In the winter of 1966, The New York Times reported on the jigsaw-puzzle boom across the United States, attributing the phenomenon to a simple “compulsion.” Fast forward almost 60 years, and puzzle culture has blossomed into a vibrant community with online influencers and a prestigious international tournament drawing puzzle enthusiasts from around the globe.
World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship
The World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship, now in its fourth edition, is set to take place this September in the picturesque city of Valladolid, Spain, located over 130 miles northwest of Madrid. With participants from more than 75 countries, the championship will challenge contestants to complete multiple puzzles in a race against time for a modest cash prize and the coveted title of puzzle champion over six exciting days of competition.
Meet Karen Kavett
Among the prominent competitors at the upcoming championship is Karen Kavett, a 33-year-old puzzle enthusiast hailing from Los Angeles. Known for her role in propelling the speed-puzzling craze, Karen has garnered a substantial following on social media platforms since she began creating puzzle-related content in 2018. With over 290,000 subscribers on YouTube, where she is recognized as Karen Puzzles, Karen has become a familiar face in the world of competitive puzzling.
For Karen, puzzles are not just a hobby but a means of livelihood and connection with others. She shared, “When I’m here practicing speed puzzling in my apartment, it makes me feel part of a larger community in a way I hadn’t experienced before with puzzling. For a long time, it was a solitary activity, but now, I have a benchmark to compare myself to fellow enthusiasts worldwide.”
