At the 2024 Microsoft Excel World Championship, a Canadian Individual Emerges as the Dominant Spreadsheet Ruler
The Microsoft Excel World Championship belt is now belonging to Canada.
Allow me to clarify a few things. Indeed, there exists a Microsoft Excel World Championship for skilled Excel users. And, as a matter of fact, the victor is awarded a wrestling-style title belt, why not, right?
Now that we're all caught up, let's introduce this year's celebrated champ: Michael Jarman, a Canadian originating from the UK, who visited the HyperX Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada lately, participating in the annual Excel Esports event. He managed to oust Andrew Ngai, an Australian finance director also recognized as “The Annihilator”, who had reigned victorious for three consecutive years.
Jarman, the current champ, is based in Toronto and holds the position of financial modeling director. He had been securing second place in the past competitions, each time being trumped by The Annihilator. "It was an incredible experience," Jarman shared with CBC of his triumph. "It's certainly, you know, a fantastic memory for me, and something I'll cherish for a long time."
He collected a $5,000 prize along with the aforementioned title belt. They opted not to have him deliver a promo, which seems like quite the missed chance, but he did make his predictions following the event. "The following aim is to ... win three more times to surpass Andrew's record," he shared with CBC. "I believe it's virtually impossible to accomplish, but you need to try your best."
Although this is the first time Jarman seized the Excel crown, he's no stranger to the sphere of competitive spreadsheets. He also bagged the top spot in the Financial Modelling World Championships back in 2018.
While it might be understandable to assume that those are indeed similar events—they're both presented by the same organization, the Financial Modeling World Cup—the Excel competition excludes any financial aspect. It's simply "Microsoft Excel and logic problem-solving skills." Examples of the tests designated for master spreadsheet-wielders are accessible on the Financial Modelling World Cup website and encompass challenges such as deciphering asteroid mining data from EVE Online.
For this year's title bout, Jarman and eleven other finalists were tasked with simulating a 'World of Warcraft' game through a spreadsheet, where participants had to manage and level up a Horde team of characters, ultimately engaging in a raid on the Molten Core dungeon. Competitors had to monitor XP, gold, player statistics like armor and intelligence, and any damage sustained or healing administered throughout the quests.
Jarman emerged as the most adept to conquer this highly specialized task. Now, he holds the bragging rights until it's time to defend his title.
The tech industry is eagerly looking towards the future, with advancements in technology like Excel competitions showcasing the skills of users worldwide. Michael Jarman, the new Excel World Champion, believes his goal is to surpass the three-time reign of "The Annihilator" in the coming years.
