Dear WCA Community,

Ever since the last digest provided by the WCA Regulations Committee in June, an enormous quantity of activities have been carried out by the committee, such as the development of a new set of regulations released in the month of August, as well as a considerable number of incidents handled by the committee during the last few months. Here you have the most notable incidents:

1. During different competitions, there have been different applications of Regulation 2s, regarding competitors with circumstances, that resulted in a large amount of discussion inside and outside the committee. One of these cases resulted in a time limit being expanded due to a competitor with a circumstance, meanwhile in another one, a blind competitor was permitted to recognize the pieces of the puzzle in 3x3x3 One-Handed event with the other hand, without applying any moves. The WRC would like to remember that if this is to be done, the WCA Delegate should be paying attention to avoid any cheating by using the second hand. The WRC is also planning on specifying better the limits and permissions of 2s on the next set of regulations.

2. The WRC also had a few incidents regarding several corner twists in the same attempt. Most of these cases happened on the Megaminx event, which is known for having more corner twists than normal. Applying a literal interpretation of the 5b3c regulations that states that “If the puzzle is unsolvable, and can be made solvable by rotating a single corner piece, the competitor may correct the corner piece by twisting it in place without disassembling the puzzle”, as multiple corners had been twisted in these attempts, DNF penalties have been applied. This regulation is going to be discussed in the next cycle of regulations too.

3. In a competition, due to a scrambler’s mistake, a Pyraminx first round group had a few attempts scrambled in an incorrect orientation, the Delegates acted correctly by providing extras to everyone that was present at the competition, however, it was one of the last events in the day, so some people ended up without extra attempts. The WRC has decided that since Pyraminx is one of the easiest events to be color neutral in, and the competitors were not at fault for this mistake, the original attempts should stay for everyone, since this would result in more people having the same scrambles than three differents sets for that same group (one for the people present at the time the mistake was discovered, one for the people who were only at the competition on the next day and the incorrect one for the people that did not receive the extra attempts). The WRC would like to clarify everyone that this is not a precedent to allow puzzles scrambled in the wrong orientation, and if a similar case happens in another competition, the WRC should be contacted as soon as possible.

4. There were several instances of popped pieces being handed by spectators to the competitors affected, where Delegates provided extras. The WRC would like to remind everyone that A5b++ states that if this happens, the piece should be placed on the table and no further assistance should be given. In cases like this, no extra attempts should be granted, since it would be advantageous for the competitor to get an extra for a puzzle defect. It is easier to get a better time on an extra attempt than on an attempt with a pop.

Another news regarding the WRC:

• There have been a huge number of major championships with a large number of competitors, and all the times the WRC was present, the committee was able to provide live, if not very fast feedback to incidents regarding these competitions.
• The WRC is also already working on the next set of regulations, you may expect some news very soon!