mxdys has claimed to have found a family of 4 TMs this morning which all halt in about 2^^2^^2^^9 steps:
1RB1RA_1RC---_1LD0RF_1RA0LE_0LD1RC_1RA0RE
1RB---_1LC0RF_1RE0LD_0LC1RB_1RA1RE_1RE0RD
1RB0LE_1RC1RB_1RD---_1LA0RF_0LA1RD_1RB0RE
1RB0RF_1RC1RB_1RD---_1LE0RA_1RB0LF_0LE1RD
This follows on a previous champion announcement (on June 16) of a family of 6 TMs which score about 10^^(10^7):
1RB1LC_1LA1RE_0RD0LA_---1LB_1LD0RF_0RD1RB
1RB1LC_1LA1RE_0RD0LA_---1LB_1LE0RF_0RD1RB
1RB1LC_1LA1RD_1LA0LA_1LD0RE_0RF1RB_---1LB
1RB1LC_1LA1RD_1LA0LA_1LD0RE_0RF1RB_---1LC
1RB1LC_1LA1RD_1LA0LA_1LF0RE_0RF1RB_---1LB
1RB1LD_1LC1RE_---1LD_1LA0LA_1LE0RF_0RC1RB
I haven't yet been about to verify any of these but wanted to share the news a little more broadly.