Tournament of Pieces

TL;DR: Jump to the event schedule →

IMPORTANT: You do not have to have a pair or full team to join any of the events. We will partner you up with other solo players - it’s going to be a lot of fun! 

👉 Once you're registered, fill out this form: tables & team assignment form

🧩 Tournament of Pieces

Get ready for fast fingers, sharp eyes, and puzzle-powered adrenaline! Cobble Hill is thrilled to sponsor this year's Tournament of Pieces, returning for another exciting year at Origins Game Fair.

Whether you're new to speed puzzling or a seasoned competitor, this is your chance to join a welcoming community of puzzlers and experience the thrill of competition. The event is hosted by Cobble Hill, with special Ohio State Cup events in partnership with the Ohio Jigsaw Puzzle Association.

We'll be revealing 10 NEW unpublished puzzle images (+2 NEW images from a different piece count) - many of them Origins-themed and we can't wait to show you!

📅 When and Where

Dates:
Thursday, June 18 – Sunday, June 21, 2026

Location:
Greater Columbus Convention Center
400 N High St, Columbus, OH 43215

Come visit us at the Cobble Hill booth, it's right outside the Tournament area!

🧩 What is the Tournament of Pieces?

The Tournament of Pieces is a multi-event speed puzzling competition at Origins Game Fair. In 2026, Cobble Hill is sponsoring 10 exciting events across solo, pairs, and team formats (including teams of four and eight & we can partner you with people, so no worries about that).

What you can look forward to:

• An intro to speed puzzling session
• A Puzzle Chess Tournament (guaranteed six rounds!)
• A free team event open to all attendees (relay format - 1-2-3-Go Team Go!)
• Three Ohio State Cup events (solo, pairs, and teams) in partnership with the Ohio Jigsaw Puzzle Association - no shenanigans, traditional events
• New formats for added fun, including The Final Great Eight, Again? What a mix-up!, and The Gauntlet: Build Your Battle 

Whether you're here to compete or just curious to learn, there's something for everyone. We're excited to bring fun new puzzle games that bridge the gap between #TeamCasual and #TeamCompetitive - building a fun community together is what it's all about. Like Origin's motto says, "A game on every table, a table for everyone."

🎟️ How Do I Sign Up?

It's easy to join the fun - but there are two steps:

1. Buy Tournament of Pieces badge. It's $60.
You'll need an Origins Game Fair badge.

To enter the event space. You can buy the Tournament of Pieces Badge now at the Tabletop website. 
https://tabletop.events/conventions/origins-game-fair-2026/badgetypes

2. Buy tickets for the events you want to play
Event tickets are purchased through the Origins Tabletop Events system.

• Tickets go on sale April 25, 2026
• Each ticket is $3
• Our speed puzzling events may cost 2 or 3 tickets (final pricing is listed with each event)
• Note that some games run at the same time - choose one for your skill level
• If you play every event we offer, it's a total of: $54 (18 tickets)

Spots are limited, so don't wait to secure your place!

🧩 Playing with a Team? Let Us Know!

Once you're confirmed as a registered puzzler for an event, please fill out our Tables and Teams form if you're playing any games with 2 or more people. We will match you with other players if you don't have a full team. 

This helps us:

• Create your table card (used to record your finish time)
• Confirm your teammates
• Match you with other puzzlers if your team isn't full yet

👉 Fill out the form here: tables & team assignment form

🙌 Who Can Participate?

Everyone! The Tournament of Pieces is open to all skill levels. Whether you're puzzling solo or bringing a team, it's a great way to meet others, challenge yourself, and have fun.

We're also offering a special Puzzle Play event featuring a NEW unpublished Origins-themed puzzle from our Cobble Hill Family Pieces 350 line. Designed with small, medium, and large pieces, it's perfect for all ages and experience levels.

Puzzle Play runs in two formats at the same time using the same puzzle:

• Solo entry for individual puzzlers
• Family table (up to four players) where one registration covers the whole table (family members only)

Whether you join on your own or as a group, it's a fun and flexible way to experience competitive puzzling together.

Event Schedule

Note that the "Time" is when the event starts. Arrive at the time listed to check-in, find your table, and hear the instructions. The "Duration" is the allotted amount of time from when we start the event. However, many people may finish in well under the duration time. You may continue puzzling until the end of the duration time, which will be announced. For the Gauntlet games on Sunday, it's usually a slower day and the only event - so feel free to stay and complete your puzzles until the event area closes at 4PM. 

Event Descriptions

Intro to Speed Puzzling 

This is a short session on the basics of speed puzzling and how you can connect with the community. We'll also have a 100 piece puzzle for you to try out. 

Puzzle Play - do not miss this event!

This is one 350 piece puzzle that is for pure fun to kick off the Tournament of Pieces weekend! We will have a countdown, so for puzzlers who want to time themselves against their friends or teammates, they can start their own timer. All others can play for the duration of the event to simply enjoy the adorable puzzle - we can't wait for you to see it!

Puzzle Chess:

Start with six fast-paced qualifying games to earn your place. The top players advance to the knockout rounds, where each match brings them closer to the final table - and the championship. This game requires a free chess clock, which you can download on a smart phone. Links to the app and more Puzzle Chess details, here:

https://www.cobblehillpuzzles.com/pages/puzzle-chess-100-piece

Are you wondering about how much time it will take?

Single Match Timing

Each match includes:

• A short setup period (usually just a few minutes to build the puzzle frame)
• Each player has 5 minutes on their timer

That means the actual gameplay portion is up to 10 minutes per match, plus setup.
Most matches aren't more than 15 minutes total.

Qualifying Rounds

There are two qualifier rounds, and each round includes three puzzle matches per player.

• 3 matches per round × ~10 - 20 minutes each
• = about 30 to 60 minutes per qualifier round

Across both qualifiers, the total time is:

• Up to about 2 hours total, depending on pacing. (Actual time may be shorter if matches finish quickly.)

We may also take a short intermission after Qualifier Round 2.

Knockout Rounds

If you advance, the format changes:

• Each match is one puzzle only
• There are five knockout rounds total
• The final round (Championship) is a best-of-three

Because fewer puzzles are played per round, matches are generally more focused and can vary in length depending on competition speed. Come out and have a good time with us!

The Puzzle Champion will get a $100 gift card, plus a Cheers to the Puzzle Chess Champion travel mug. 

The Ohio State Cup

These classic speed puzzling games are brought to you in partnership with the Ohio Jigsaw Puzzle Association. 

There will be a Solo, Pairs, and Teams event. All tables are 8' x 30". Solo and Pairs will share a table, while Teams will have a table to themselves. Thanks to Zakco for sponsoring the table dividers to help make table management much better!

Ohio State Cup will provide ranking for table assignments to the best of their knowledge. Players under 16 are permitted to play, as long as there is a 16+ player playing with them. 

While this event will likely have the speedier puzzlers, it is open to everyone, no qualifier needed. Prizes will be awarded to first through third as either a Cobble Hill gift card or puzzle picks at the booth, plus awards from Ohio Jigsaw Puzzle Association. 

• 1st place is $100 CH gift card or four puzzles
• 2nd place is $75 CH gift card or three puzzles
• 3rd place is $50 CH gift card or two puzzles
• Plus, a commemorative award

Time limit to complete the puzzle:

• Solo: 1.5 hours
• Pairs: 1.25 hours
• Teams: 2.25 hours

The Final Great Eight

What a great way to warm up for the Ohio State Cup Teams event. With two teams of four, you’ll be working side by side to tackle two 1000 piece puzzles and see how well your group performs under pressure. And with eight people in the mix, there’s plenty of energy, strategy, and teamwork needed to bring it all together right to the finish. 

1-2-3-Go Team Go! - FREE EVENT

Come ready to play a free, high-energy relay designed to shake off the pressure and get you moving. Whether you’re warming up for your next event or winding down from the Ohio State Cup Teams event, this fast-paced challenge will keep you guessing and on your toes. Two teams of four will work together to complete two NEW UNPUBLISHED 1000 piece puzzles relay style. We will help form your team of eight, so feel free to sign up on your own or with a friend.

Again? What a Mix Up!

Are you ready to put teamwork to the test in this fast-paced pairs challenge? Start with a smaller puzzle to learn the image, then dive into the real twist. Both teams race to complete larger puzzles from the same jumbled pile of pieces. Can you and your partner stay sharp, sort fast, and piece it all together before your opponents?

The Gauntlet: Sequence or The Gauntlet: Build Your Battle

Both games are high-energy, stamina-based events where teams of four race to complete multiple puzzles before their competitors.

These games run at the same time, so you’ll need to choose just one.

• If you’re newer to speed puzzling, we recommend starting with Sequence - it’s a great way to get comfortable with the format and pace.

• If you’re more experienced, or you’ve got a well-practiced team, Build Your Battle offers a bigger challenge with more puzzles to conquer.