In a thrilling display of skill and precision, Diarmuid Early emerged victorious in the Microsoft Excel World Championship 2025, outsmarting 23 other competitors during the intense LAN finals. The event unfolded over three days at the HyperX Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, where the world’s elite Microsoft Excel players gathered to showcase their prowess.
The Intense Final Showdown
The finals tasked the 24 contenders with solving a challenging case using Microsoft’s renowned spreadsheet tool. This year’s theme, rooted in origami, demanded the players to unravel 130 intricate questions across seven stages. The champion would be the first to solve all, claiming a themed championship belt and a $5,000 (~£3,747) prize. Diarmuid Early soared above the rest, achieving 1,250 points and surpassing three-time world champion Andrew Ngai by more than 300 points. Competitors were progressively eliminated every five minutes until only six finalists remained.
Early’s triumph is no surprise, given his established reputation in the Excel esports arena. As the founder of Early Days Consulting, he was a five-time finalist in the ModelOff competition, a prestigious financial modeling contest that captivated audiences from 2012 to 2019. The world championship finals marked the peak of the Excel Esports season, which saw its beginning in January and entered the online phase in October, involving 150 dedicated players.
What Next For Excel Esports?
With the current season concluded, anticipation builds for the 2026 Microsoft Excel World Championship, although details remain undisclosed. Fans and participants alike can look forward to the 2026 Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship in Anaheim, California, scheduled from July 26th to 29th. This event promises global competition in Word, PowerPoint, and Excel for a share of the lucrative prize pool.
The Microsoft Excel World Championship emphasizes that esports extends beyond traditional video games, captivating audiences with the intellectual challenge of spreadsheet mastery.