Puzzle enthusiasts raced to finish a jigsaw none of them had seen before in the final of the World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship in Valladolid, Spain, on Sunday. A Dutch biology student came first.
The event drew around 1,700 people from 70 countries, all working against the clock. The organiser said the final puzzle is kept secret and goes on sale on the day it is used.
The winner described ‘pure adrenaline and chaos’, her hands shaking as she waited for the applause. A volunteer said rivals compete hard but also cheer each other on.
The organiser added that this is not a professional sport. Players pay for their own flights and hotels, and some travel from as far as Japan or Australia, year after year.