Kyle’s Puzzle Story: 

Kyle K. (he/him) lives in Utah, and is a fixture in the world of Speed Puzzling as a regular competitor. He is a software engineer who specialized in video game development in college. He considers himself a “creative” at heart, but says he has only held  normal tech jobs thus far.

He has been a puzzle “nut” since he was little, but discovered speed puzzling through Karen Puzzles’ coverage of the World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship 2022. He then attended the 2022 USA JIgsaw Nationals as his first competition.

Kyle appreciates how versatile puzzling is as a hobby. He can puzzle as a way to relax or he can get the adrenaline flowing with a timer. He can enjoy puzzling with family or friends, or he can complete a puzzle alone. He can compete against others or attempt to beat his times on puzzles he has previously completed. Puzzling engages him both mentally and physically, and he sees each new puzzle as a unique challenge! 

Kyle is a notable Twitch streamer, first bringing speed puzzling to his streams in March 2023. He shows a timer on his stream while racing to complete a puzzle, and that paired with building the intensity with high-energy music is what sets his stream apart from others. He offers tips and explains his strategies, talks about how he is preparing for upcoming competitions, and talks about different puzzle brands, and even discusses the latest news from the world of puzzles. He credits fellow USAJPA Member Gma for an immediate rise in followers when she sent her entire live viewership over to Kyle’s channel (known as a “raid”), during his second puzzling stream.

Kyle takes part in most races with SpeedPuzzling.com, attends the St. Paul Winter Carnival, and USA Jigsaw Nationals. He may also participate at the next World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship with a team of all Utah-based puzzlers.

Q&A Time:

What is your best advice for someone who wants to improve their speed puzzling abilities?

“Practice with lots of different kinds of puzzles, and each time, reflect on what did and didn't go well. I ask myself questions like: Why did I slow down at that one part? Could I have completed the sections in a better order? Did I flip/sort/position the pieces well? How helpful was my non-dominant hand? Then I come up with some things to focus on next time and see how it goes. Remember that there is no general winning strategy; you've got to figure out what works best for you. And hype music never hurts!”

What is the puzzle community like in your area?

“We're gradually getting things going since meeting for the first time at the Utah State Championship in September 2023. We gathered for a friendly race a few months later and I'm looking forward to more meetups. There are two Utah teams that I know of, headed to Nationals and I'm thrilled about that. Make sure to join us in the Utah Speed Puzzlers Facebook group if you're looking to get involved.”

What do you enjoy most about the puzzle community?

“Everyone has been extremely friendly and supportive. I can't believe how many friends I've gained in such a short time through puzzling, and many of those friendships have reached beyond the puzzles. I'm impressed by the comradery, especially considering how often some of us compete against each other, and by the dedication, which ensures we have plenty of events to keep us busy and new heights to which we can aspire. All of that combined makes this hobby insanely rewarding for me.”

Are you active in the puzzle community?

“I take part in races both online and in person. I help a tiny bit with things over at SpeedPuzzling.com every once in a while. (Three big cheers for Jonathan and all he does for us there!). Much of my energy goes toward Twitch, where a handful of puzzle streamers like ijustlovepuzzles, PuzzlaLG, Spifariffic, and I are seeing a small, but mighty puzzle community grow. There's lots of love over there and we have a great time.”

Do you have a favorite brand, type, or style of puzzle?

“I like my puzzles to have lots of color. Elena Essex has become my all-time favorite, with Ravensburger and Unidragon up there as well. I adore our Utah-based brand, Dowdle, but don’t ask me to race those!”

Tell us about your puzzling teammates!

“I joke that I'm a puzzling freelancer because I seem to end up with a different group at every event I attend! Shout out to Melynda, Emily, and Karen of One Piece Missing. To Kat, Grey, Josh, and Geoff of Jigsaw Junkies. To Dawne, Andrea, and Kelly of Puzzle Hustle. To my Worlds partner Faith and Utah teammates Mindy and Megan. To my newest teammates Tiffany and Jonathan. Each one of them is a joy to puzzle with and anyone would be lucky to have them as teammates and as friends.”

Do you have a cherished or unforgettable puzzle-related memory?

“A year before I discovered speed puzzling, my grandpa gave me his entire collection of jigsaw puzzles. It took me by surprise that of all the people in his life, I was the one to whom he wanted to give them. Little did we know that he would pass away a few months later, and that I would be using those puzzles to prepare for the National Championship the next year. When I compete, I often wear a German-flag wristband in memory of him and my other late grandpa.”

Connect:

Kyle can be found on Instagram @kindofajigdeal for puzzle-specific content that he plans on growing. He also streams puzzle speed runs multiple nights each week at twitch.tv/kylko