Join us from 1pm-7pm (Eastern Time) for the 13th annual edition of Lollapuzzoola, the world's greatest crossword puzzle tournament ever held on a Saturday in August.
Lollapuzzoola will be a virtual crossword tournament, which means that you'll be solving from your computer. You will need internet service to participate in real time with the rest of the tournament.
When you purchase your ticket, you'll get a confirmation email which will contain additional information – including a unique passcode that will grant you access to the tournament.
Scroll down to read more about the tournament, and check some frequently asked questions (along with hopefully helpful answers).
There are four divisions for Lollapuzzoola, and when you buy your ticket below, you'll need to pick which one is for you. Express, Local, and Pairs are for tournament competitors; "Next Day" is for solvers who want puzzles, but no tournament pressure.
Tickets to the live tournament are $20. The "Next Day" Division package is $10.
A portion of the proceeds from this tournament will be donated to Color of Change and the Save the Children Coronavirus Response Fund.
Although the shopping cart below will allow you add multiple tickets, we ask that you register a separate time for each computer that will be logged in for the tournament. For example, if you have three family members who are all playing individually, please register three separate times. But if all of you are crowded around one screen to play, you can register just once.
Payments are handled via PayPal. If you have a PayPal account, you can use that – or if not, you can simply use a credit or debit card. If you don't like online payment plans, contact us, and we'll work out another option.
We will be hosting a live Twitch stream for the duration of the tournament. You do not need to be a member of Twitch to watch the stream, but you will need to create a (totally free) account if you want to participate in the live chat thread that accompanies the stream.
12:30pm – Welcome and Introductions
1:00-3:00 – Puzzles 1, 2, and 3
3:00-3:30 – Break
3:30-4:00 – Bonus Game #1
4:00-5:30 – Puzzles 4 and 5
5:30-6:00 – Bonus Game #2
6:00-7:00 – Championship Rounds
7:00 – Farewell and Virtual Pizza Party (BYOP)
The Bonus Games are just that – bonus. They are optional, and will have no bearing on the tournament scores.
The Championship puzzle will be available to everyone, but only the finalists will be in contention for the tournament titles.
You wanna know who's making your puzzles? Check this out:
These are listed alphabetically by last name, and the order for the tournament has not been announced.
Follow us on social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram), and in the days to come, we'll be posting profiles of our constructors so you can learn more about them!
TBA.
Yes, that's right. It's all still going to be based on speed and accuracy, but the specifics of the scoring system will be revised this year to account for the online-ness of the event.
Wait ... maybe I missed it, but you're not really doing a live tournament this year?
We're doing a VIRTUAL tournament. You'll play from your computer. We are NOT meeting anywhere in person. You solve from home, we stream via Twitch. It's ALMOST the same thing.
Wait ... so do need a computer or a pencil?
You need a computer. All the solving will happen via a web page. You'll log into the web page (with the email address associated with your ticket registration plus a passcode we send you), and solve the puzzles there. At the same time, you can watch and chat with our Twitch stream. This will work best with either two browser windows, or a single browser with multiple tabs.
The tournament should work on a tablet as well, but we recommend a computer (desktop or laptop). The tournament will not work well (or possibly at all) from a phone.
Wait ... how will the Pairs Division work?
Only one person per pair needs to register for the tournament.
As for the solving, there are two ways to do this. The easy way is that you're both sitting in front of the same computer, looking at the same screen. One of you types (probably). As a pair, you submit one grid for scoring.
The other way is when you're not together. For this scenario, let's call the two people in the pair Player A and Player B.
Player A – Register for the tournament, and be sure to purchase the Pairs Division ticket. On the day of the tournament, set up a Zoom call (or any video chat with screen share capabilities) with Player B. You will log into the website. You will access the puzzles. You will screenshare your web browser with Player B. You will do all the typing into the grid. And in the end, you will submit your puzzle as the official grid for your team.
Player B – You are in the Zoom call with Player A, seeing their screen share. Since you'll both be able to talk freely with each other, you can discuss the puzzle, the clues, whatever. But only Player A will be able to type into the grid and submit it for scoring.
We do not have the technology for the two of you to actually work on the same grid at the same time. So a screen share (as described above) is the best way to go.
Wait ... what about the "Next Day" Division?
We'll send you an email with the puzzles in two formats – PUZ (for solving with Across Lite) and PDF (for printing and solving on paper). You can compare your scores to the tournament leaderboard, but we will not be doing additional calculations to incorporate the "Next Day" Division scores into that leaderboard.
Wait ... I don't see the register button or dropdown menu or anything!
The two most common reasons that part of this page doesn't show up are 1) you have an ad blocker which is hiding it, or 2) you're looking at this page via Facebook mobile, which doesn't work very well. Either turn off your blockers, or move to a computer instead of a phone or tablet to complete your purchase.
Wait ... I want to participate in Lollapuzzoola, but I can't really swing the ticket price right now.
That's totally understandable. We want you to play with us as well. Send us an email (brian@bemoresmarter.com), and we'll work something out.
Wait ... I have a question that's not listed here!
That's okay, just send us an email, and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
Lollapuzzoola is a crossword tournament held annually on a Saturday in August. Traditionally held in New York City, this year's tournament will be virtual – but the fun and games remain the same! Puzzles are commissioned for Lollapuzzoola, and made by the best puzzle makers around.
Lollapuzzoola is cohosted by Brian Cimmet and Patrick Blindauer. Contestants battle in several divisions: Express (for speedy solvers), Local (for normal Earthlings), Pairs, and the Next Day Division for people who want to solve on their own terms.
There are seven tournament puzzles as well as other additional games. This year, with the tournament taking place online, you will have to provide your own snacks and other distractions.
We will also have a live Twitch stream alongside the online solving interface.
Follow Lollapuzzoola on Facebook and Twitter, or check out our Wikipedia page.
Everyone solves the same five puzzles, and is scored on the same metrics of speed and accuracy. The best solvers in each of the Express and Local Divisions will compete in the Championship Finals which we hope to stream to you live.
Solo players compete in either the Express or Local Division. Express is for people who are top 20% finishers at Lollapuzzoola or other tournaments, Local is for everyone else. Pairs competitors play in a separate division.
The official tournament events run from 1pm to 6pm (Eastern Time). There will be a championship round at the end, and other non-tournament games during the day.
The Next Day Division can be done non-competitively at your leisure.
Lollapuzzoola has grown from a small church basement classroom with 23 contestants in 2008 to the largest crossword tournament in New York City (over 900 players in 2017, between the live tournament and the At-Home Division).
Our primary focus is entertaining you. Lollapuzzoola is built on the foundation of making puzzles and puzzle tournaments fun for everyone, regardless of experience or skill. We look forward to sharing that fun with all of you!
If you have any questions for us, click the button below to send us a message.