Competition Rules and procedure
Competition Procedure
- Competitors must arrive and be ready to be seated at the venue and be seated at least 15 minutes before the division’s scheduled start time.
- Puzzle bags / boxes are not to be touched or opened by competitors until instructed by the competition organiser at the start of the division.
- Only competitors and authorised event personnel (Judges, photographers, videographers) are permitted to enter the competition area.
- Participants may use only the following implements; all other belongings must be stored under their competition table (including drinks – liquids and puzzles aren’t friends):
- Up to two trays or boards of maximum size A3 for divisions using a 500-piece puzzle.
- Up to four trays or boards of maximum size A2 for teams divisions using a 1000-piece puzzle.
- A Puzzle Box holder / stand.
- A tripod or mounting clip attached to a phone or camera for recording the competitor’s puzzling. This must not impede event personnel in carrying out their duties.
- Headphones.
- A personal timer.
- If table numbers are used for an event, competitors must sit at their designated table.
- If plastic stickers are used to seal the puzzle box by the manufacturer, they will be removed by the organisation before the event.
Competitive Rules
- Puzzles must be completed directly on the provided table or surface. No other template (such as the poster included with some puzzles) may be placed under the puzzle.
- Any pieces dropped on the ground will be left in the position they fall in. Judges will place a coloured post-it note underneath for visibility. Participants can retrieve their missing pieces from the floor.
- Plastic wrappings and bags that are thrown on the floor will be collected by Judges after the competition start. Any pieces left in bags will be placed on the floor where the bag fell with a post-it note underneath.
- When the time limit for the division is reached, puzzling stops for all remaining competitors.
- Judges will count and record the remaining pieces at this time.
- Any pieces not connected in groups of three or more pieces will be counted as incomplete.
- A five second penalty will be applied per missing piece when a competitor declares they are complete.
- If two or more adjacent pieces are missing, this is treated as a manufacturing defect and no time penalty will apply.
- No time will be recorded for any competitor who receives outside assistance in completing their puzzle.
- For the Pairs division at Nationals 2025, two puzzle boxes will be provided in the same competition bag. Before the start of the division, puzzlers will be able to view both puzzles, and the order that the puzzles must be completed in will be communicated.
- When two puzzles are used in a division, the first puzzle must be packed up into its box and moved off the table before opening the second puzzle box. A judge will record the time of completion of the first puzzle before starting the second puzzle.
- When qualifying rounds are used, the announced qualifying details are final. No substitutions to another puzzler are permitted, and if puzzlers choose not to attend the finals, their position will not be passed on to any other puzzler.
- The use of digital devices (smartphones, tablets, etc.) to view or enlarge the puzzle image is not allowed.
Eligibility
- Competitors must reside in the state of the competition to receive a state ranking and be eligible to receive the 1st, 2nd or 3rd prizes.
- If the participant resides in the NT or another Australian Territory where no state competitions are held, the participant may take a trophy at the first state competition they compete in for the calendar year.
- International competitors are welcome to enter the national championships and will progress as normal through qualifying rounds, however they are ineligible to receive 1st, 2nd or 3rd prizes in the finals.
Etiquette
During pairs and solos, participants usually share a table. Competitors may move around their table space as required, but should be mindful of others around them. When a competitor has completed their puzzling and have packed their belongings, they should leave the puzzle competition area in a manner considerate to those still competing.
Competitors are expected to be kind and respectful towards all other competitors, volunteers and AJPA staff. See the AJPA Code of Conduct.