People · Hong Kong, China
Esther Li Ma Sui Lai
Pyraminx · top 5.7% of 129,321 all-time · competing since April 2023 · 2023LAIE02
Esther Li Ma Sui Lai has been competing for 3 years. Her best event is the Pyraminx: a personal-best single of 3.56, set at CubingUSA Western Championship 2023, puts her in the top 5.7% of the 129,321 people who have ever been ranked in the event, and 40th in Hong Kong, China. Until February 2008, no official Pyraminx solve in the world had been that fast. Across 3 competitions since April 2023, she has put 97 official solves on the record across nine events. Solve to solve, her 3×3 times vary about 9% around a typical one, an early reading from 5 counted rounds. Her 3×3 best has come down from 17.44 in April 2023 to 11.29, a 35% improvement. Esther has entered three competitions, more competitions than 69% of everyone who has ever competed.
Standing, event by event
vs everyone ever ranked| Event | PB single | PB average | All-time standing | Hong Kong, China | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pyraminx | 3.56 | 8.42 | top 5.7% | 40 / 431 | |
| 2×2 | 2.60 | 5.55 | top 9.9% | 125 / 855 | |
| 3×3 | 11.29 | 12.66 | top 11.4% | 264 / 1,347 | |
| Skewb | 4.54 | 6.87 | top 14.8% | 61 / 285 | |
| 3×3 one-handed | 20.22 | 23.94 | top 21.1% | 132 / 361 | |
| 4×4 | 1:01.00 | 1:16.32 | top 37.5% | 225 / 423 | |
| 5×5 | 2:05.16 | 2:44.22 | top 52.5% | 133 / 192 | |
| Megaminx | 3:01.76 | — | early days — 2 solves | 140 / 154 | |
| Clock | 32.87 | — | early days — 1 solve | 155 / 156 |
Percentile against all competitors ever ranked in each event, a fairer measure than raw rank, because the pools differ by a factor of ten.
The line so far
Best single per competition, 3×3. Faster is higher — the axis is the right way up.
The story so far
- 4 Feb 2024Four personal bests in one day at Berkeley Winter 2024.
- 30 Jun 2023First sub-15 3×3: 13.48 at CubingUSA Western Championship 2023.
- 30 Jun 2023Five personal bests in one day at CubingUSA Western Championship 2023.
- 22 Apr 2023First competition: Bay Area Speedcubin' 44 2023. A 17.44 3×3 single to start from.
Competitions
- Berkeley Winter 2024 · 4 Feb 2024 — 4 personal bests set
- CubingUSA Western Championship 2023 · 30 Jun 2023 — 5 personal bests set
- Bay Area Speedcubin' 44 2023 · 22 Apr 2023
Reading this page: a single is one solve's time · an average is the middle three of five solves, best and worst discarded · a PB is a personal best · a DNF (did not finish) is an attempt with no valid result: a popped piece, an unsolved face, an over-limit memorisation · top X% compares against everyone ever ranked in that event, which is fairer than raw rank because event pools differ tenfold.
The circuit
The people whose scorecards keep turning up next to her.
- Jason Ostdiek — met in 24 rounds, finished ahead twice
- Stanley Tran — met in 24 rounds, finished ahead twice
- Calvin Nielson — met in 24 rounds, finished ahead once
Next targets
- A sub-3 Pyraminx single — 4,700 people have one; it is 0.56 away.
- A sub-2 2×2 single — 8,848 people have one; it is 0.60 away.
Targets move as she improves.