Kirsty Williams experienced a challenging day at the World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship held in September 2022 in Valladolid, Spain. On a hot day where temperatures exceeded 30°C, the air conditioning failed, leaving competitors in a sweltering environment. Williams, who was seated in the front row and under the scrutiny of a livestream camera, began to feel unwell even as she sorted her edge pieces. She noted, "Before I had even finished flipping and sorting my edge pieces, I could feel pins and needles in my hands."
Despite her rigorous training, which included completing the very puzzle she encountered in 35 minutes on a good day, the intense heat affected her focus. Williams struggled with basic puzzle assembly, stating, "I had tried to join a centre piece onto an edge piece, like, three times. And I was like, I know this physically can't go there. What am I doing?" This unfortunate experience contrasted with her more recent success at Manitoba's first regional competition where she excelled in individual, pairs, and teams competitions.
Following her success in Manitoba, Williams has returned to her training routine, completing an average of two puzzles a day in preparation for the world championship scheduled for next month in Spain. Her practice includes working diligently during lunch hours, where her boss has allocated a space for her, and honing her skills on 99-piece puzzles to finish them within five minutes.
The growing popularity of speed puzzling can be traced back to the COVID-19 pandemic, as many individuals like Williams discovered a newfound passion for puzzles. In response to this interest, the Canadian Jigsaw Puzzle Association was established in 2022 and organized its inaugural national competition in 2023, which attracted around 200 participants. This number surged to nearly 1,000 attendees at the following event in May 2023 in Georgetown, Ontario. The age range of participants varied widely, from an 11-year-old boy to individuals in their 70s.
On a larger scale, last year's world championship saw approximately 3,800 competitors, an impressive rise from fewer than 1,000 in 2022. The enthusiasm for puzzling has led to the formation of new Canadian puzzle companies such as Elewhite Inc. in Calgary, which was founded in 2021, and Villager Puzzles in Comox, B.C., which started in 2023.
For those looking to enhance their skills, various boot camps are now available. These are led by organizers like Rebecca Waddell, who previously organized the Manitoba regionals. Attendees learn techniques such as "the art of the flip," where they practice quickly flipping and sorting puzzle pieces. Waddell has significantly improved her own time and now completes this task in four minutes. Aspiring puzzlers also memorize puzzle images before attempting to sketch them from memory, illustrating the level of focus and concentration that competitive puzzling requires.
During training sessions, participants typically start with a practice puzzle in a lighthearted atmosphere, but this quickly shifts to intense concentration as they progress. Waddell describes the shift in mood: "At the end of the class, we do it again. And it's like, you could hear a pin drop. Everybody's focused and racing as hard as they can."
Collaboration in team events introduces additional strategies, where teammates must communicate effectively about their roles. Waddell shared her personal experience with her partner, a 22-year-old engineering graduate, noting, "She's a 22-year-old engineering graduate ... and I'm a 51-year-old elementary school teacher, and we're best pals." However, pressures can lead to miscommunication during intense moments. Williams recounted an instance where she accidentally slapped her teammate's hand as they both reached for pieces, yet there were no lasting hard feelings as they succeeded together.
Ultimately, both Williams and Waddell emphasize that speed is not a prerequisite for enjoyment within this community. Waddell reassures that one does not need to possess remarkable speed or even aspire to become a speed puzzler to participate in events. The only requirement is a genuine love for puzzles.
