Another 2026 premiere for me: speedpuzzling in Dortmund (24.-25th Jan. 2026)

I have been following the World Championship and the German Championship in Speed Puzzling for a while now, and I am always amazed at how fast some people can solve puzzles. Talent makes the master, but so do well-trained eye-hand coordination and practice, practice, practice.

 Last year, a dear friend asked me if I would like to attend an event in Dortmund. Why not? It's close by, the location is near Germany's largest soccer stadium (BVB), and—most importantly—many members of the puzzle forum had also registered to attend. A small forum meeting + a chance to meet new friends.

 

The evening before the main competition we met in a hotel near-by, the Radisson blu

 

 

 and practised how to coordinate various tasks like assorting, assembling and filling gaps without loosing precious time.

 

 500 pcs.

Speedpuzzle.eu, Artist: Zoe Kasper

 500 pcs.

Speedpuzzle.eu, Artists: Aria, Quinn and Zoe Kasper

 

 

500 pcs. 

"Paper.Money.Medusa" by Linn Schiffmann

 

 On the day of the competition, I was actually quite relaxed. I hadn't registered for the first two competitions (individual, 500 pieces, beginners and advanced speed puzzlers). I wanted to take my time and watch first.

 

 The event took place at the sports hall TSC Eintracht Dortmund 

 

 

still life of a speed puzzling:

...someone already finished the competition, left the space, completed jigsaw puzzle and box aside

At 14:00 it was my turn with my dear friend.

 The puzzle box is packed and may only be opened (torn open) after a countdown.

The card shows our names and space left to enter the time of completion 

 

Obviously there are no pictures from the development process, but here we are

 

 

52 minutes and 10 seconds

  = 28th place - of 61 pairs

 

Shortly after this competition we started as a team of four and a 1000pc-puzzle

 

"Cat with a hat" by Linn Schiffmann

 

1:26:10 = almost 4 minutes before the timeslot of 90 minutes closed.

 = 12th place - of 24 teams

 

at the end of the main event a tombola took place and the original painting "Cat with a hat" was raffled off  

 

Photo: Lia K, used with kind permission from Linn Schiffmann

 

The Olympic spirit counts: taking part matters!

 Hope to see you in Dortmund next year, because I would like to re-start again.

 

 

 

Statistics by puzzleverein.de 

 

 

	Gesamtanzahl an Teilnehmer	200
	Speed-Puzzeln Einzel Einsteiger	55
	Speed-Puzzeln Einzel Fortgeschrittene	50
	Speed-Puzzeln Paar	120
	Speed-Puzzeln Team	80
1	Wettbewerbe	119
2	Wettbewerbe	35
3	Wettbewerbe	42
4	Wettbewerbe	2
5	Wettbewerbe	2
	Österreich	4
	Belgien	3
	Deutschland	185
	Spanien	1
	Frankreich	1
	Ungarn	1
	Niederlande	1
	Neuseeland	1
	Individuelle Neutrale Athleten	2
	Vereinigte Staaten von Amerika	1

 

 

 

 

Thank you!