Contest Day

Zoom Meeting Preparation
A day or two before the contest, you will receive a Google calendar invite.  It will contain the Zoom link and camera setup instructions.  Here are the basics:
  1. If you are competing as a Pair or Team, you must RSVP by Friday night with the first & last names of your teammate(s).  This will facilitate our posting of results during the Zoom call.
  2. When possible, please use a white or black puzzling surface (not a wooden, glass, or marbled surface).  This is not only easier for us to judge, but it actually improves your completion time.  Poster board and foam board are very cheap!
  3. Have the camera set up in landscape (horizontal) format.
  4. The camera lens (on your phone, tablet, laptop or computer) has to be at least 12” higher than the puzzle surface.  Any lower, and we can't really tell how many pieces are remaining.
  5. The camera should be positioned (horizontally) 3-4 feet away from the puzzling surface.
  6. Make sure to have a timer with you (which does not have to be visible during the contest).  A kitchen timer, phone, tablet, etc. may be used.  Please do not use an athletic-style stopwatch or wristwatch, as these are too small for us to see clearly.  Timers have to show H:MM:SS (not just MM:SS).  The MM:SS timers roll over after 99 minutes and can be very confusing (45:30 could mean 0:45:30, 2:25:30, 4:05:30, etc.).
  7. Set the unopened puzzle package on the table, in clear view of the camera.
  8. Your Zoom screen name must include the full first and last name of the person who registered for the event (bought the ticket).
  9. You may only join the Zoom once per purchased spot.  In other words, you may not connect 2 or more devices to the Zoom call.  Space is limited per Zoom call, and this  alsocauses confusion among our judges.  If you wish to have a friend watch, or have 2 devices on the call for whatever reason, please purchase a "Watch a Zoom contest" ticket, available in our Store.
  10. To see what we're seeing, test your camera (within the Zoom app) to make sure its angle will allow us to see the entire puzzle surface as you are completing it.​
Competing Offline?  Please see instructions and offline entry form here.