EAST HAMPTON >> A teen’s puzzling prowess has earned her a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records.
15 year old Deepika Ravichandran, a junior at the University High School of Science and Engineering, is the fastest puzzler on the planet, logging in at 13 minutes and seven seconds to complete the official Guinness puzzle on May 9. Her time beats the current record of 13 minutes and 14 seconds.
Deepika has a knack for piecing together some of life’s complicated jigsaw puzzles. As her fingers put together the puzzle at warp speed that day at her high school in Hartford, excitement grew to a crescendo of cheers and hollers from the audience.
Deepika, has a strong science, technology, engineering and mathematics background from her time at Hartford’s Annie Fisher STEM magnet school, where her first attempt at 12 years old took place as she worked to complete the Guinness World Records Hasbro puzzle at the town library.
Though she fell short during her previous attempt, she managed to come within about a minute of current record.
More than 30 people watched the puzzle marvel last week, including six official witness — educators to sport coaches — Channel 3 Eyewitness news staff and a videographer who filmed Deepika’s attempt
This world record is for the fastest time to complete the official Guinness World Records 250-piece jigsaw puzzle, like no other, which are square or rectangle shaped with linear edges. This one is an oval shape with no picture on the box. Most of the pieces cannot be told apart.
“There are pieces that are such odd shapes, I don’t know what goes where,” said Deepika.
Despite that, she assembled 18 pieces per minute.
Although she acknowledges her ability to solve them quickly, Deepika does not exactly know what makes her successful. “It’s my thing. I have a talent for it,” she said.
Part of Deepika’s world record attempt was to raise funds for her UNICEF high school club enough to feed at least three square meals for a day to 250 (one each for each of the puzzle pieces) needy children.
Deepika’s ability to solve puzzles emerged as a young child, when she solved a 101 Dalmatians puzzle her mother gave her in 30 minutes, when she was just 3 years old.
Her favorite puzzle is a 1,000-piece “pretty looking nature scene with dolphins on the horizon and a sunset called ‘God’s Creation,’” she says.
Deepika’s favorite school subject is social studies. When she is not solving puzzles, Deepika says she fills her time reading, drawing and spending time with her family.
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Dave Evans created the 1,000 piece wooden jigsaw puzzle in two hours, 26 minutes and 45 seconds
A jigsaw cutter has attempted to create a world record for the fastest hand-cut puzzle.
Dave Evans, from Weymouth, Dorset, made a 1,000 piece wooden jigsaw puzzle in two hours, 26 minutes and 45 seconds.
He is now waiting for the attempt to be confirmed by Guinness World Records.
He already holds the record for the largest hand cut jigsaw but achieved internet fame when the 40,763-piece puzzle collapsed shortly after he completed it last year.
Mr Evans, who carried out his latest challenge at Poole's Dolphin Shopping Centre, said: "I have got the world's largest record and now, once Guinness has approved it, I'll be able to recognise myself as the fastest, and probably the best, jigsaw cutter in the world."
Never Forget
Mr Evans said he began working as a jigsaw cutter at the age of 15, in what was his first job, when he was paid for the number he created.
He said: "The more you did, the more you earned, so I learnt to cut under those conditions."
The jigsaw he cut for his record attempt featured a picture of a poppy and the words Never Forget, along with the dates of World War One - 1914-1918.
Mr Evans hit the headlines in June 2013 when he created the largest jigsaw for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
He spent 35 days hand-cutting the 19ft 6in by 8ft (6m by 2.5m) jigsaw, featuring 33 images of the jubilee celebrations.
But it accidentally collapsed when Mr Evans was adjusting it, days after being completed.
Footage of the mishap has received more than 125,000 views on YouTube.
Media caption,
The 40,000-piece jigsaw is due to go on display at Sandringham in May, before being auctioned for the Help for Heroes charity
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