Call it a side-by-side competition or a contest within a contest! Whatever you think, feel, or see about it, this competition is definitely new and first ever to be conducted in the Philippines. Other than the most awaited national finals of the 3^rd Philippine Sudoku Super Challenge, the Mathematics Trainers' Guild, Philippines with Business Mirror and SM Malls have joined forces to conduct another thrilling and exciting Sudoku relay challenge dubbed as MTG-BM-SM Interschool Sudoku Relay Team Competition at 9AM on Saturday, January 31, 2009 at SM North, Quezon City.

 The MTG-BM-SM Interschool Sudoku Relay Team Competition is a special feature of the main contest which is the 3^rd Philippine Sudoku Super Challenge. It comes in two categories, elementary and high school with only, just only, six teams for every category that will be selected to be official participants in a First Come, First Serve Basis.

 Of course, each school can only send one team composed of four (4) members representing either the elementary or high school as its entry. Thus, a high school team must composed of four (4) participants representing each year level while members of the elementary team must be a combination of either one -Grade 4, one -Grade 5 and two -Grade 6 or one -Grade 4, two -Grade 5 and one -Grade 6 or two -Grade 4, one each for Grades 5 and 6.

 All team members of the participating schools will answer four (4) Sudoku puzzles which come in various degrees of difficulty in 20 minutes. Below are the mechanics of the MTG-BM-SM Inter-School Sudoku Relay Team Competition

1. This competition is limited only to six (6) participating teams for each category. Therefore, registration to be official participants will be on a First Come, First Serve Basis.
2. The following minutes are given to every member of the team to solve his/her puzzle: 1^st member- 3 minutes, 2^ndmember- 4 minutes, 3^rd member- 6 minutes and 4^thmember- 7 minutes. If any team member solves completely and correctly the Sudoku puzzle less than the allotted minutes, he/she can proceed solving the next puzzle until his/her remaining time is consumed, and only then the next participant can come in.
3. If the succeeding participant notices an error in the solution of the puzzle of the previous participant, the former is allowed to make the necessary correction provided he/she does not exceed his/her allotted time.
4. If any participant fails to complete the puzzle within the allotted time, the succeeding participant, before going to work with his/her puzzle must continue solving the puzzle left unfinished by the previous participant. After doing so, the succeeding participant can solve with his/her puzzle for the rest of the remaining time.
5. To start with, the 1^st participant, who will be given 3 minutes, will solve the Sudoku puzzle based on the given instructions. After solving the puzzle, the participant of the team must write the digits in the cells marked A through D in the corresponding cells of the second puzzle.
6. The 2^nd participant, who will be given 4 minutes, will solve the Sudoku puzzle as instructed by the given directions. After solving the puzzle, the 2^nd participant of the team must write the digits in the cells marked E through H in the corresponding cells of the third puzzle.
7. The 3^rd participant, who will be given 6 minutes, will solve the Sudoku puzzle as instructed by the given directions. After solving the puzzle, the 3^rd participant of the team must write the digits in the cells marked I through L in the corresponding cells of the fourth puzzle.
8. The 4^th participant, who will be given 7 minutes, will solve the Sudoku puzzle as instructed by the given directions.
9. Any team that finishes solving all the four (4) Sudoku puzzles completely and correctly before the allotted time will earn bonus of 20 points.
10. The team with the highest aggregate score will be declared as the champion while team with the second highest aggregate score will be pronounced Second Placer and the team with third highest aggregate score will be awarded Third Placer.
11. In the event a situation arises not covered by any rules or mechanics of this contest, the members of the Contest Committee shall determine the final judgment and pronouncement.      .
12. The decision of the Board of Judges is final and irrevocable.

 Interested schools may email your confirmation at rjd182001@yahoo on or before the deadline on January 19, 2009. Furthermore, the MTG National Office will immediately notify the first six schools that will be officially qualified in the said SUDOKU relay contest.