The fastest reported solve of a classic 9×9 sudoku is 54.44 seconds, by Wang Shiyao of China at the 2018 World Sudoku and Puzzle Championship in Prague, according to Xinhua. The time you often see quoted, 1 minute 23.93 seconds, is a Guinness World Record set by Thomas Snyder in 2006, but it is for a puzzle Guinness classes as "very easy". There is no single official world record for classic sudoku: the World Puzzle Federation, which runs the world championship, does not keep a fastest-time list, and times depend heavily on the puzzle.
Below are the records we could verify, each with its source and date. Where a claim could not be confirmed, we say so.
Speed records
| Record | Holder | Time | Where and when | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fastest classic 9×9 in competition (reported) | Wang Shiyao (China) | 54.44 s | WSPC, Prague, 2018 | Reported by Xinhua; not ratified by WPF |
| Previous reported mark | Jakub Ondroušek (Czech Republic) | 1 min 25 s | 2010 | Reported by Xinhua |
| Fastest "very easy" sudoku in competition | Thomas Snyder (USA) | 1 min 23.93 s | BookExpo America, Washington DC, 20 May 2006 | Guinness World Record |
| Fastest "easy" sudoku in competition | Thomas Snyder (USA) | 2 min 8.53 s | BookExpo America, 20 May 2006 | Guinness World Record |
The two Guinness entries are listed on the fastest very easy sudoku and fastest easy sudoku record pages. Both came from a single event in 2006 and have not been updated since, which is why a 20-year-old time still ranks high in search results.
Why the numbers disagree: a sudoku's difficulty changes solve time far more than any small gain in speed. A puzzle with 35 clues and only singles can be filled in under a minute by an elite solver, while a puzzle that needs an X-Wing can take the same solver several minutes. Without a fixed standard puzzle, a "world record" is only meaningful for the puzzle it was set on.
World Sudoku Championship titles
The closest thing to a world ranking is the World Sudoku Championship (WSC), run by the World Puzzle Federation. It includes classic sudoku alongside variants, and rounds are scored by points for correct grids with time bonuses. Kota Morinishi of Japan holds the Guinness record for most individual WSC wins with four.
| Year | Host city | Champion |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Lucca, Italy | Jana Tylová (Czech Republic) |
| 2007 | Prague, Czech Republic | Thomas Snyder (USA) |
| 2008 | Goa, India | Thomas Snyder (USA) |
| 2009 | Žilina, Slovakia | Jan Mrozowski (Poland) |
| 2010 | Philadelphia, USA | Jan Mrozowski (Poland) |
| 2011 | Eger, Hungary | Thomas Snyder (USA) |
| 2012 | Kraljevica, Croatia | Jan Mrozowski (Poland) |
| 2013 | Beijing, China | Jin Ce (China) |
| 2014 | London, UK | Kota Morinishi (Japan) |
| 2015 | Sofia, Bulgaria | Kota Morinishi (Japan) |
| 2016 | Senec, Slovakia | Tiit Vunk (Estonia) |
| 2017 | Bangalore, India | Kota Morinishi (Japan) |
| 2018 | Prague, Czech Republic | Kota Morinishi (Japan) |
| 2019 | Kirchheim, Germany | Ken Endo (Japan) |
| 2020 and 2021 | Not held | Cancelled |
| 2022 | Kraków, Poland | Tiit Vunk (Estonia) |
| 2023 | Toronto, Canada | Dai Tantan (China) |
| 2024 | Beijing, China | Ming Letian (China) |
| 2025 | Eger, Hungary | Dai Tantan (China) |
Host cities come from the WPF championship index. Winners for 2006, 2024 and 2025 are confirmed on the WPF event pages (2006, 2024, 2025). The others are taken from the World Sudoku Championship article. The 2026 championship is scheduled for 11 to 15 October in Kolkata, India, so this table will get a new row soon. For how the event works, see our guide to the World Sudoku Championship.
Other sudoku records
- Largest multi-sudoku: 280 interlocking grids, made by Timeintermedia, Sugakubunka, Wakara and Dwango in Chofu, Tokyo, on 7 October 2018 (Guinness).
- Most people playing sudoku at once: 3,824, organised by the Charotar Education Society in Anand, Gujarat, India, on 12 January 2016 (Guinness).
- First world championship: Lucca, Italy, 10 to 12 March 2006, won by Jana Tylová (Guinness).
- First TV show about sudoku: Sudoku Live on Sky One, 1 July 2005 (Guinness).
Claims we could not verify
Search results and video titles often mention sub-minute "world records" on apps, or record times on "extreme" puzzles. We found no independent source for any of them, and app times are not comparable across apps because each uses different puzzles and input methods. We also could not find an official record for the hardest puzzle ever solved fastest. If you know of a documented record we missed, the WPF results pages are the place to check first.
How fast do normal players solve?
Far slower than the records, and that is fine. In Sudoku Royale's Daily Challenge, the median completed solve takes 9.8 minutes, and the fastest 10% of solves come in under 5 minutes (2,081 completed dailies from 140 players, January to September 2026). Median times by difficulty, from about 10 minutes on easy puzzles to over 20 on expert, are in how long it takes to solve a sudoku. For getting quicker yourself, start with how to solve sudoku faster.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the world record for solving a sudoku?
The fastest reported classic 9x9 solve is 54.44 seconds by Wang Shiyao of China at the 2018 World Sudoku and Puzzle Championship in Prague (Xinhua). Guinness lists Thomas Snyder's 1 minute 23.93 seconds from 2006, but for a very easy puzzle. No official body keeps a single classic sudoku speed record.
Who has won the most World Sudoku Championships?
Kota Morinishi of Japan, with four titles (2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018). Thomas Snyder and Jan Mrozowski have three each.
Who won the 2025 World Sudoku Championship?
Dai Tantan of China won in Eger, Hungary, in September 2025, ahead of Qiu Suzhe and Kota Morinishi. It was Dai's second title after 2023.
Is the 1 minute 23 second sudoku record real?
Yes, but it is narrow. Guinness recognises Thomas Snyder's 1:23.93 as the fastest very easy sudoku, set at BookExpo America on 20 May 2006. It is not a record for classic sudoku in general.
How long does an average person take to solve a sudoku?
In Sudoku Royale's Daily Challenge, the median completed solve is 9.8 minutes. Easy practice puzzles take a median of about 10 minutes and expert puzzles about 21 minutes.