hcfong
Member
WCA to ban colour neutral solving
In a surprise move, the WCA Board has announced their decision to ban neutral solving for CFOP solves. The ban will come into effect on 1 February 2013. Competitors will be required to declare their 3x3 speedsolving method and cross colour when registering for their first competition after this date. This information will become part of the competitor's WCA profile. According to the current proposal, competitors are allowed to change their cross colour once a year when registering for their first competition of the calendar year. Competitors who believe they are unable to solve with a fixed cross colour, may apply to the WCA Board for dispensation. The application should be made in writing and supported with documentary evidence, signed by a public official, such as a judge, teacher, lawyer or police officer. If dispensation is granted, 2 seconds will be added to each 3x3 solve by default. Solving on a different cross colour than declared without dispensation will lead to disqualification of the solve.
Sebastien Auroux, WCA Board member and member of the WCA Regulations Committee, who are responsible for compiling the new Regulations commented:"We felt that the gap between top colour neutral solvers and other top solvers was becoming too big. We wanted to create a level playing field and a fairer competition¨. He also added: "Originally, we wanted to require all competitors to solve the cross on white, but we felt that this would not be acceptable for the members of our community. We therefore decided to allow our members to choose a fixed cross colour". Ron van Bruchem, WCA Board member and founder of the WCA said: "We are aware that this decision will affect some of our top cubers who are colour neutral and benefit from it. However, our goal as the WCA is to have more competitions under fair circumstances and I believe that this measure will contribute to that".
Unsurprisingly, this decision has attracted criticism from some high profile speedcubers. Feliks Zemdegs of Australia, world record holder for both single and average 3x3 speedsolving blasted the decision: "The WCA has gone nuts! We've also been allowed to start our solves on any side and now we're being forced to start our solves on a fixed colour. I've worked hard to get this far and now I'm being penalised for being colour neutral". Rowe Hessler, another top colour neutral solver: "I just can't believe the WCA has taken this decision. It's just ludicrous. Instead of trying to become colour neutral themselves to close the gap, they're banning it. I can't call it anything other than laziness". Other top speedcubers have welcomed the decision as one which would bring promote fairer conditions.
It is clear that this decision will continue to a topic of heated debate for some time to come. It is unclear how it will be enforced during competitions. Certain is that judges need to be trained to correctly adjudicate solves, especially those who do not use CFOP as their speedsolving method. It remains to be seen how it will work out. Many are critical of the decision and doubt if it will survive the next revision of the WCA Regulations.
In a surprise move, the WCA Board has announced their decision to ban neutral solving for CFOP solves. The ban will come into effect on 1 February 2013. Competitors will be required to declare their 3x3 speedsolving method and cross colour when registering for their first competition after this date. This information will become part of the competitor's WCA profile. According to the current proposal, competitors are allowed to change their cross colour once a year when registering for their first competition of the calendar year. Competitors who believe they are unable to solve with a fixed cross colour, may apply to the WCA Board for dispensation. The application should be made in writing and supported with documentary evidence, signed by a public official, such as a judge, teacher, lawyer or police officer. If dispensation is granted, 2 seconds will be added to each 3x3 solve by default. Solving on a different cross colour than declared without dispensation will lead to disqualification of the solve.
Sebastien Auroux, WCA Board member and member of the WCA Regulations Committee, who are responsible for compiling the new Regulations commented:"We felt that the gap between top colour neutral solvers and other top solvers was becoming too big. We wanted to create a level playing field and a fairer competition¨. He also added: "Originally, we wanted to require all competitors to solve the cross on white, but we felt that this would not be acceptable for the members of our community. We therefore decided to allow our members to choose a fixed cross colour". Ron van Bruchem, WCA Board member and founder of the WCA said: "We are aware that this decision will affect some of our top cubers who are colour neutral and benefit from it. However, our goal as the WCA is to have more competitions under fair circumstances and I believe that this measure will contribute to that".
Unsurprisingly, this decision has attracted criticism from some high profile speedcubers. Feliks Zemdegs of Australia, world record holder for both single and average 3x3 speedsolving blasted the decision: "The WCA has gone nuts! We've also been allowed to start our solves on any side and now we're being forced to start our solves on a fixed colour. I've worked hard to get this far and now I'm being penalised for being colour neutral". Rowe Hessler, another top colour neutral solver: "I just can't believe the WCA has taken this decision. It's just ludicrous. Instead of trying to become colour neutral themselves to close the gap, they're banning it. I can't call it anything other than laziness". Other top speedcubers have welcomed the decision as one which would bring promote fairer conditions.
It is clear that this decision will continue to a topic of heated debate for some time to come. It is unclear how it will be enforced during competitions. Certain is that judges need to be trained to correctly adjudicate solves, especially those who do not use CFOP as their speedsolving method. It remains to be seen how it will work out. Many are critical of the decision and doubt if it will survive the next revision of the WCA Regulations.