The Day I Tried to Speedrun Sudoku (And Failed Miserably)
It Sounded Like a Good Idea at First
At some point, I got a little too confident.
After playing Sudoku regularly, solving puzzles started to feel… manageable. Not easy, but familiar enough that I thought, “What if I try to go faster?”
Not just solve it—but speedrun it.
You know, like those people who complete puzzles in record time with zero hesitation, placing numbers like they’ve already seen the answer.
I wanted to see if I could do that.
Spoiler: I couldn’t.
The Plan: Go Fast, Think Less
Confidence Was High
I picked a medium-level puzzle—something I’d normally solve without too much struggle.
The goal was simple: finish as quickly as possible.
No overthinking. No long pauses. Just quick decisions and constant movement.
At first, it actually worked.
I filled in numbers rapidly. My fingers moved faster than usual. I felt efficient, almost like I had “leveled up.”
For a moment, I thought, “Okay… this might actually work.”
The Problem With Going Too Fast
Then the mistakes started.
Not obvious ones. Not right away.
But subtle, tiny errors—numbers placed too quickly without fully checking.
And just like that, the whole puzzle began to fall apart.
When Speed Turns Against You
The First Sign Something Was Wrong
I reached a point where nothing fit.
You know that feeling—when every possible number seems to break the rules?
That’s when I knew something had gone wrong.
But instead of slowing down, I tried to push through.
Big mistake.
Trying to Fix a Broken Grid
I went back to check my moves—but everything was moving so fast earlier that I couldn’t even remember where the mistake might be.
Every number looked suspicious.
Every section felt unreliable.
It was like trying to fix a puzzle built on a shaky foundation.
Frustrating doesn’t even begin to describe it.
The Restart (Again…)
Accepting Defeat
Eventually, I had to admit it.
The puzzle was unsalvageable.
I reset the grid.
And honestly, it felt worse than usual.
Because this time, I knew exactly why it happened.
I wasn’t stuck because the puzzle was hard.
I was stuck because I rushed.
Slowing Everything Down
On the second attempt, I did the opposite.
No rushing.
No speedrun mindset.
Just careful, deliberate moves.
And guess what?
I solved it.
Not quickly—but cleanly.
What Speed Taught Me About Slowing Down
1. Speed Doesn’t Equal Skill
At first, I thought solving faster meant getting better.
But that’s not really true.
Real improvement comes from understanding—not rushing.
Speed is just a byproduct of clarity, not the goal itself.
2. Accuracy Comes First
One wrong number early on can ruin everything later.
And when you’re moving fast, it’s easy to miss those mistakes.
Taking a few extra seconds to confirm a move saves you a lot of time in the long run.
3. Rhythm Matters More Than Speed
There’s a difference between rushing and flowing.
Rushing feels chaotic.
Flow feels smooth.
When I’m in a good rhythm, I don’t feel fast—but I also don’t feel stuck.
That’s the sweet spot.
A Funny Moment I Won’t Forget
The Overconfident Start
I remember placing numbers super quickly at the beginning, thinking I was doing great.
Then later, I realized one of those early placements was completely wrong.
Like… obviously wrong.
I just didn’t see it because I didn’t take the time to check.
I actually laughed when I found it.
Not because it was funny—but because it was so avoidable.
Why I Won’t Be Speedrunning Anytime Soon
After that experience, I lost interest in going fast.
Not completely—but enough to change how I approach the game.
Now, I care more about solving puzzles well than solving them quickly.
Because the satisfaction doesn’t come from speed.
It comes from understanding.
From that moment when everything clicks into place and you know exactly why each number belongs where it is.
Why I Still Enjoy Sudoku
Even after a failed speedrun attempt, I didn’t stop playing.
If anything, it made me appreciate the game more.
It reminded me that this isn’t about racing.
It’s about thinking.
Taking your time.
Being present with the puzzle.
And honestly, that’s what makes it so enjoyable.
