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Microsoft Excel World Champion 2025: Diarmuid Earley Makes History in Las Vegas
Microsoft Excel World Championship 2025 winner Diarmuid Earley defeated three-time champion Andrew Ngai in Las Vegas, proving Excel is now a global esports phenomenon.
Microsoft Excel World Championship: When Spreadsheets Become Esports
The title may sound surprising at first—Microsoft Excel World Champion. Excel is known worldwide as office and business software, yet it has evolved into a highly competitive esports discipline. The Microsoft Excel World Championship is an annual global competition where elite spreadsheet experts battle to showcase speed, logic, and advanced analytical skills.
In 2025, this unique esports tournament reached new heights as Diarmuid Earley claimed the championship belt at the finals held at the HyperX Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Diarmuid Earley Wins Microsoft Excel World Championship 2025
Diarmuid Earley, a spreadsheet expert from Ireland, emerged victorious at the Microsoft Excel World Championship 2025, earning a $5,000 prize and global recognition. He defeated three-time world champion Andrew Ngai in a thrilling final round that tested the limits of data analysis and logical reasoning.
The championship final featured an origami-inspired challenge, where competitors had to solve complex problems using Microsoft Excel with absolute precision.
Inside the Excel World Championship Finals
The 2025 finals were nothing short of intense:
- 24 top Excel players competed in the final round
- 130 questions spread across seven difficulty levels
- Players were eliminated every five minutes
- Only six finalists remained after continuous eliminations
- Total final duration: around one hour
After intense problem-solving, Diarmuid Earley topped the scoreboard with 1,250 points, finishing 300 points ahead of Andrew Ngai, securing his place in Excel esports history.
A Global Gathering of Excel Experts
The three-day event brought together the world’s best Microsoft Excel players, with 23 competitors joining Diarmuid Earley in the finals. Hosted at the iconic HyperX Arena in Las Vegas, the championship was watched live by audiences worldwide, highlighting the growing popularity of Excel as a competitive skill-based esport.
Who Is Diarmuid Earley?
Diarmuid Earley is already a well-known figure in the Excel and financial modeling community:
- Founder of Early Days Consulting
- Five-time finalist in the prestigious ModelOff Financial Modeling World Championships (2012–2019)
- Holds a PhD in Computer Science
- Began using Excel professionally in 2008 while working at Boston Consulting Group (London)
Reflecting on his journey, Earley said he solved as many different problem types as possible to prepare for the championship. He also noted that when the correct answers align in Excel, the final result looks “like a famous painting.”
Recognition from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella
The victory gained attention from Microsoft’s top leadership. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella congratulated Diarmuid Earley publicly, posting:
“Many congratulations, Diarmuid! You come to Redmond, meet our team and learn from your Excel skills!”
This recognition further validates Excel esports as a legitimate and respected competitive field.
A Brief History of Microsoft Excel
- First released: 1985
- Intel platform support: 1987
- Early spreadsheet leader: Lotus 1-2-3
- Excel gained dominance and global popularity in the 1990s
From a simple office tool to a global esports platform, Excel’s journey mirrors the evolution of digital skills in the modern world.
Excel Esports: The Future of Competitive Analytics
The Microsoft Excel World Championship proves that competitive gaming is no longer limited to traditional video games. Analytical thinking, data accuracy, and problem-solving speed are now center-stage in the esports ecosystem.
With champions like Diarmuid Earley, Excel esports continues to inspire professionals, students, and analysts worldwide to see spreadsheets not just as tools—but as competitive arenas.
Sources:
eSports Insider, The Register
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