Puzzle Masters Tournament

Tournament Overview

Libraries may host one local puzzle contest during August, September, or October to qualify teams for the tournament. The top two finishing teams from any local library contest may register for their county’s semifinal.

County-specific semifinal contests will be held in November. The top three finishing teams from each semifinal contest may then register for the final.

The systemwide final contest will be held on November 15th, 2025.

Program Timeline

Round One – Local Contests, Open Registration

• Libraries Host Local Contests from August until two days before the home county semifinal
  Deadlines to register vary by library.

Round Two – County-specific Semifinals, Registration by Qualification

• Walworth County Semi-Final Competition (Walworth Memorial Library) October 18th @ 10:30 AM
  Deadline to Register for Walworth County Semi-Final Competition October 16th @ 4:30 PM
• Rock County Semi-Final Competition (Hedberg Public Library) October 11th, 2025 @ (1:00 PM)
  Deadline to Register for Rock County Semi-Final Competition October 9th, 2025 @ 4:30 PM
• Racine County Semi-Final Competition (Rochester Village Hall) October 4th, 2025 @ 9:30 AM
  Deadline to Register for Racine County Semi-Final Competition October 2nd, 2025

Third Round – Tri-County Final, Registration by Qualification

• Systemwide Final Competition (Yerkes Observatory, Williams Bay) November 15th, 2025 @ 9:30 AM
  Deadline to Register for Systemwide Final Competition November 13th, 2025 @ 4:30 PM

Contest Rules

Teams:

1. Teams must be composed of a minimum of 2 people and a maximum of 4. No changes in team members will be allowed during the competition. Team member substitutions may be made in advance of the competition, except at least one original team member must remain.
2. Young participants (under the age of 16) are allowed as long as they are competing with at least one accompanying adult.
3. A player cannot be part of two different teams.
4. Each puzzler is strongly encouraged to wear a nametag (provided on-site).
5. Each team can provide up to 4 trays of cardboard, foam or other material of a maximum size of 16” x 24” as an aid during the puzzle assembly. Box top holders are allowed. No other tools or aids are allowed.

General Rules:

6. The competition area will be demarcated by ribbon, caution tape, or some other temporary barrier. Only participants, judges, and authorized personnel are allowed within the competition area.
7. Participants must be at the venue 15 minutes before the start of each competition. Each team will draw a number from a hat or bowl to assign table of play.
8. Each team will be provided with a commonly-sized playing surface as practicable (for example: same-size round tables, or same-size rectangular tables). Risers or any object that changes the height or layout of the tables are not allowed.
9. Until the host indicates the start of the competition and starts the timer, the participants cannot manipulate, unseal, or open the puzzle boxes that are on the table. Judges may prepare all puzzles prior to starting the contest by unwrapping, etc. to expedite start-up.
10. Semifinal and final contests will last 2 hours each. Semifinal contest teams will have to assemble one 750-piece jigsaw puzzle, and finals contest teams will have to assemble one 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle. Puzzles will be stored in the factory-sealed box. Once the timer begins, the box may be opened.
11. Participants can only assemble the jigsaw puzzle on their assigned table and within the competition area. The sign indicating the table number must always be visible to facilitate the work of the judges.
12. During the competition, organizers will monitor the progress of the assembly, so that when a team is close to finishing a puzzle, they will be waiting by the table to register the exact time in the record.
13. Only judges can take note of the finishing times of the completed puzzles and enter the completion time into the record.
14. When a team manages to finish the puzzle before the allotted time has elapsed, a judge will register the final time in the record. Teams who are completed must avoid distracting neighboring puzzlers who are still competing.
15. If, once the maximum time has elapsed, a team has not finished the puzzle, a judge will take a smartphone photo of the table. A judge will then count the remaining pieces not yet placed into the puzzle. Teams who have not completed the puzzle will be ranked according to the fewest number of remaining pieces.
16. For final count purposes “loose pieces” shall be defined as singular puzzle pieces, two pieces joined, or three pieces joined.
17. Missing puzzle pieces due to manufacturer defect shall be considered an act of nature and changes to the final team score shall not be made.
18. All the jigsaw puzzles used in the competitions are the property of the participants once the competition is finished.

Conduct

19. Headphones or earbuds are allowed as long as they do not disturb the rest of the participants.
20. The site team/judges may disqualify participants after two verbal warnings for conduct that causes inconvenience to other participants.
21. Extra lighting or printed/digital templates in which you can see any type of manufacturer’s cutting pattern are not allowed.
22. Any outside help during the competition may be grounds for disqualification.
23. Any local rules of conduct or policies governing the library or location shall apply. Generally, visitors are not allowed to bring food or drinks inside the Yerkes Observatory building.

Prizes

24. A prize may be awarded for the top finishing team of the final contest.