People · South Africa
Justin Zhang
3×3 · top 2.2% of 288,433 all-time · competing since November 2015 · 2015ZHAN92
Justin Zhang has been competing for 11 years. His best event is the 3×3: a personal-best single of 7.65, set at GAN WCA African Championship 2026, puts him in the top 2.2% of the 288,433 people who have ever been ranked in the event, and 22nd in South Africa. Until July 2008, no official 3×3 solve in the world had been that fast. Across 8 competitions since November 2015, he has put 250 official solves on the record across eleven events. Solve to solve, his 3×3 times vary about 14% around a typical one; 72% of the 36,406 competitors with ten or more counted rounds hold a tighter spread. His 3×3 best has come down from 16.63 in November 2015 to 7.65, a 54% improvement. Justin has entered eight competitions, more competitions than 90% of everyone who has ever competed.
Standing, event by event
vs everyone ever ranked| Event | PB single | PB average | All-time standing | South Africa | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3×3 | 7.65 | 8.55 | top 2.2% | 22 / 2,187 | |
| 2×2 | 2.92 | 5.37 | top 13.4% | 134 / 1,525 | |
| 4×4 | 45.89 | 52.38 | top 19.5% | 58 / 495 | |
| Pyraminx | 6.38 | 8.40 | top 22.9% | 179 / 958 | |
| Skewb | 7.43 | 18.74 | top 37.1% | 133 / 444 | |
| 3×3 one-handed | 27.40 | 32.34 | top 40.5% | 115 / 473 | |
| 5×5 | 1:56.93 | 2:07.98 | top 47.5% | 78 / 225 | |
| Megaminx | 2:26.77 | 2:47.73 | top 59.8% | 122 / 268 | |
| 7×7 | 6:34.64 | 7:17.96 | early days — 3 solves | 42 / 73 | |
| 6×6 | 4:39.54 | 4:57.94 | early days — 3 solves | 65 / 87 | |
| Clock | 31.93 | 1:04.58 | top 86.7% | 132 / 153 |
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
- 18 May 2018Three personal bests in one day at Arnold Classic Africa 2018.
- 30 Sep 2017First sub-10 3×3: 9.25 at Big 'n Weird Pretoria 2017.
- 8 Jul 2017Four personal bests in one day at Gauteng Winter 2017.
- 27 Nov 2016First sub-15 3×3: 12.64 at Johannesburg 2016.
- 27 Nov 2016Six personal bests in one day at Johannesburg 2016.
- 29 Nov 2015First competition: Johannesburg Open 2015. A 16.63 3×3 single to start from.
Competitions
- GAN WCA African Championship 2026 · 24 Sep 2026 — 1 personal best set
- Eversdal Autumn Cape Town 2026 · 24 May 2026
- Newcomers Cape Cube-Fest 2025 · 8 Mar 2025 — 2 personal bests set
- Arnold Classic Africa 2018 · 18 May 2018 — 3 personal bests set
- Big 'n Weird Pretoria 2017 · 30 Sep 2017 — 2 personal bests set
- Gauteng Winter 2017 · 8 Jul 2017 — 4 personal bests set
- Johannesburg 2016 · 27 Nov 2016 — 6 personal bests set
- Johannesburg Open 2015 · 29 Nov 2015 — 1 personal best set
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 his.
- Ruben Grobler — met in 40 rounds, finished ahead 16 times
- Brendan James Gray — met in 36 rounds, finished ahead 24 times
- Marike Faught — met in 26 rounds, finished ahead 26 times
Next targets
- A sub-6 3×3 single — 1,419 people have one; it is 1.65 away.
- A sub-2 2×2 single — 9,039 people have one; it is 0.92 away.
Targets move as he improves.