Excel World Championship crowns 2025's 'LeBron James of spreadsheets' in Vegas

A Vegas showdown turned spreadsheets into spectacle. The winner's $5,000 prize went to charity, proving Excel can do more than crunch numbers.

, and Administrator

2026 March 6 . 7:03 PM

1 min read

The image shows a group of people sitting at a desk in front of computers, wearing headsets and... — The image shows a group of people sitting at a desk in front of computers, wearing headsets and smiling. On the desk there are monitors, keyboards, mouses and other objects. In the background there is a wall with a logo and text, and to the right side of the image there are chairs. This image captures the excitement of the wake tech esports tournament, which is set to take place on Saturday.

Excel World Championship crowns 2025's 'LeBron James of spreadsheets' in Vegas

A unique competition has crowned its latest champion in Las Vegas. The Excel World Championship, a theatrical event blending spreadsheet skills with showmanship, awarded Diarmuid Early the 2025 title. Known as the 'LeBron James of spreadsheets', Early has gained fame for creating an Excel file that plays Battleship better than most humans.

The championship unfolds in a dramatic style, much like professional wrestling. Competitors face increasingly tough challenges, starting with a 30-minute first round where they must answer questions based on an Excel file. As the rounds advance, the difficulty ramps up, pushing their spreadsheet expertise to the limit.

Early's victory came with a $5,000 prize, which they donated to the Against Malaria Foundation. The event has previously seen impressive feats, including a Fallout-inspired game and a working 16-bit CPU—both built entirely in Excel. The software has even been used to support ray tracing, proving its versatility beyond typical data tasks.

Looking ahead, organizers plan to expand the prize fund significantly. Future competitions could offer up to $1 million, raising the stakes for spreadsheet enthusiasts worldwide.

The Excel World Championship continues to grow as a quirky yet high-stakes event. Early's donation and the tournament's ambitious prize plans highlight its blend of skill, creativity, and philanthropy. The competition remains a standout celebration of Excel's unexpected potential.