Carver County Pride Speed Puzzle Competition

Puzzlers wanted! Create your team of 2–4 people and compete to see who can complete a 500-piece puzzle in the shortest amount of time. Bragging rights and prizes are on the line!

• Teams of 2-4 participants
• Identical 500-piece jigsaw puzzle for each team
• Prizes awarded to the 3 fastest finishers
• $25 per team to register
• Pre-registration is required
• Limited to 25 teams – don't wait!
• No refunds on registrations.

By attending this event, competitors acknowledge and agree to the following rules.

• 2-4 puzzlers per team. Teams must include one adult. Only team members listed in your team’s registration may participate.
• During the competition, changes in teams are not allowed.
• Each team will have their own table; tables are not assigned.
• No early starts! New, sealed 500-piece puzzles will be provided.
• Puzzles will be obscured before the start on each table.
• Once the timer begins, the puzzle may be opened. The bag may not be altered or opened before this point, or the competitor will be disqualified.
• Contestants may not use any puzzle tools such as extra lighting of any kind, puzzle scoops, magnifying glasses, cutting tools, table risers, cell phone photos, etc. (Setting up your phone or camera to video your team is fine; timing with your phone is also allowed.)
• Headphones are allowed as long as they are quiet enough to avoid disturbing your puzzle neighbors, otherwise you’ll be asked to turn them down or remove them.
• Box top holders and sorting trays are allowed.
• Up to 2 trays, maximum size of 16.5" x 11.7" (A3 size).
• Competition puzzle box top and bottom may also be used as sorting trays.
• It is NOT allowed to invade the area of the adjacent participant or hinder their construction.
• Distractions: Loud conversation/headphone music, singing, moving/standing in another competitor’s space, or anything else that may impede another competitor’s progress or the ability of judges and competition organizers to fulfill their role is NOT allowed.
•  When your team is close to finishing, raise your hand so a judge can come to your table to watch you finish and record your time. Only accredited judges record the finishing times of the completed puzzles from the official event timer.
• Once the maximum time has elapsed, the competitors who have not completed their puzzle must take their hands off the puzzle to indicate they have stopped puzzling. They are then encouraged to assist judges in counting their unassembled puzzle pieces which will determine their placement among other competitors with incomplete puzzles.Groups of 2+: Any number of pieces that are assembled together (2+) count toward total assembled pieces.
• Piles of 10: Any other remaining pieces should be piled into groups of 10 pieces to assist judges in counting your unassembled pieces.
• Teams that continue to puzzle past the allowed time will not be ranked.
• Lost pieces: There is a maximum 10 second penalty for missing pieces, even if found later. Penalty is not per piece. Protocol: If a piece is missing, judges should note the time of the last assembled piece, and the puzzler may look for the missing piece. If found within 10 seconds: The completion time should reflect when the final piece is put in. If not found within 10 seconds: The competitor can stop looking and their completion time will be noted as the last assembled piece time plus 10 seconds. Even if there are multiple missing pieces, only 10 seconds should be added. Adjacent missing pieces: If there are 2 or more adjacent missing pieces, no penalty will be applied as it is considered a manufacturing error.
• Time limit: If no one finishes before the event time runs out, the winner will be whichever competitor has correctly placed the largest number of pieces.
• Winners will be announced after the top teams have placed.
• Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams.