Alyssa Zackler’s Puzzle Pieces: From OB-GYN to World-Class Speed Puzzler

Alyssa Zackler was always the kind of person who found solace in the little things. As an OB-GYN, her days were filled with the joy and challenges of bringing new life into the world. But when the world slowed down in 2020, Alyssa found herself turning to a hobby she hadn’t indulged in for years: jigsaw puzzles.

What started as a relaxing pastime quickly became a passion. Alyssa began to document her progress on Instagram, where she shared photos of each completed puzzle under the handle @puzzlesatoz—a playful nod to her initials and her love for puzzles. Piece by piece, she found herself drawn deeper into the world of puzzling.
By 2021, Alyssa was no longer just a casual puzzler. She had discovered the exhilarating world of speed puzzling, a competitive sport where enthusiasts race against the clock to complete puzzles in record time. Her first taste of competition came virtually, where she found herself hooked on the rush of finishing a 1000-piece puzzle in mere hours. It wasn’t long before she was attending her first national competition in San Diego in 2022.
But Alyssa’s passion didn’t stop at competition. She wanted to bring the joy of puzzling to her local community in Santa Clarita. That same year, she founded the SCV Jigsaw Puzzle Trade and Socialize group on Facebook, where fellow puzzle enthusiasts could meet every few months to swap puzzles, share tips, and enjoy each other’s company.
Her dedication paid off. In 2022, Alyssa and her team took home 3rd place in the teams division at the USA Jigsaw Nationals. The following year, she traveled to Spain to compete in the World Jigsaw Puzzle Championships, where she and her partner placed an impressive 7th in the pairs division.
Through it all, Alyssa’s Instagram account became a vibrant album of her journey, filled with colorful puzzles and memories of competitions won and friendships formed. Her story is a testament to the power of finding joy in the little things—and how those little things can sometimes lead to extraordinary adventures.
As Alyssa continues to balance her career as an OB-GYN with her love for puzzles, she knows one thing for sure: there’s always another puzzle to be solved, another piece to be placed, and another memory to be made.

Photo courtesy of The Signal

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