For San Mateo native Hannah Doyle, working toward a Ph.D. in electrical engineering isn’t enough of a mental challenge. In her spare time, the University of California, Berkeley, student also puts her brain to use training and participating in speed puzzling competitions on a national and world stage.
The 25-year-old started speed puzzling only about a year ago, but in that short amount of time, she placed second out of 600 participants in the national championship, completing a 500-piece puzzle in 40 minutes. Participants also compete in teams, with Doyle’s all-female group dubbed the Girls in STEP — rather than STEMP. The P stands for puzzling, of course.
“It happens that a lot of speed puzzlers are also in engineering fields. I think it’s the visual parts of science and engineering that help you with the visual challenge of a puzzle,” she said. “It attracts a lot of people who are into math and science.”
She also placed second in the California championships, held at College of San Mateo. CSM will also host the next state championship this fall.
Next month, Doyle is taking her skills international and heading to Spain to compete in the World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship, which will have more than 1,000 competitors from around the world.
Doyle said she trains for the world championship after work every day, often by livestreaming a puzzle practice on her Twitch account.
“That helps me stay motivated to practice,” she said.
For many, puzzling is a way to unwind, and Doyle also enjoyed the causal hobby growing up with family. She started going to puzzle swaps in Berkeley, where individuals exchange puzzles with one another.
“I had an endless supply of free puzzles that sustained it,” she said.
Eventually, she came across a video of a speed puzzler and was quickly intrigued.
“I like that it requires my focus,” she said. “It’s a nice way to relax at the end of the day, and with speed puzzling, I like the competitive aspect. I like that I get to do puzzling with other people now.”
(3) comments
Thanks, Alyse DiNapoli, for this human interest story. I didn’t know speed puzzling competitions or puzzle swaps were a thing. Good luck to Hannah Doyle in placing or, better yet, winning the World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship. I wonder if I can finish a 500-piece puzzle in 40 minutes. Probably not but I’ll set a timer the next time I do a 500-piecer to see how I rank. I’m assuming I can’t “force in” pieces.
I have always wanted to be a speed puzzler, so this article reignited my interest in in. I am especially interested in the team aspect of it.
Don't put my books in the advertisement section of your website news section. This is a real dishonor. I feel very ashamed I have any connection with San Mateo.
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