Excel World Championship Crowns ‘King of Spreadsheets’

The Microsoft Excel World Championship has crowned its first winner, Michael Jarman from Canada, who took home $5,000 and a championship belt. The competition, which drew 12 contestants, tested their skills in solving complex puzzles, navigating mazes, and completing themed challenges on a rotating spreadsheet. The final challenge required designing an Excel spreadsheet to track vital signs for avatars in World of Warcraft.

Jarman, the director of modeling at Operis, defeated the three-time reigning champion. He has updated his LinkedIn profile to reflect his new title as “Microsoft Excel World Champion.” The event’s organizer, Andrew Grigolyunovich, aims to expand the competition with larger crowds, sponsors, and a million-dollar prize.

A seven-hour livestream of the competition is available for viewers interested in witnessing the action. Despite its relatively low profile, competitive Excel has become a hidden e-sport phenomenon, with some contestants even winning prizes for their skills.

Source: https://www.zdnet.com/article/the-excel-world-championship-is-real-and-it-just-crowned-the-king-of-spreadsheets