From Waterford Classrooms to Las Vegas Arenas
Growing up in Waterford, south-east Ireland, Diarmuid Early always displayed a natural aptitude for mathematics. This early talent would eventually propel him to international recognition in an unlikely arena: competitive Microsoft Excel. His journey began at university in Cork, where he studied maths and physics. While the course required expensive software like Mathematica, Early turned to Excel as a practical alternative, using it to generate complex numerical sequences such as prime or Fibonacci numbers.
The Path to Professional Spreadsheet Mastery
After university, Early moved to London to work at a consultancy firm, where he began using Excel in more conventional business applications. He quickly became the office expert, fielding questions from colleagues about everything from logistics calculations to data analysis. His expertise deepened when he relocated to New York for a banking position, setting the stage for his competitive debut.
In 2013, a colleague introduced him to ModelOff, a competition requiring participants to build financial forecasts using Excel. The early events were modest affairs—sixteen finalists gathered in Microsoft offices, competing in closed sessions with little spectator appeal. Early won ModelOff before the competition concluded in 2019, but this was merely the beginning of his championship trajectory.
The Evolution of Competitive Excel
The landscape transformed dramatically with the launch of the Financial Modelling World Cup in 2020, which Early won twice. Organizers reinvented the competition as a visual spectacle, introducing head-to-head battles with real-time leaderboards displayed on giant screens. YouTube broadcasts attracted hundreds of thousands of viewers, demonstrating unexpected public interest in spreadsheet competitions.
Rebranded as the Microsoft Excel World Championship, the event gained mainstream attention with ESPN broadcasting it live. By 2023, the finals moved to a proper esports arena in Las Vegas with live audiences. The 2025 championship saw over 500 competitors in qualifiers, with the final drawing 500 cheering spectators creating an electric atmosphere.
The Unlikely Athletes of Spreadsheet Competition
While competitors include expected "nerdy types," the championship attracts diverse participants including powerlifting champions, Ironman finishers, and ultramarathon athletes. Early notes that even viewers with no Excel experience find the competitions thrilling due to energetic commentary and dramatic tension. The community has grown into what he describes as "amazing," though increasing competition makes winning more challenging each year.
Early admits to finding some elements of the spectacle "a little odd," particularly the wrestling-style championship belt and glowing "hype tunnel" entrance. Yet he acknowledges these theatrical touches have successfully boosted interest in what was once considered a niche activity.
The Championship Moment
The 2025 final in Vegas created what Early describes as a "tense and charged atmosphere" with competitors facing elimination based on their standings. Despite nerves during semi-finals and concerns about peaking too early, Early found confidence when he saw the final challenge: using Excel to fold virtual origami. He defeated a three-time champion actuary from Australia to claim victory.
His $5,000 prize money was donated to the Against Malaria Foundation. While organizers dream of million-dollar prizes, Early remains grounded despite his "LeBron James of spreadsheets" nickname, insisting he doesn't take himself too seriously.
Excel Beyond the Spreadsheet
Early demonstrates Excel's versatility through creative projects including a TV gameshow model for budgeting cash prizes (which involved Carol Vorderman filming a pilot), football betting prediction models, and an Excel file that plays Battleship competitively. He emphasizes that the greatest appeal lies in the community—"smart, interesting, curious, friendly and welcoming" individuals who prove Excel is "far from boring."
From humble beginnings in Irish classrooms to Las Vegas championships broadcast worldwide, Diarmuid Early's journey illustrates how specialized skills can evolve into unexpected competitive arenas, transforming mundane software into a platform for international recognition and community building.
