The World Excel Championship is being broadcast on ESPN (ladbible.com)

Article summary

The World Excel Championship is being broadcast on ESPN, featuring eight expert modellers competing against each other to solve original tasks. The tournament is part of the Financial Modeling World Cup and has been an esport since 2020. The competition involves using Microsoft Excel skills, including formulas such as VLOOKUP and SUMIF, to answer questions within a limited time frame. The event has gained significant coverage and attention online.

Main themes

• Competitive Excel
• Esports
• Microsoft Excel
• VBA Macros
• Financial Modeling
• Kaggle Speed Runs

What commenters say

• Some people find the concept of competitive Excel to be entertaining and impressive, showcasing exceptional skills and strategy.
• Others view it as a parody or a joke, questioning its legitimacy as a sport.
• The use of VBA macros and other advanced Excel features is a key aspect of the competition, with some arguing that it requires a high level of programming skill.
• The idea of competitive Excel has sparked discussions about the potential for other types of competitive events, such as Kaggle speed runs or computational notebook competitions.
• Some commenters believe that the skills demonstrated in the competition are not representative of real-world Excel use, and that maintaining large dynamic models is a more impressive feat.
• Others are interested in learning more about the competition and how to participate, seeking resources and recommendations for improving their Excel skills.