Competitive Lock Picker Sets World Record, Immediately Disqualified for Using Wrong Tension Direction

Competitive lock picker Sven Torque has been stripped of what would have been a world record after judges at the LockCon International Championship determined that he applied tension in the wrong rotational direction during his record-setting 23-second open of a Medeco Biaxial deadbolt. 'The core on the competition lock was configured for counterclockwise rotation,' said head judge Miranda Keypin. 'Mr. Torque applied clockwise tension. Under TOOOL competition rules, the pick must be completed using the correct operational direction. The lock opened — we're not disputing that. But it opened wrong.' Torque, who had dropped to his knees in celebration before being informed of the disqualification, was reportedly inconsolable. 'The lock is open,' Torque said, gesturing at the competition lock, which was indeed open. 'Open is open. A lock does not care about rotational philosophy. It cares about whether the shear line has been achieved, and I achieved it in twenty-three seconds, which is nine seconds faster than the current record.' The ruling has divided the locksport community. Traditionalists argue that correct tension direction is fundamental to the discipline. Progressives counter that the rule is arbitrary and penalizes ambidextrous pickers. 'Clockwise, counterclockwise — these are constructs,' said locksport commentator Nell Rake. 'The pins don't know. The sidebar doesn't know. The only entities that care about rotational direction are the judges, and I say this with respect: they need to get over it.' The previous record holder, who opened a Biaxial in 32 seconds using the correct tension direction, has declined to comment but was seen at the competition after-party wearing a T-shirt that read 'COUNTERCLOCKWISE OR GO HOME.' Torque has announced he will compete again next year and has begun practicing exclusively in the counterclockwise direction, which he describes as 'unnatural and spiritually wrong, but technically compliant.'