Contest Schedule

For information about in-person contests, see here.
Offline participation instructions can be found here.
Scroll down to see registration info about 3 months worth of contests.
How do Speed Puzzling contests work?
  1. Anyone in the USA can participate in our LIVE Zoom events.  With enough lead time (3-4+ weeks), we also ship anywhere in the world.  International puzzlers pay for the additional shipping.  So far, we have shipped to Canada, the UK, France, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Luxembourg, Sweden, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Israel, Australia, and United Arab Emirates.
  2. Click on the registration link and purchase the desired contest(s).  Your payment covers the cost of the puzzle, shipping, and participation in the Zoom contest event.
  3. About 2 weeks before the event date, we ship everyone the same undisclosed puzzle in a poly mailer or box.  Contestants keep the shipping package sealed until told to open it--together with the rest of the puzzlers on the Zoom call.
  4. A day or two before the contest, we email each puzzler a Zoom link with instructions on camera setup, etc.  You can review the instructions in advance here.
  5. On the contest day, at the assigned check-in time, puzzlers join the Zoom meeting using the emailed link.
  6. The judges check each puzzler's camera angle and unopened puzzle package.  Brief instructions are given via Kahoot slides, and then all puzzlers unwrap their puzzle boxes together.
  7. We'll count down "3, 2, 1, GO!" (starting the timers on "GO"), and everyone puzzles simultaneously.  We basically follow the USA JPA rules and procedures, found here.
  8. The first individual/team to finish WINS!
  9. After the contest is over, judges verify all entries and post the rankings, names, and completion times of all participants.
  10. Prizes are sent to the winners of each division.
New and clarified rules (effective 1/1/2026):​​
  1. 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!
  2. 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.).  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.  
  3. 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.
  4. Your Zoom screen name must include the full first and last name of the person who registered for the event (bought the ticket).
  5. 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.
  6. Any registration changes must be emailed to us by the night before the Zoom call.  This includes teammate changes, going from Pair to Team, giving a puzzle contest to a friend, etc.
Other Speed Puzzling guidelines/considerations:
  • Not available on the contest date/time?  If you have a schedule conflict that prevents you competing, you may compete offline if you do so in advance.  Detailed instructions are here.
  • Find dozens of tips and strategies here.
  • Nervous about competing against puzzle ninjas?  Starting in 2023, our Fastest Newbie gets a prize!  And you can get a good idea where you might finish by trying a puzzle previously used in our contests.  Check out our Results page to see all previous puzzles/times/rankings.
  • What puzzling tools are allowed for a contest?  Scissors/blades, sorting trays, box top holders, and timers are allowed.  Other tools (spatulas, magnifying glasses, cell phone cameras to enlarge the puzzle image) are NOT.
  • We promote friendly competition!  Let's build this group and encourage each other's progress.
  • Please let us know how we can improve your competition experience.
Speed Puzzling contest schedule, November thru January:
December (9 contests)
Date & Time
​(Central)
Location
Speed
Puzzling #
Event
​Type
​# of
​Pieces
Registration
​info or Status
Included
with
​Groupie?
Dec 5
​7p
Zoom
SP 453
Solo
500
CHALLENGE SERIES for Black Belts & Blue Belts (by invitation only).  Contact Jonathan for the link.
500 Challenge
Dec 6
​11a
Zoom
SP ​454
Solo
​300
Register here
300
Dec 6
12:30p
Zoom
SP 455​
Solo
500
Register here
​500 Solo
Dec 6
​3p
Zoom
SP ​456
Solo
Puzzle
​Pyramid
100/
200/
​300
Try out our newest creation!  Spots are very limited.
Register here.
no
Dec 19
6:30p MST
Zoom
SP ​457
Solo
500
MONTANA State Championship.  Registration coming soon.
no
Dec 19
​7p MST
Zoom
SP ​458
Solo
​500
WYOMING State Championship.  Registration coming soon.
no
Dec 19
​​6p AKST
Zoom
SP 459
Solo
500
ALASKA State Championship.  Registration coming soon.
no
Dec 20
​​11a
Zoom
SP 460
Solo/
Pair/
​Team
500
Register here
500 All
Dec 20​1:30p
Zoom
SP ​461
Solo/
Pair/
​Team
1000
Register here
1000
January (16 contests)
Date & Time
​(Central)
Location
Speed
Puzzling #
Event
​Type
​# of
​Pieces
​​Registration
​info or Status
​​Included
with
​Groupie?
Jan 2
​7p
Zoom
462
Solo
​​500
CHALLENGE SERIES for Gold, Silver, Black, Purple, & Blue Belts (by invitation only).  Contact Jonathan for the link.
500 Challenge
Jan 5
Caribbean
463
Solo
Puzzle
Pyramid
​​100/200/300
Speed Puzzling Cruise 2026 Caribbean.  See info here.
no
Jan 5
Caribbean
464
Solo
300
Speed Puzzling Cruise 2026 Caribbean.  See info here.
no
Jan 5
Caribbean
465
Solo
​​​500
Speed Puzzling Cruise 2026 Caribbean.  See info here.
no
Jan 6
Caribbean
466
Pair
Puzzle
​Pyramid
200/300/500
Speed Puzzling Cruise 2026 Caribbean.  See info here.
no
Jan 6
Caribbean
467
Pair
500
Speed Puzzling Cruise 2026 Caribbean.  See info here.
no
Jan 6
Caribbean
468
Pairs Relay
2 x 200-300
Speed Puzzling Cruise 2026 Caribbean.  See info here.
no
Jan 10
Caribbean
469
Team
​Relay
2 x 500
Speed Puzzling Cruise 2026 Caribbean.  See info here.
no
Jan 10
Caribbean
470
Team
​​500
Speed Puzzling Cruise 2026 Caribbean.  See info here.
no
Jan 17
11a
Zoom
471
Solo
300
Register here.
300
Jan 17
12:30p
Zoom
472
Solo
​​500
Register here.
​500 Solo
Jan 17
​3p
Zoom
473
Solo
​​500
This will be our debut of the 6th limited-edition 
Speedmaster puzzle. 
Register here.
​500 New
Jan 31
(varies)
all over the USA
474
Solo
300
Super Saturday Mini Tourney # 4.  Register here.
no
Jan 31
(varies)
all over the USA
475
​Pairs Relay
2 x 200-300
Super Saturday Mini Tourney # 4.  Register here.
no
Jan 31
(varies)
all over the USA
476
​Pair
300
Super Saturday Mini Tourney # 4.  Register here.
no
Jan 31
(varies)
all over the USA
477
Team
​​500
Super Saturday Mini Tourney # 4.  Register here.
no
February (15 contests)
Date & Time
​(Central)
Location
Speed
Puzzling #
Event
​Type
# of
​Pieces
​Registration
​info or Status
​​Included
with
​Groupie?
Feb 7
​8:45a
North Richland Hills & New Caney
478
Solo
​500 Advanced,
300 Casual/Jr/Sr
TEXAS SPEED PUZZLING CHAMPIONSHIP (2 LOCATIONS!)  Register here.
no
Feb 7
11a
North Richland Hills & New Caney
479
​Pairs Relay
200 - 300 x 2
TEXAS SPEED PUZZLING CHAMPIONSHIP (2 LOCATIONS!)  Register here.
no
Feb 7
12:30p
North Richland Hills & New Caney
480
Pair
​500 Advanced,
300 Casual/Jr/Sr
TEXAS SPEED PUZZLING CHAMPIONSHIP (2 LOCATIONS!)  Register here.
no
Feb 7
2:15p
North Richland Hills & New Caney
481
Solo Puzzle Pyramid
100/
200/
​300
TEXAS SPEED PUZZLING CHAMPIONSHIP (2 LOCATIONS!)  Register here.
no
Feb 7
3:30p
North Richland Hills & New Caney
482
​Team
​1000 Advanced, 
500 Casual/ Jr/Sr
TEXAS SPEED PUZZLING CHAMPIONSHIP (2 LOCATIONS!)  Register here.
no
Feb 13
7p
Zoom
483
​Solo
500
CHALLENGE SERIES for Gold, Silver, Black, Purple, & Blue Belts (by invitation only).  Contact Jonathan for the link.
500 Challenge
Feb 14
11a
Zoom
484
​Solo
300
Register here.
300
Feb 14
12:30p
Zoom
485
​Solo
500
Register here.
​500 Solo
Feb 21
8:45a
EST
Atlanta, GA
486
​Solo
​500 Advanced,
300 Casual/Jr/Sr
GEORGIA SPEED PUZZLING CHAMPIONSHIP
Register here.
no
Feb 21
11a
​EST
Atlanta, GA
487
​Pairs Relay
200 - 300 x 2
GEORGIA SPEED PUZZLING CHAMPIONSHIP
Register here.
no
Feb 21
12:30p
​EST
Atlanta, GA
488
Pair
​500 Advanced,
300 Casual/Jr/Sr
GEORGIA SPEED PUZZLING CHAMPIONSHIP
Register here.
no
Feb 21
2:15p
​EST
Atlanta, GA
489
Solo Puzzle Pyramid
100/
200/
​300
GEORGIA SPEED PUZZLING CHAMPIONSHIP
Register here.
no
Feb 21
3:30p
​EST
Atlanta, GA
490
Team
1000 Advanced, 
500 Casual/ Jr/Sr
GEORGIA SPEED PUZZLING CHAMPIONSHIP
Register here.
no
Feb 28
​11a
Zoom
491
Solo
​500
Register here.
​500 New
Feb 28
​1:30p
Zoom
492
Solo
​1000
Registration info coming soon.
no