Mr Ang Chuang Yang, 16, a student from Raffles Institution, clocked 41.52 seconds - a timing faster than the current world record - in a bid to smash the time of 42.22 seconds set by American Ben Cook in July this year.

 

Singtel will be submitting the time recorded by Chuang Yang to Guinness for its consideration.

 

Chuang Yang was the fastest among the ten finalists.   He sends an average of 1,000 SMS messages to friends and family members every month. 

 

“We are delighted that Singtel has uncovered the world’s fastest thumbs right here in Singaporeonce again,” said Mr Allen Lew, CEO Singapore.   “SMS has become an integral part of local youth culture, so it is not surprising that Chuang Yang may be the new world record holder.”

  

Over 300 participants showed up to pit their SMS skills against the clock in the Singtel SMS Shootout 2006.   They had to type the set SMS text provided by Guinness as follows:

 

The razor-toothed piranhas of the genera Serrasalmus and Pygocentrus are the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world. In reality they seldom attack a human.

 

The SMS message had to be accurately typed for the attempt to be recognised.   The use of the mobile phone’s predictive text mode or spelling aids was prohibited.

 

Chuang Yang walked away with a trophy, $12,000 cash and more than $13,000 worth of prizes including a 17” MacBook Pro, shopping vouchers and the latest mobile phones from Sony Ericsson, Nokia and Motorola.

 

“I was relaxed today and confident about winning, but I also knew that I was going to be up against some seriously tough competition,” said Chuang Yang, who spent an hour daily practising for the Shootout.   “I’m definitely coming back next year and this time I’m going to try for 39 seconds!”

 

In addition to the individual category, Singtel also organised the first Inter-Varsity Team Challenge.   The two best five-member teams in each university were chosen and sent to compete for this challenge.  Members of the team keyed in the standard SMS message on a relay basis.

 

Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) Team A clocked 6.25 minutes and was the fastest group to type in the 160-character message.   They won a trophy, mobile phones and Sony PSPs worth more than $6,000. 

 

In 2004, the champion of the Singtel SMS Shootout, Ms Kimberly Yeo put Singapore in the Guinness World Records with the time of 43.24 seconds. 

 

Supported by sponsors Motorola, Nokia and Sony Ericsson, the Singtel SMS Shootout 2006 took place in conjunction with Singtel’s Christmas Fair this weekend at the Suntec Convention and Exhibition Centre.