NBA players may be known for their hype tunnels, but a new championship takes that concept to the next level – literally. The Microsoft Excel World Championship, held in Las Vegas, brought together 12 contestants competing in a 40-minute puzzle-solving competition. The event, which was live-streamed on ESPN3, drew around 400 attendees who watched as contestants battled it out for a $5,000 prize.
The winner, a Toronto-based financial consultant, took home the top prize after two front-runners fell behind. To celebrate, they were awarded a wrestling-style championship belt and the title of world’s best spreadsheet user. The event has drawn praise from competitors who say that Excel provides an experience unlike other spreadsheet software like Google Sheets.
The organizers hope to increase the prize money to $1 million as more spectators and sponsors join in. For now, the four-year-old event is a huge hit among those who attended in person for the first time last month.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/20/at-the-microsoft-excel-world-championship-selfies-and-a-hype-tunnel