2025 World Champion
The Speed Puzzling Champion 2025: Meet Weronika Huptas
Written by SOONNESS / October 15, 2025 / Cover Photo: Top 3 speed puzzlers at World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship 2025 - Left to Right: Wiktor Kacprzak(Poland), Weronika Huptas(Poland), Kathi Reiner(Germany) / Photo by Kathi Reiner
Have you ever wondered what it takes to be the fastest puzzler in the world? Every year, the World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship brings together the most talented and dedicated puzzlers from around the globe - and in 2025, Weronika Huptas from Poland took home the gold in both the individual and in pairs alongside her teammate, Anna Kazana.
Weronika has been part of the competitive puzzling scene for years, known for her calm focus and consistency. This year, she completed the 500-piece final in just 39 minutes and 44 seconds, earning her the title of World Champion. Despite her incredible speed, Weronika remains grounded and passionate about the simple joy of puzzling. We had the pleasure of speaking with her about her journey, what keeps her inspired, and how she balances competition with creativity and everyday life.
Here’s her story.
What is your name and where are you based?
My Name is Weronika Huptas. I live in Skarżysko Kościelne, Poland. It's a countryside near Skarżysko-Kamienna.
Tell us about what your ordinary day looks like.
My typical day involves going to work, doing household chores, shopping and taking care of my pets. I have a lot of animals in my house: 2 dogs, 2 cats, 6 rats and fishes. In my free time I read books and do puzzles.
How did you get into the world of puzzling, and specifically speed puzzling?
I have been doing puzzles since I was 3 years old, that's what my parents say. When I was a teenager, I started collecting puzzles - I solved puzzles mainly for fun, but I had never heard of speed-puzzling at that time. My first competition took place two years ago in Krakow. The Polish puzzle company Castorland invited me there. I took part in the 1000 category and took first place. Then I went to other local competitions, and finally my friends talked me into WJPC. The main motivation to take part in the WJPC this year were my friends from the group. I didn't want to let them down and I had to be part of the team. I also promised myself that I would try to do well in the individual and pairs events.
Photo above: Weronika at European Jigsaw Puzzle Championship in Budapest, Hungary (Individual Final 2025).
Take us back to the individual final in Valladolid - what was going through your mind during that 500-piece round you finished in just 39 minutes and 44 seconds?
While composing this final image,I was thinking about everything and nothing. I had a bit of a cold and didn't feel well. I just wanted to finish this puzzle - it was very dark and difficult.
Photo above: Puzzle from Individual Final 2025 at World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship in Valladolid, Spain
You also won gold in the pairs competition with Anna Kazana. How does teamwork change the way you approach a puzzle compared to puzzling solo?
I think Anna Kazana is more organized than me. I like doing puzzles with her. We always share the work, we know what we have to do and we do it well. It's probably more fun than doing it by myself.
Looking back at your earlier competitions, what was one key thing you changed in your training or mindset that made the biggest difference this year?
Until now, I have always tried to be the best. I practiced a lot, focused on the puzzle and tried not to think about what was around me. But at this year's Worlds, I let myself go a bit. I completed the puzzle at my own pace, aiming to simply complete it.
Photos above: Individual Final (top), Pairs Final (bottom)- screenshots from WJPF
You’ve done so many competitions over the years - do you have a favorite memory or a funny moment from one that still makes you smile?
I think the final at WJPC 2024 was so significant when I opened the bag and saw the tigers. This image meant so much to me that I wanted to scream with relief. I love puzzling animals.
How do you typically train for speed puzzling - do you focus more on volume, repetition, or analyzing specific strategies?
This is a difficult question. I don't know if I have a general strategy. I guess I try to be more organized - plan how I arrange my pieces on the table, and that helps me improve my time. Each picture is different and every puzzle will arrange itself in a different way. My training usually looks like this: I work on a variety of different puzzles, including more of the ones I don’t usually like.
When you’re not training, how do you like to enjoy a puzzle just for yourself - music on, tea nearby, or total silence and focus? Any favorite type of puzzles you prefer?
I really like this question! Whenever I puzzle for fun, I like to have something warm to drink at hand, e.g. tea or just water. I like to do it in silence, but music or a movie playing in the background doesn't bother me at all. I really love puzzle images with animals, landscapes and cottage paintings.
Photo above: Weronika's favorite puzzles with animals
What does puzzling give you emotionally or mentally - beyond the trophies and competition results?
Puzzles give me a lot of joy and fulfillment. I have puzzles that I put into a frame and hung in my room, but I also have puzzles that I simply like to do because they are very nice. Puzzles teach me patience, perseverance and self-control. I have collected over 600 boxes of puzzles!
You’ve witnessed the sport evolve a lot. What changes or trends do you think are shaping the future of competitive puzzling?
I don't know, I can only guess. I would like speed-puzzling to be better known and appreciated among people who are not interested in it. Perhaps there will be more local and global competitions and puzzle lovers will become more famous.
Photo above: Weronika posing with her trophy as the 2025 World Champion.
What advice would you give to puzzlers who want to get faster or maybe compete someday?
My advice - don't give up practicing, but above all, enjoy it and don't stress. It's supposed to be fun :)
What do you like to do outside of puzzling that helps balance your life or even indirectly supports your performance?
I like reading books, it helps me break away from reality. Sometimes I also draw, do cross-stitch and write my own stories. I also like spending time in nature and taking care of my animals. It's relaxing. I also wrote a book called "Silver" and one in the works is called "Wolf's Diary". I would like to sell them on Amazon in the future.
And finally - after achieving the world championship, what’s next for you? Will you be participating next year?
For now, first of all, I need a break from speed-puzzling. But who knows, maybe next year I will show up at a competition again.
Photo above: Awards ceremony at the World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship 2025 (top), awards that Weronika received over the years (middle), this year's trophy for the world championship at Valladolid, Spain (bottom).