Individuals/Pair Categories: You pick if you'd like to complete in the solo (Individuals: Adults or Under-18) or in a team of 2 (Pairs) by purchasing the right variant of this product. The puzzles will be different, so you can compete in both.
Which Puzzle? Everyone will do the same totally secret, never-before-seen Artifact wood jigsaw puzzle at the same time. You keep your contest puzzle after the contest.
- Individuals puzzle: 200-250 pieces, average hard, might have an irregular edge that is not shown on the box
- Pairs puzzle: 300-350 pieces, average hard, might have an irregular edge that is not shown on the box
- There will be a small picture on the box like usual for Artifact Puzzles.
- The puzzle will be an image most people will like and appropriate for all-ages.
When: Contest happens Saturday April 27:
- Individuals Contest: 10am West Coast = 1pm East Coast time = noon CDT
- Pairs Contest: 1pm West Coast = 4pm East Coast time = 3pm CDT
We will ship the puzzle and directions to you by April 11 by USPS Ground Advantage (should arrive in 2-10 days). The box will say Do NOT Open!
Everyone opens up their shipping boxes at the same time on the Zoom video-conference, and starts puzzling at the same time.
Cost:
- Individuals Contest: $70 (you keep the puzzle)
- Pairs Contest: $90 (one of you keeps the puzzle)
Prizes: Yes! For both Individuals and Pairs:
- First Place: your choice of any puzzle we make under 2,000 pieces, or a 1 year membership to the Hoefnagel Puzzle Club
- Second Place: your choice of any puzzle we make 700 pieces or less, or a 6 month membership to the Hoefnagel Puzzle Club
- Third Place: your choice of any puzzle we make 400 pieces or less, or a 3 month membership to the Hoefnagel Puzzle Club
How Do I Register?: Purchase this product and make sure to fill in your email, phone number, and shipping address when you check-out.
How Many Contestants Will There Be?: No more than 150 entrants per contest.
USA only: Due to uncertain international shipping times we cannot accept international entries.
Tips: check out our blog post on "how the fastest puzzlers do it."
More Details:
- We'll ship you the puzzle April 11th by USPS Ground Advantage shipping
- We'll email contestants a link by April 25th before to join the Zoom meeting on April 27nd.
- The judges will check each contestant’s camera setup and that they have not opened the shipping box guarding the puzzle.
- There will be brief instructions given, and everyone will open their shipping box and remove the wrapping LIVE, on camera.
- Then we will start the timer, and everyone will puzzle simultaneously.
- While only the fastest puzzlers will get prizes, everyone is encouraged to finish the puzzle and clock-in their fastest time, that is the event will run a full two hours, not just until the first three people finish.
- After the contest is over, and all entries have been verified, we will the blog the completion times and names of the fastest puzzlers.
- You CAN participate in both contests if you want.
- Puzzling Tools: Sorting trays and box top holders are allowed. Other tools
(spatulas, magnifying glasses, cell phone cameras) are NOT. - Each puzzle is a new Artifact Puzzle that is not listed on our website.
- Each puzzle is average hard as our puzzles go, but on the trickier side of average hard as they may have irregular edges (no straight edge pieces).
- We expect the fastest puzzlers to be able to complete the Individuals puzzle in around 45 minutes, but it might take casual puzzlers 2-3 hours.
- We expect the fastest puzzlers to be able to complete the Pairs puzzle in around 1 hour, but it might take casual puzzlers 2-4 hours.
- The picture of the puzzle will be on-the-box, and it may help you go faster if you use the picture effectively.
Here are some links to speed puzzling examples on YouTube!
The Jigsaw Puzzle Championships
Racing the Fastest Puzzler in the World
Check out YouTube for more tips and tricks to speed up your time!