🎯 What is the Daily Tournament?
The Daily Tournament is Mini Sudoku's premier competitive mode where players from around the world compete on the same two puzzles every day. Unlike regular play where you can solve unlimited puzzles, the tournament gives everyone the exact same challenge - making it a true test of skill, speed, and strategy.
Every day at midnight (London time), a fresh tournament begins with two brand-new puzzles. You get one attempt to complete both puzzles and submit your score. Your performance is instantly ranked on the global leaderboard, where you can see how you stack up against thousands of other players.
🌟 Why Play Daily Tournaments?
- Fair Competition: Everyone solves the same puzzles under the same conditions
- Daily Fresh Start: New tournament every 24 hours means new chances to top the leaderboard
- Global Leaderboard: Compete with players from around the world
- One Shot Challenge: You only get one attempt - make it count!
- Track Progress: See your rank and compare with top players
📋 How It Works
1. Tournament Schedule
A new tournament starts every day at 00:00 midnight London time (Europe/London timezone). This ensures players worldwide have a fair 24-hour window to participate. The tournament runs all day and resets at midnight with brand new puzzles.
2. Puzzle Mix by Day
The difficulty of the two puzzles varies by day of the week to keep things interesting:
- Monday & Tuesday: Easy + Medium puzzles (great way to start the week!)
- Wednesday & Thursday: Medium + Hard puzzles (mid-week challenge)
- Friday: Hard + Hard puzzles (end the week with intensity!)
- Saturday & Sunday: Medium + Hard puzzles (weekend warriors)
3. One Attempt Only
Unlike other game modes, you can only submit your tournament score once per day. This makes every move count! Once you complete both puzzles and submit your score, that's your final entry for the day. You can still view the leaderboard after completing the tournament.
4. Solve Both Puzzles
You must complete both puzzles in the tournament to submit your score. Your total score is the sum of both puzzle scores. The game tracks your progress - complete puzzle 1, then move to puzzle 2. Take your time, but remember: speed affects your score!
🎯 Scoring System
The tournament uses the same sophisticated scoring system as our main game mode. Your score for each puzzle is calculated based on multiple factors:
Base Score Formula
Score = (30,000 - Time Penalty - Hint Penalty + Accuracy Bonus) × Difficulty Multiplier
| Component | Calculation | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | 30,000 points | Starting point for every puzzle |
| Time Penalty | -5 points per second | Speed matters! Solve faster for higher scores |
| Hint Penalty | -1,500 points per hint | Each hint significantly reduces your score |
| Accuracy Bonus | +5,000 (0 errors) +1,000 (1-2 errors) |
Perfect solving = massive bonus |
Difficulty Multipliers
- Easy: 1.0x (no multiplier)
- Medium: 1.5x (50% bonus)
- Hard: 2.0x (double points!)
💡 Scoring Tips
- Speed vs Accuracy: A flawless solve is worth 5,000 bonus points - more than 16 minutes of time savings!
- Avoid Hints: Each hint costs 1,500 points - equivalent to 5 minutes on the clock
- Hard Puzzles Pay More: Hard puzzles give 2x points, so mastering them is key to topping the leaderboard
- Perfect Friday: Two hard puzzles with perfect accuracy can score over 100,000 points!
🏆 Leaderboard & Rankings
After completing the tournament, you can view the global leaderboard showing the top 20 players. The leaderboard displays:
- Rank: Your position among all tournament participants
- Player Nickname: The name you chose when submitting
- Total Score: Combined score from both puzzles
- Individual Scores: Breakdown showing P1 and P2 scores
If you're not in the top 20, don't worry! The leaderboard will also show your personal rank below the top players, so you always know where you stand.
🎮 How to Play
- Visit the Daily Tournament: Click "Daily Tournament" from the home page
- Start Puzzle 1: The first puzzle loads automatically - begin solving!
- Complete Puzzle 1: Fill all cells correctly to move to puzzle 2
- Solve Puzzle 2: Complete the second puzzle
- Enter Your Nickname: After finishing both puzzles, you'll be prompted to enter your display name
- Submit & View Rankings: Your score is submitted and you can immediately see the leaderboard
- Come Back Tomorrow: Check your rank throughout the day, then try again tomorrow for a new challenge!
⚡ Pro Strategies
1. Start with Scanning
Before making your first move, scan the entire grid. Look for rows, columns, and boxes that are almost complete. This 5-10 second investment helps you spot the easy fills and plan your approach.
2. Work on Easy Wins First
Fill in the obvious numbers first. This builds momentum, gives you more constraints for harder cells, and reduces mental load. You'll solve faster with fewer mistakes.
3. Use Process of Elimination
When stuck on a cell, identify which numbers are already used in that row, column, and box. Often you'll find only one or two possibilities remain, making the choice obvious.
4. Avoid the Hint Button
At 1,500 points per hint, using hints is extremely costly. Instead, take a breath, scan the grid again, and use logic. You'll improve your skills and keep your score high.
5. Check Before Submitting
Since you only get one attempt, double-check your work before filling the last cell. One mistake can cost you 4,000-5,000 points in accuracy bonuses. Taking 30 extra seconds to verify is worth it.
6. Learn from the Best
Study the top players on the leaderboard. What scores do they achieve? Use that as your benchmark. If the #1 player scored 95,000, you know a near-perfect, fast solve is possible.
🎯 Daily Challenge Goals
Beginner Goal: Complete both puzzles without using Give Up
Intermediate Goal: Score 40,000+ total points
Advanced Goal: Score 70,000+ total points
Expert Goal: Break into the Top 20 on the leaderboard
Master Goal: Achieve #1 ranking with a near-perfect score
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play the tournament more than once per day?
No, you can only submit your score once per day. However, after completing the tournament, you can still view the leaderboard and see how other players are performing.
What happens if I close the browser mid-tournament?
Your progress is tied to your device session. If you close the browser, you may need to start over. We recommend completing both puzzles in one sitting.
When exactly does the tournament reset?
The tournament resets at midnight London time (00:00 Europe/London timezone). A new tournament with fresh puzzles is automatically created.
Can I change my nickname after submitting?
Currently, you cannot change your nickname after submission. Choose wisely when you enter your name!
Do I need to create an account?
No! The tournament uses anonymous authentication. Your device is assigned a unique ID, so no sign-up required. However, this means your progress is device-specific.
Why do puzzle difficulties vary by day?
We vary difficulties to keep the tournament interesting and accessible. Monday/Tuesday's easier puzzles welcome beginners, while Friday's double-hard challenge tests the experts. There's something for everyone!
🚀 Ready to Compete?
The Daily Tournament is the ultimate test of your Mini Sudoku skills. Every day brings a new challenge, a fresh leaderboard, and another chance to prove you're the best. Whether you're aiming for the top spot or just trying to beat your personal best, the tournament offers competitive fun for all skill levels.
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Good luck, and may your scores reach new heights! 🎯