A regional Victorian doctor, Hannah Farthing, found herself drawn into the world of competitive jigsaw puzzling after her international travel plans were thwarted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Embracing the hobby during lockdown, Farthing’s childhood love for puzzles transformed into a finely honed skill, propelling her to represent Australia at the World Puzzle Championships in Spain.
The World Puzzle Championships, a vibrant gathering of participants from across the globe, offer a unique competitive platform where contenders race against the clock to complete a 500-piece puzzle. Dr. Farthing, based in Trafalgar, showcased her prowess by finishing the puzzle in an impressive 49 minutes and 4 seconds, securing the 29th position out of 1,100 competitors in the solo event.
As the fervor for competitive puzzle-solving gains momentum, the Australian Jigsaw Puzzle Association highlights the burgeoning interest in this domain, with an increasing number of countries establishing their puzzle leagues. The association’s president, D’Arne Healy, a seasoned puzzler, underscored the gratifying nature of jigsaw puzzles, emphasizing their role in fostering essential skills and intergenerational bonding.
Healy’s brainchild, the Australian Jigsaw Puzzle Association, emerged just before the onset of the pandemic, coinciding with a surge in puzzle-related activities during lockdowns. The association’s community, now comprising 15,000 members nationwide, serves as a hub for puzzle enthusiasts to engage in races and collaborative puzzle-solving sessions, transcending geographical boundaries.
Reflecting on the competitive aspect of puzzling, Healy attested to the sport-like fervor that envelops participants during championships, likening the supportive camaraderie to that of traditional sporting events. The association’s efforts to introduce puzzle competitions in schools aim to further democratize the pursuit of competitive puzzling, enabling students to partake in state and national-level contests.
Farthing’s journey from a leisurely pastime to a competitive endeavor underscores the transformative power of puzzles, offering a meditative escape and a sense of accomplishment amidst challenging times. As she continues to refine her skills and eyes future championships, her story exemplifies the universal appeal and cognitive benefits of engaging in the art of puzzling.
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