⚡ Speed Tournament Rules

Complete Rules - Online Speed Puzzle Championship

These rules govern participation in the Online Speed Puzzle Championship, an annual event dedicated to puzzle enthusiasts and puzzlers who wish to test their puzzle-solving speed.

Art. 1 - Purpose

The Online Speed Puzzle Championship is an annual event dedicated to puzzle enthusiasts and, in particular, to puzzlers who wish to test their puzzle-solving speed.

The Championship allows participants to compete from home by taking part in one or more online tournaments, with the goal of competing in the overall ranking and for the title of Online Speed Puzzle Championship Champion.

The organizer of the Championship is Salvatore Cialdini, under the OJPC.eu, Jucari.it and SG Brothers S.r.l. brands. For the purposes of these rules, the organizer also acts as judge and moderator, unless otherwise officially communicated.

Art. 2 - Participation Requirements And Competition Modes

All puzzlers residing in Europe who are at least 16 years old on the date of registration for the tournament may participate.

Underage participants declare that they are participating with the consent of a parent or legal guardian.

Participation is individual. Each participant must complete the puzzle independently, without external help, in compliance with the procedures set out in these rules.

Participation may take place in offline mode or online mode.

Offline mode means that the participant completes the physical puzzle received at home without a video connection during the attempt. In this mode, the competition code procedure applies, and the official time is determined by the publication of the photo of the completed puzzle in the Telegram group “Puzzle Italia”.

For offline participants, an official minimum time of 2 hours and 30 minutes applies. If an offline participant completes and submits the puzzle with a time under 2 hours and 30 minutes, the official time recorded in the ranking will automatically be set to 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Online mode means that the participant completes the attempt while connected via videoconference platform, following the instructions of the organizer and judge. The camera must be pointed at the puzzle and must keep the work area visible during the attempt. Online participants must also publish the photo of the completed puzzle in the Telegram group “Puzzle Italia” for the submission to be valid.

Participants who believe they can complete the puzzle in less than 2 hours and 30 minutes are encouraged to participate in online mode, where the minimum time provided for offline mode does not apply.

Online and offline participants compete in the same tournament ranking and in the same overall Championship ranking. The official minimum time set out in these rules applies to offline participants.

To participate, it is necessary to be a member of the Telegram group “Puzzle Italia”, where operational communications relating to the tournaments will be published.

Art. 3 - Championship Structure

The Online Speed Puzzle Championship consists of 4 or 5 tournaments during the year.

Each tournament is independent from the others. Participants may register for one or more tournaments, without being required to participate in the entire Championship.

Participation in one tournament does not automatically register the participant for subsequent tournaments.

The points obtained in the individual tournaments count toward the overall Championship ranking.

Art. 4 - Tournament Organization

For each tournament, a registration opening post will be published in the Facebook group “Puzzle Italia by Jucari”, in the Telegram group “Puzzle Italia” and on the OJPC portal home page.

If notifications are enabled, participants will also receive an email with all information relating to the tournament.

The post will include the main information about the tournament, including:

maximum number of participants;
puzzle brand;
number of pieces;
tournament duration;
start date;
possible backup date in case of shipping issues;
cost of the puzzle including shipping to Italy;
cost of the puzzle including shipping abroad;
prizes available;
link to purchase the puzzle;
specific operational procedures for the tournament.

As a rule, tournaments involve a 500-piece puzzle and have a maximum duration of 14 days.

Art. 5 - Tournament Registration

To register for a tournament, the participant must register directly on the OJPC.eu platform, entering their details and indicating their preferred puzzle start time.

The available options are:

Saturday at 16:00 - Italian time;
Saturday at 21:00 - Italian time;
Sunday at 16:00 - Italian time.

Registration is considered confirmed once the participant purchases the puzzle for the tournament, according to the procedures indicated on the OJPC.eu platform.

The participation fee includes the puzzle and shipping costs.

The payment is non-refundable, because after purchase the puzzle is shipped to the participant.

If the puzzle is not purchased within 3 days from submitting the registration request, the registration will be cancelled and the reserved place may be assigned to another participant.

If a registered participant who has purchased the puzzle does not take part in the tournament, they will receive 1 point valid for the overall Championship ranking.

Art. 6 - Tournament Duration

The maximum duration of each tournament is 14 days.

Participants starting on Saturday at 16:00 must complete the puzzle by the second following Saturday at 16:00.

Participants starting on Saturday at 21:00 must complete the puzzle by the second following Saturday at 21:00.

Participants starting on Sunday at 16:00 must complete the puzzle by the second following Sunday at 16:00.

A puzzle completed after the maximum deadline will not be considered valid for the tournament ranking. In that case, the participant will receive 1 point valid for the overall Championship ranking.

Art. 7 - Preparation And Competition Code

The preparation and start procedures vary depending on whether the participant competes in offline mode or in online mode via videoconference platform.

For offline participants, meaning those who complete the physical puzzle received at home without a video connection during the attempt, the competition code procedure applies.

Before the start of the tournament, each offline participant will receive the puzzle sealed with adhesive tape and a label showing their name and 5 empty boxes.

The tournament has three start sessions:

Saturday at 16:00;
Saturday at 21:00;
Sunday at 16:00.

For each start session, a specific competition code will be announced during the related YouTube live stream and must be entered in the 5 boxes on the label.

Each offline participant must use only the code announced for their own start session.

For all participants, both online and offline, the attempt start time corresponds to the official start given by the judge with the phrase “Go-go-go”. For offline participants, the competition code is announced before the official start.

Online participants, meaning those who complete the attempt while connected via videoconference platform, do not have to enter or publish any competition code, unless otherwise communicated by the organization.

Online participants may start the puzzle only after the official start given by the judge with the phrase “Go-go-go”.

Art. 8 - Start Of The Attempt

The start procedure varies depending on the selected participation mode: offline or online via videoconference platform.

Before opening the box, the offline participant must:

enter the code announced during the YouTube live stream on the label received with the puzzle;
photograph the puzzle box while still sealed, with the code clearly visible;
publish the photo in the Telegram group “Puzzle Italia”.

Only after publishing the photo in the Telegram group may the offline participant open the box and start the puzzle.

For all participants, both online and offline, the time starts from the official start given by the judge with the phrase “Go-go-go”.

The online participant must remain connected to the videoconference platform indicated by the organization and keep the camera pointed at the puzzle, with the work area visible according to the judge’s instructions.

The online participant may open the box and start the puzzle only after the official start given by the judge with the phrase “Go-go-go”.

Art. 9 - Submission Of The Completed Puzzle

Once the puzzle is completed, all participants, both offline and online, must take a photo of the finished puzzle and immediately publish it in the Telegram group “Puzzle Italia”.

If the participant uses Telegram with a nickname or with a name that is not immediately recognizable, they must also include their first and last name when publishing the photo, to make the submission easier to identify.

The publication time of the photo of the completed puzzle in the Telegram group determines the official completion time.

The tournament ranking will be calculated based on the valid submission times published in the Telegram group.

Art. 10 - Tournament Ranking

The ranking of each tournament is determined by the chronological order in which photos of completed puzzles are validly published in the Telegram group “Puzzle Italia”.

The participant with the lowest official completion time ranks first.

The other participants are ranked in order based on their official completion time.

For offline participants, where applicable, the official minimum time of 2 hours and 30 minutes set out in these rules applies.

Offline participants who submit with a time under 2 hours and 30 minutes are tied with an official time of 2 hours and 30 minutes.

In case of an official tie caused by the application of the minimum time for offline mode, the participants concerned will be considered tied and will receive the same score corresponding to the position obtained. The following position will take into account the number of tied participants.

Participants who do not complete the puzzle within the maximum period of 14 days will be considered “not submitted” for the purposes of the tournament ranking.

Art. 11 - Points Allocation

Points are awarded based on the number of participants registered for each tournament.

The first-place participant receives a number of points equal to the number of participants plus 1.

The second-place participant receives one point fewer than the first-place participant.

The following ranked participants receive progressively one point fewer, down to the last participant who has validly completed the puzzle.

Participants who do not complete the puzzle within the deadline, or whose submission is cancelled, receive 1 point.

Example with 60 participants:

1st place: 61 points
2nd place: 60 points
3rd place: 59 points
4th place: 58 points
Not submitted: 1 point

The points are valid for the overall Championship ranking.

Art. 12 - Overall Championship Ranking

The overall Championship ranking is determined by the sum of all points obtained in the tournaments held during the year.

There is no minimum number of tournaments required to enter the overall ranking. Participation in a single tournament is enough to be included in the ranking.

All points obtained in the tournaments are counted. No worst result is dropped.

The title of Online Speed Puzzle Championship Champion will be awarded to the participant with the highest total score after the last scheduled tournament.

Art. 13 - Tie-Break Criteria

In the event of a tie in the overall Championship ranking, the final position will be determined by applying the following criteria in order:

highest number of first places obtained in the tournaments;
highest number of second places;
highest number of third places;
highest total number of podium finishes;
highest number of tournament appearances;
best absolute time obtained in one of the tournaments belonging to that Championship.

If a tie still remains after applying all these criteria, the organization may declare the tie or establish an additional criterion, communicating it to the participants concerned.

Art. 14 - Penalties And Sanctions

Penalties and sanctions apply depending on the selected participation mode: offline or online via videoconference platform.

For offline participants, the photo of the sealed box with the code must be published in the Telegram group “Puzzle Italia” before the box is opened.

If an offline participant opens the box before publishing the photo with the code, or does not publish the photo with the code before opening the box, the submission will be cancelled. The puzzle will be considered not submitted and the participant will receive 1 point for the overall ranking.

Opening the box before the official start time results in cancellation of the attempt, with 1 point awarded.

For online participants, opening the box or starting the puzzle before the official start given by the judge with the phrase “Go-go-go” results in cancellation of the attempt, with 1 point awarded for the overall ranking.

During the online attempt, the participant must follow the judge’s instructions and keep the camera pointed at the puzzle, with the work area visible according to the procedures communicated by the organization.

The organizer may cancel a submission in case of clear irregularity, failure to comply with the competition procedures, lack of cooperation during checks, or conduct contrary to the spirit of the competition.

Art. 15 - External Help

The tournament is individual and no external help is allowed during the attempt.

Each participant must complete the puzzle independently, without the intervention or support of other people.

External help, if confirmed by the organizer, may result in cancellation of the attempt, with 1 point awarded for the overall ranking.

Art. 16 - Minimum Time For Offline Mode

For offline participants, an official minimum time of 2 hours and 30 minutes applies.

If an offline participant completes and submits the puzzle with a time under 2 hours and 30 minutes, the official time recorded in the ranking will automatically be set to 2 hours and 30 minutes.

If multiple offline participants submit with a time under 2 hours and 30 minutes, they are tied with an official time of 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Participants tied as a result of the offline minimum time will receive the same score corresponding to the position obtained. The following position will take into account the number of tied participants.

This rule applies only to offline mode, because the attempt is not carried out under direct observation via videoconference platform.

Art. 17 - Individual Shipping Delays

If the puzzle is delivered to the participant after the scheduled event date, the organization will agree on a recovery day with the participant.

The recovery attempt should normally take place during the week following the original tournament date and in any case no later than 14 days from the scheduled event date.

The recovery attempt is valid for both offline and online mode and must follow the procedures provided for the selected mode, according to the organization’s instructions.

If it is not possible to agree on a recovery day within the indicated time limits, the participant will be entitled to participate in the next tournament free of charge, including the puzzle and standard shipping. For the tournament not played, the participant will receive 1 point valid for the overall Championship ranking.

The participant is responsible for the accuracy of the shipping details provided and for being available to receive the package.

In case of delay, failed delivery or storage due to an incorrect address, repeated absence of the recipient, failure to collect the package, incomplete details or other causes attributable to the participant, the organization is not required to provide a recovery date. In such cases, the participant may be considered as not started or not submitted, at the organizer’s discretion.

Art. 18 - Damaged Puzzle Or Missing Pieces

If the puzzle is damaged, the participant may still complete the attempt, provided that the damage does not materially prevent the puzzle from being completed.

If the puzzle is completely damaged and materially prevents the attempt from taking place, the organization may, if time allows, ship a second puzzle or agree on a recovery day.

If it is not possible to ship a second puzzle or agree on a recovery attempt, the participant will be entitled to participate in the next tournament free of charge, including the puzzle and standard shipping. For the tournament not played, the participant will receive 1 point valid for the overall Championship ranking.

In case of missing pieces, the puzzle will be considered valid, but a penalty of 10 seconds will be applied for each missing piece.

The missing-piece penalty applies up to a maximum of 7 missing pieces. Beyond this limit, the case will be evaluated by the organization.

The participant must report missing pieces when publishing the final photo or as soon as they notice them, attaching a photo of the completed puzzle showing the missing pieces.

The penalty will be added to the official completion time.

Art. 19 - Competition Photos

Photos published for competition purposes must be clear, complete and uncropped.

For offline participants, the initial photo must clearly show the sealed box, the label with the participant’s name and the code announced during the YouTube live stream.

The final photo must show the entire completed puzzle.

The final photo must be published in the Telegram group “Puzzle Italia” by all participants, both offline and online.

If the participant is registered on Telegram with a nickname or with a name that is not immediately recognizable, they must include their first and last name in the message used to publish the photo.

Photos that are not readable, incomplete or unsuitable for verification may lead to a request for a new photo or, in more serious cases, cancellation of the submission.

Art. 20 - Official Times

All times indicated in the rules, registration posts and official communications refer to the Italian time zone, Rome time.

For ranking and official time calculation purposes, the publication time visible in the Telegram group “Puzzle Italia” always applies.

The judge does not record completion times: the ranking is determined exclusively based on the publication time of the final photo in the Telegram group.

For offline participants, where applicable, the official minimum time of 2 hours and 30 minutes set out in these rules applies.

Art. 21 - Tournament Prizes

Prizes may be provided for each tournament.

For each tournament, it will be specified whether the prizes are offered by sponsors or provided directly by the organization.

Any sponsors will be indicated in the registration opening post or in the official tournament communications.

Sponsors may offer prizes or products connected to the tournament, but they are not responsible for the organization, ranking management or competition decisions, unless otherwise officially communicated.

Prizes generally consist of puzzles or products connected to the puzzle world.

The prizes for each tournament will be awarded based on the tournament ranking, unless otherwise officially communicated.

Art. 22 - Championship Prizes

At the end of the year and of the Championship, the top three positions in the overall absolute ranking will be awarded.

The final prizes will consist of trophies made for the event.

Any additional prizes may be provided by the organization and will be communicated through the official channels.

Art. 23 - Official Communications

Official communications relating to the Championship and the individual tournaments will be published on the OJPC.eu platform, on the OJPC portal home page, in the Telegram group “Puzzle Italia” and, where applicable, in the Facebook group “Puzzle Italia by Jucari”.

If notifications are enabled, participants may also receive communications by email.

Participants are responsible for following the communications published on the official channels.

Art. 24 - Privacy, Images And Publication Of Content

By registering for the tournament, the participant acknowledges and accepts that images and photos published for competition purposes may be made public through YouTube, social networks, online groups, rankings, recap posts and other channels connected to the organization of the Championship.

Photos of the box, the completed puzzle, rankings, participant names and any content relating to participation may be used for organizational, informational, promotional and documentary purposes connected to the event.

The processing of participants’ personal data is governed by the privacy policy published on the OJPC.eu website, available at https://www.ojpc.eu/privacy.

Art. 25 - Changes, Postponements And Cancellations

The organization reserves the right to modify dates, times, duration or operational procedures of the tournament in case of organizational issues, shipping delays, puzzle unavailability or other objective causes.

In case of courier issues, the backup date indicated in the registration post may be used for participants who have not received the puzzle by the scheduled event date.

Any changes will be communicated through the official channels.

Art. 26 - Acceptance Of The Rules

By registering for a tournament, the participant declares that they have read, understood and accepted these rules.

Failure to comply with the rules may result in cancellation of the attempt, exclusion from the tournament or other measures decided by the organization based on the seriousness of the violation.

Last updated: May 2026