Piece-Off #9 - Speed Puzzling with Playful Pursuits

Welcome to Piece-off #9! Come solo, bring a partner or a team, and try your hand at speed puzzling - the top performers in each category go home with prizes!

Categories and Formats

  • ⁠Individuals (solo): Puzzle Chess (3 rounds, 1-v-1, no elimination, top 3 ranks win),
  • Pairs (group of 2): Speed Puzzling (500 pieces, fastest 3 finishers win),
  • Teams (group of 4): Speed Puzzling (500 pieces, fastest 2 finishers win)

You can register under multiple categories as they will take place at different times. For Pairs, only one person from each group needs to purchase a ticket for the Pair. For Teams, each person in a team needs a ticket.

Schedule

11 AM Teams check-in and briefing
11:15 AM - 12:45 PM Teams Speed Puzzling
12:45 PM Pairs check-in and briefing
1:00 - 3:00 PM Pairs Speed Puzzling
3:45 PM Individuals check-in and briefing
4:00 - 6:00 PM Individuals Puzzle Chess

Rules

SPEED PUZZLING - PAIRS AND TEAMS

  • Teams will have 90 minutes (1.5 hours) to complete a 500 piece puzzle from Jigsaw Nation.
  • Pairs will have 120 minutes (2 hours) to complete a 500-piece puzzle from Jigsaw Nation.
  • Puzzles will come boxed, with an image for reference.
  • Only letter openers, keys or other non-sharp objects may be used to open the plastic that covers the puzzle; sharp objects like scissors or box cutters are not permitted.
  • If, once the time period has elapsed competitors have not finished the puzzle, we will count the number of placed pieces, adding only lots of 3 or more pieces correctly joined together. Competitors will be ranked by the least number of unplaced pieces.
  • ⁠If pieces are missing/misplaced at the end of the puzzle, 10 seconds for each lost piece will be added to the final time. If there are 2 or more adjacent and missing pieces, no penalty will be applied as it is considered a manufacturing error.
  • ⁠Tickets include registration and the cost of the competition puzzle - competitors take their puzzle home!
  • ⁠The fastest three Pairs and fastest two Teams win puzzles sponsored by Jigsaw Nation!

PUZZLE CHESS - INDIVIDUALS

  • There will be 3 rounds of 1-v-1 matches. There will be a gameplay demo before rounds start.
  • Matches and rankings will follow the Swiss format - this means there will be no player elimination and all players will play the same number of matches.
  • Matches will be played in the “Puzzle Chess” format: Players will take turns to place one piece at a time in the puzzle, using a chess clock to track the time taken to do so. The player with the most time remaining on the clock at the end of the match wins.
  • Puzzles will range from 80-150 pieces. Borders will be constructed off the clock before the match begins.
  • Top 3 players win prizes from our sponsor, Jigsaw Nation!