Jigsaw puzzle competitions are experiencing explosive growth across Australia, with thousands of competitors taking part in everything from state championships to international tournaments.
Rise in Popularity
Competitive puzzling has seen a huge uplift since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Dianne Mayne from the Australian Jigsaw Puzzle Association. Speaking on The Morning Show on Thursday, Mayne said, “They’re huge, a lot bigger than people think. Since COVID, obviously, that was when jigsaw puzzling really came about. There are state competitions, national competitions, a lot of local competitions.”
Participation in the association has surged in recent years as more Australians embrace screen-free hobbies and creative challenges. The competitive times are staggering, with the winner of last year’s Australian Championships completing a 500-piece puzzle in just 36 minutes. Internationally, competitors can finish in about 30 minutes.
National Team Success
Australia’s national team, the Aussie All-Stars, is currently ranked fourth in the world and competes in international tournaments that can span multiple days. The competitive jigsaw puzzling scene in Australia is booming, with competitions featuring individual, pairs, and team events. Participants tackle puzzles they have never seen before. At the World Championships, organisers typically use new puzzle releases to ensure a level playing field.
Strategies and Techniques
Mayne explained that competition strategy goes far beyond the traditional approach of starting with border pieces. “Most people will just tip the puzzle out, flip the pieces over and go straight for the border,” she said. But for puzzles with similar-looking borders, competitors often start by building recognisable images in the centre first. Round puzzles require working from the middle outward, while puzzles with multiple smaller images can be approached like solving several tiny puzzles simultaneously.
Getting Involved
Mayne said many newcomers are now trying competitive puzzling for the first time, with membership not required to participate in events. However, members do receive benefits, including early entry to competitions and discounts on puzzle purchases.
