Henry Lichner became the 10th person to record a sub-40 5x5 average Saturday at 4x4 Off US-40 IL 2026 in Casey, Illinois.
Lichner recorded a 39.43 average with times of 39.35, (31.98), (44.37), 39.41 and 39.52. All three counting solves were below 40 seconds.
The result lowered his previous PR average of 40.32 by 0.89 seconds. It moved him ahead of Feliks Zemdegs’ 40.10 for world No. 10 and made him the second American to become sub-40, joining Max Park.
Lichner also recorded a 31.98 single during the average. The solve cut more than four seconds from his previous best of 36.20 and moved him to world No. 7. He became the seventh person to break 32 seconds and second-fastest American behind Park’s 31.54.
The performance adds to Lichner’s growing list of major big-cube results. He won bronze in 6x6 at the 2025 WCA World Championship and earned silver in 5x5, 6x6 and 7x7 at the 2026 WCA North American Championship.