The Microsoft Excel World Champion Remains Unconcerned About Copilot’s Potential Challenge (For Now)
Inside the Excel World Championships
The Stage is Set for Excel Masters
“Jarmy army, come on up to the stage!” booms an announcer in Las Vegas’ HyperX Arena. Michael Jarman bursts forth through the “hype tunnel,” channeling the energy of a football player ready for a major showdown. But this event is not about physical prowess; instead, Jarman is set to face 12 of the finest spreadsheet wizards from across the globe in the Excel World Championships.
As he strides towards his workstation, the arena dazzles with rows of seating illuminated in the vibrant green that represents Microsoft Excel. The competitors are aiming for a grand prize of $5,000, along with a championship belt reminiscent of wrestling accolades. Their primary rival? Andrew “The Annihilator” Ngai, a three-time champion known for his exceptional skills, alongside other talent such as Diarmuid Early, often referred to as the "LeBron James of Excel."
A Journey from University to Championship
While studying in the United Kingdom, Jarman earned the nickname "the Excel guy." Now residing in Canada, he works at Operis, a firm specializing in intricate infrastructure transactions, alongside several other adept Excel users. Events like the Excel World Championships offer a rare platform for Jarman and his peers to exhibit their corporate skills on a public stage.
Interestingly, these championships can be watched on prominent sports channels, including ESPN in the U.S. Jarman finds it amusing that his journey as an “athlete” is being televised. "Back at university, my friends were all rugby and football players, and now here I am," Jarman chuckles about his unexpected role as a televised competitor.
The Evolution of Excel in the Business Landscape
Since its launch in 1985, Microsoft Excel has significantly changed the business sector, boasting over a billion users today. While it faces increasing competition from free, online tools like Google Sheets, Microsoft aims to retain users by introducing AI features. But this raises concerns for dedicated Excel professionals. With tools like ChatGPT and Copilot becoming available, the time-invested into mastering Excel skills might be overshadowed.
Copilot in Excel taps into AI to assist users in creating formulas. However, Jarman expresses skepticism about its capabilities, especially in competing with seasoned experts. He notes that while Copilot can handle basic prompts directed at casual users, it still lacks the proficiency to take on top-tier competitors like himself.
Competing in the Championships: What You Need to Know
The Excel World Championships last 40 minutes and begin with an introduction to the challenges designed by Excel specialists, including a thematic element celebrating the 30th anniversary of Warcraft. Each competitor receives a spreadsheet featuring multiple tabs filled with Warcraft-themed data. They strive to progress various characters—such as orcs and warlocks—by manipulating the numbers associated with these characters to defeat in-game bosses.
Competitors earn points displayed on a public leaderboard as they advance. The first few participants to finish each level receive bonus questions that can greatly impact their score. The stakes get higher every five minutes as the player with the lowest points is eliminated from the game. The competition is intense, leading to what is dubbed “spreadsheet madness.”
The Thrilling Showdown: Jarman vs. Ngai
Early in the competition, Jarman quickly scored 100 points, setting a strong pace against his rivals, including Ngai. As the competitors typed rapidly on their designated machines, the display of skill and strategy became evident. Jarman emphasizes that while there are only a handful of competitors capable of winning on a good day, a touch of luck with the questions can change the game’s outcome.
As the timer ticked down, Jarman and Ngai found themselves neck and neck, with the announcers excitedly updating the crowd on their rapidly changing scores. At the halfway point, both stood at 705 points, but as time dwindled, tension mounted. With just three minutes to go, Jarman surged ahead with 905 points while Ngai trailed at 845.
In a nail-biting finish, as time expired, Jarman celebrated triumphantly, marking what some fans called a “huge upset.” He topped off his achievement with a giant check and a championship belt, expressing immense joy over defeating Ngai, a multi-time champion.
Upcoming Excel World Championship 2025
If you’re interested in testing your own skills or just want to watch the excitement unfold, the next Excel World Championship will kick off with an initial qualifying round on September 27, 2025, followed by playoffs in October and the finals on December 2-3 in Las Vegas. For those eager to participate or spectate, more details can be found here.
