How the 3.47 WR changes cubing

[White KB]

This is just my opinion.

So, as many of you know the 3x3 WR was beaten. It went from 4.22 to 3.47. This is a huge leap in a world record, and could change cubing forever.

First off, the WR was beaten by a Cuber who almost no one knew. Everyone thought Max/Feliks/Jay would get it, but did not. Is this important? Yes. Very much so. Why? Because it shows that people who, even though they are unknown can still achieve major accomplishments. I am inspired by this and makes me want to try harder to get a world record someday.

Secondly, 3.47 is an insane time, and may possibly be the peak of the 3x3 single WR. This is a disappointment to some, but also a challenge to others. Or, it may even cause some to stop 3x3 and practice different cubes (skewb, 4x4, Megaminx, etc.) This May be a good thing as cubing is mostly centered around 3x3, and it is good to get people to practice other events and have fun with not only 3x3, but also with other events. (Or if you think one day you can beat the 3x3 WR, then this is an amazing challenge for you. - Good Luck)

And for my third point I will be discussing how this affects world records. This has already been discussed by many, and only now has there been evidence of this happening, is that the 3x3 WR has gotten to a point where it is almost unbeatable. Is the WCA going to add a yearly record or something? If not, then the 3.47 WR could stay forever.

These were just my thoughts on what might happen, and could be completely different. I have no clue, but I am excited to see the future of cubing.

Sorry for the necropost, but I think after 3 1/2 years we're closer now than ever, with 4 sub-4 official solves, and even a 3.63 NAR WR2 from Max Park himself. We may break this before the end of 2023! I think this is a reasonable estimate since Max was only 0.16 seconds off, and we've also seen a sub-3 second single from Xu RuiHang (2.68). Although it was unofficial, it doesn't change that it is still the fastest solve on camera. Also, in a relay at North American Champs this year (I think it was NA Champs but I forgot), Matty Hiroto Inaba got an unofficial 3.08 single. Those last two were done in a competition setting, but they weren't official because they either weren't at a solving station or weren't during a valid round. We've gotten close so many times, and I think we may be closer than ever.

 

[LBr]

Yushengs wr is the longest standing 3x3 single wr since the formation of the wca

 

[ender9994]

Yushengs wr is the longest standing 3x3 single wr since the formation of the wca

EDITED: I misunderstood what you were saying...or I can't read. Either/or

 

[baseballjello67]

Yushengs wr is the longest standing 3x3 single wr since the formation of the wca

No, Minh Thai has that record.

 

[turtwig]

It's not even the longest standing single right now.

View attachment 20444

He means it's the longest standing out of all the 3x3 single records. Previous 3x3 singles have stood for around 2 years at most.

No, Minh Thai has that record.

Surely that was before the formation of the WCA though?

 

[baseballjello67]

Surely that was before the formation of the WCA though?

It still counts as an official (former) world record.

 

[White KB]

No, Minh Thai has that record.

That's a simple misunderstanding, since most people don't realize that the WCA was founded in 2004. He does hold the longest standing 3x3 record, but it was before the founding of the WCA.

EDIT: I know that some people will call me out on that because there were comps in 2003, but the official incorporation of the WCA occurred in 2004.

 

[LBr]

No, Minh Thai has that record.

Also, later in the 1980s, Marc Waterman got better than that lot and there is a video of him getting an 18: