World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship 2023

January 15, 2024 9:52 AM

Karen Puzzles is a delightful Youtube channel about puzzles and competitive puzzling, including participating and commentating on the 2023 World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship.
posted by roaring beast (10 comments total)

My partner and I both love jigsaw puzzles but we can't have them because if there's one sitting out unsolved it will be worked on to the detriment of everything else because of that sweet sweet dopamine of the "click tap tap" as each piece goes into place.
posted by seanmpuckett at 10:28 AM on January 15 [7 favorites]

I know it is human instinct to turn everything into a competition but I can't think of a less naturally competitive activity than jigsaw puzzles. They're such a cooperative endeavour to me, with everyone diving in to place bits here and there.

My office used to have a jigsaw puzzle we kept on the conference table and we'd place a few pieces during lunch and less serious meetings (it was on a board so for more serious meetings it could go away) and it was honestly a real team building experience.
posted by jacquilynne at 10:48 AM on January 15 [8 favorites]

This looks like a lot of fun. I love jigsaw puzzles and I love the feeling of being in a big room with lots of people thinking very hard (I play in chess and go tournaments regularly and have also enjoyed a couple of crossword puzzle tournaments).

I solve jigsaw puzzles without referring to the picture - to me a lot of the enjoyment comes from finally figuring out where some big patch actually goes - but I can see how having the picture can make the challenge more consistent for everyone.
posted by dfan at 1:16 PM on January 15 [3 favorites]

They should have an olympic style event every four years with boss-level difficulty: each team includes a cat.
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 2:07 PM on January 15 [6 favorites]

Simone Giertz has the ideal playfield nailed
posted by rhizome at 5:22 PM on January 15 [2 favorites]

I know it is human instinct to turn everything into a competition but I can't think of a less naturally competitive activity than jigsaw puzzles.

I dunno, jigsaw puzzles seem to be be really flexible in that manner. Good for a group, but also a perfectly valid activity for one person. And I never knew about puzzle competitions, but it looks like a lot of fun. I'd like to try one, though I'd come in last.
posted by zardoz at 6:46 PM on January 15

I solve jigsaw puzzles without referring to the picture - to me a lot of the enjoyment comes from finally figuring out where some big patch actually goes

Same! I prefer not knowing what the picture is at all.

Loved the energy and enthusiasm of this video. So charming.
posted by Zumbador at 7:51 PM on January 15

Delightful indeed!

I'm also in the don't-want-to-see-the-picture group.
posted by inexorably_forward at 1:40 AM on January 16 [1 favorite]

I’m a big fan of Karen Puzzles! I’ve probably been watching her for over a year now, plus the bonus of her being in the Try Guys video- 4vs1 (the four guys work together to beat a “professional” at their main thing.

The Worlds 2023 coverage was fantastic, including some interesting discussion about the format of Worlds, and how they prioritize international diversity over pure speed when seeding their semi final rounds.
posted by itesser at 1:16 PM on January 17

roaring beast, thanks for posting! I've already looked up the closest speed puzzling contest in 2024, anyone in the Portland Oregon area who wants to register as a duo? My spouse happily watched the video, and was similarly confused why Karen Puzzles said the chairs in the solo puzzle were the hardest section (if you don't look at the picture then you can just match up the lines/joints), but has categorically refused any speed competitions.
posted by spamandkimchi at 9:36 PM on January 20