How the peaceful hobby of puzzling turned into an international competition of speed

https://i.cbc.ca/ais/e0d359f8-9e9f-4a79-aff4-ec5066ba018c,1784038054947/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C69%2C2999%2C1686%29%3BResize%3D%28620%29" title="Cameron Bennett of Nova Scotia competes at the 2026 Canadian Nationals in the individual event.

Bennett completed the 500-piece puzzle in just over 52 minutes." width="620" />

The concept of speed puzzling is simple: get a puzzle — often 500 pieces — and see how fast you can put it together.

Times vary widely depending on the puzzle's image, but the world's best speed puzzlers can typically finish a 500-piece puzzle in under an hour.