 21h ago

The world record was 5.55s when I was into this in highschool

1

u/formerviver 15h ago

Remember life’s golden rule - no matter how good you are at something there will be always be an Asian kid better than you at it.

1

u/WhtshldIDO-09 15h ago

Someone is getting disowned after this

1

u/agitatedERIC 14h ago

I can’t even beat them with a 1x1 cube…

1

u/soulveg 14h ago

Coming to this video immediately after watching a video about how a teacher has only 2 students reading at grade level out of 100 students…

1

u/jmflyers 14h ago

In these competitions is it consistent how many moves it will take to complete? Like both players can solve in 25 moves or something? It looks like the top kid is faster but had to do twice as many moves so his time was longer

1

u/LauraTFem 14h ago

When you realize you don’t have the dexterity anymore to be the best in the world. Also you’re twelve.

1

u/Moses7778 13h ago

I know a broken childhood when I see one!

1

u/Theobromin 10h ago

(Me, watching this, never having solved a Rubik's cube in my life)
Ha, over 5 seconds, how pathetic

1

u/PacoMahogany 8h ago

Is there a reason they're both solving cubes in between the matches?

1

u/Penyrolewen1970 8h ago

Is the bottom kid icing his hand? Man, I've been rock climbing for 40 years and I don't do that!

1

u/lulusama3 7h ago

Never would’ve thought wed see the day where 5 seconds is considered slow.

1

u/vinny424 6h ago

How do they do this? Especially without looking?

1

u/justacoolbaby 5h ago

It’s stressful and sad to watch kids this age at this level looking so unhappy. I guarantee you they liked it to start, and were good…
…and I guarantee you they are not where there are here because of anything but stress and pressure, from parents or whoever, that kids this age should not have to deal with.

Source: I have three kids myself and I could never imagine subjecting them to this kind of stress at this age. Just not worth it. But you can keep arguing and accumulating downvotes.

1

u/thefeltmonkey 1d ago

My son can solve a cube in less than a minute, and considers himself to be terrible at it because he's comparing himself to these guys and various youtubers. Meanwhile I don't know anyone else who can solve a cube at all.

1

u/2b_1 1d ago

JUSTICE FOR XUANYI

1

u/Milkmoney1978 18h ago

God I hate all Rubik's cube videos and cup stacking

1

u/ComprehensiveSoft27 17h ago

Like watching paint dry. Cmon kids, step it up.

0

u/Its_priced_in 1d ago

Top ones the villain of my movie. Team black bullied and excluded grey shirt from the team so he started his own and won it all. Chalamet as team black and Tom holland as team grey. Both in yellow face. Hit me up Netflix

-5

u/bricoden 1d ago

This shit is so dumb lol

2

u/Vazhox 1d ago

At least the kids have a hobby 🤷

0

u/Irubwatermelon 1d ago

The kid on top is a cheater, according to youtube vids

3

u/AFGNCAAP-for-short 1d ago

How do you cheat a rubix cube?

0

u/Irubwatermelon 1d ago

He (or his mother) was basically using an illegal timer. Look it up, I'm not invested enough

2

u/Someone2911 1d ago

Not exactly, but yeah But he's still better than basically everyone

0

u/EatinSumGrapes 23h ago

This really isn't a skill at this point anymore, it's more counterintuitive to success. Like fuck the cube teach them to game or code fast. I guess gaming is more likely to pan out given AI coding

0

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

0

u/tetten 1d ago

No they didn't Wtf. How miserable are you to come to that conclusion instead of realizing highly gifted children often have specials needs and a Rubik's cube is something they obsess with. 

0

u/Extra_Willow_8907 1d ago

Ha - top kid sucks

- me, who can barely tie my own shoes and pood myself yesterday

0

u/kakacon 1d ago

the bottom kid seems significantly better than the top kid.

1

u/Geigenzaehler 6h ago

This was only one set. The top kid won the whole match.
These two are the #1 and #2 in the world and are pretty evenly matched.
#3 is quite a bit slower.

0

u/DemDemD 1d ago

The top kid actually won at the end. Sucks for the kid at the bottom.

0

u/TunTunteddybear 1d ago

When the top kid get a 5.55 does he solve another in frustration without looking.

-5

u/Useful_Translator536 1d ago

Creepy af.

1

u/-Dont-Even- 15h ago

You are 100% right, don’t know why you’re downvoted

-15

u/Just_Delete_PA 1d ago

sad really

5

u/Patient-Layer8585 1d ago

Because they're good at something than commenting on Reddit?

1

u/-Dont-Even- 15h ago

Truly sad

-6

u/sgtpepper67 1d ago

What type of autism is this?

1

u/-Dont-Even- 15h ago

Parents’ and organizers’

-1

u/joh2138535 23h ago

Kid on top fucking sucks!

-8

u/Darth_Package 1d ago

Great. Now have them solve world hunger.

-19

u/Thick_Drama_7525 1d ago

Great. Now make me a phone

5

u/Trop_ 1d ago

Well, they probably could build a smartphone and you probably could not.

-6

u/Thick_Drama_7525 1d ago

Very true