Thanks mods for deleting several "gtfo" and similar posts. Effing unreasonable haters. I don't know much about the general issue with Haiyan (have read only what was published), but I looked a bit into this one right here.
I think it's worth noting that Haiyan appeared on a Guiness-style TV show in early 2009 and solved, claiming a new BLD world record. It wasn't until afterward that an audience member revealed that after several DNFs, he was given a scramble to practice before solving. I am aware of the pressures of television, and that producers can have unreasonable demands, but I think this is worth considering relative to the current situation
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Guiness-style" sounds like it's some clone show. But there's Guinness all over the place. The host carries a folder with the
GWR logo, so does the judge who also wears it as a button. It's in the audience, it's on the certificate, and the judge says "Guinness world record". Also, r_517's quote below. Looks to me like it *was* a GWR show.
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early 2009"? The video was posted early 2010 and r_517 posted this a month later:
BLD Guinness World Record 35.66s by Haiyan Zhuang :
Former record was set by Danyang Chen with 41.16s.
Video:
http://www.56.com/u23/v_NDkxMzM3NTY.html
Regulation:
1. A new Rubik's Cube
2. Scrambled for 40 moves.
3. At most 10 Minutes' observation time before starting.
He just broke it 1-2 months ago, if I remembered correctly. I don't know why there was no news on the Guinness' official site, but I'm sure it is the new BLD Guinness World Record. (The Channel CCTV3 corporates with Guinness every year in order to bring convenience for people in China breaking and setting Guinness Record) The Guinness representative was Marco Frigatti.
I think one year does make a significant difference.
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after several DNFs, he was given a scramble to practice before solving"? Several DNFs? With practically unlimited memorization time? And then after practice, he only gets 35.66
execution? Seems slow for him. And why would he practice, anyway?
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an audience member revealed". Way too strong language, in my opinion, I'd find "
an audience member claimed" much more appropriate, especially considering the above issues. You did write Haiyan "
claiming a new BLD world record", after all. Which, as far as I can tell, he didn't even do. It was a Guinness world record, I didn't see any claim of a world record (you don't think that's the same, do you?).
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I think this is worth considering relative to the current situation". Why? Even if it's true, what does it matter? We all know Guinness is laughable, the media distorts, and as far as I can tell, he wasn't accused of peeking or so. The TV show possibly hiding DNF attempts, cutting the memo time, letting practice... even if that's true I'm not shocked at all and I don't see what it's supposed to tell about Haiyan. I'd still call it a legitimate blindsolve, just not a WCA-type one.
Again, these are just my thoughts/findings about this particular issue, not about the Haiyan situation as a whole. Don't know much about that, though I do believe the WCA is doing its best to handle it in a proper and fair manner, trying to do what's best for cubing and its community.