Microsoft Excel is an essential tool in many work and academic areas. Because it is used to perform calculations, analyze data and even create reports. Its importance is such that there is even the Excel world championship.
An event in which the most advanced users of this platform meet and challenge each other to show who is the best. Don't you know this particular championship? Well get ready to discover everything about him.
A very recent competition that will make history
In 2022, the Excel World Championship (MEWC). A tournament that throughout its editions has shown that it has the potential to become a classic. Because it brings together the best users of the famous Microsoft office program.
Participants have to demonstrate their speed with the spreadsheet, its precision and also its creativity. Therefore, as you may already be imagining, winning the title is not exactly easy.
Yes for most of us it is something complicated combine cells, For the participants in this tournament, none of Excel's functionalities are unknown. They handle them all perfectly.
What is the Excel World Championship?
This competition is organized by the Financial Modeling World Cup, an entity that promotes using the Microsoft spreadsheet tool pfor financial modeling.
Participants have to solve a series of questions related to the use of Excel. Applying formulas, creating graphs, working with pivot tables, etc And they must do it within a time limit.
Several qualifying and elimination rounds take place in which the participants who are facing each other can see their rival's screen and know how they are progressing. Something that adds even more adrenaline and tension to the test.
For those who are not true experts in Excel, watching the broadcast of this test is synonymous with not knowing practically anything about what is happening. Of course, we can always review the markers and be aware of who are the participants with the most possibilities of take the title of world Excel champion.
At the end of the eliminatory rounds there are only two participants left, who are going to face each other in an exciting final round.
Where can you follow the Excel world championship?
If you are curious to see how the world's greatest specialists handle this tool, you can follow each of the editions of this tournament live on YouTube and ESPN3.
Are you thinking it's kind of boring? Well, you can start forgetting your prejudices, because it turns out that it is an exciting competition. The commentators are in charge of explaining the participants' strategies and the tricks they are putting into practice, so it can also help us learn.
In addition, there are interviews, post-match analysis, and in In the chat the audience interacts with each other and encourages their favorite participants.
In the 2022 championship, the winner was Andrew Ngai, who in an epic duel beat Brittany Deaton by five points. A right response from Ngai at the last second was what ended up tipping the balance in his favor.
In December 2023, a new edition was held in Las Vegas. Of the eight participants, In the end it was Ngai who won again, revalidating his title.
Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship
If the Excel World Championship seems like a curious test to you, you will be surprised to know that it is not the only one of its kind that exists. Because it turns out that Microsoft organizes every year the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship, also known as MOS.
This competition tests the skills and abilities of students from various parts of the world in tools such as Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
Its objective is to inspire students to continue advancing in the study and use of office tools, so that they are able to get the most out of them in their daily lives. Developing digital skills that will be especially useful in the future.
Currently, the current MOS champion is the Argentine Juan Pablo Brea, who is already known as “The Messi of Excel.”
As in the Excel world championship, here candidates have to be able to solve several tests, demonstrating their knowledge of the tool they have chosen. Because they can participate in the Excel, Word or PowerPoint category.
The importance of managing office tools
According to the World Economic Forum, by 2030 70% of jobs will be linked in some way to technology. Therefore, it is essential that the new generations develop their digital skills well, and the Microsoft office suite is an essential tool.
These are just some of the reasons why using these tools is important today and will continue to be important in the future:
- Ceffective communication and collaboration. These are tools that in one way or another facilitate effective communication and collaboration between teams. Allowing remote and real-time work within the same document, spreadsheet or presentation.
- Improved personal productivity. These tools have functions that can help us improve our personal productivity. For example, through spreadsheets we can design a work schedule.
- Continuous digitization. We are in an era of digitalization that is moving towards remote work environments, in which the use of office tools will be essential to be able to perform many tasks.
- Transversal skills. The use of office tools is a transversal skill that is necessary in many professions.
- Integration with other technologies. Word, Excel and other similar tools continue to advance and are gradually integrated with emerging technologies. If we already handle basic office automation, adapting to the new changes will be much faster and easier.
- Task automation. These tools can help us automate tasks that are repetitive. This allows us to save work time and reduces errors.
The Excel world championship is something new, but the popularity of this tool worldwide can make this type of test gain more and more followers and more experts are willing to challenge each other to show who is the best.