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Galway native claims Microsoft Excel World Championship
Diarmuid Early, dubbed the "LeBron James of Excel," secured the 2025 Microsoft Excel World Championships in Las Vegas, taking home $5,000 and a coveted title belt after outperforming 255 competitors in a high-stakes tournament.
The road to victory
The Galway-born, Waterford-raised competitor triumphed in a knockout-style event that whittled down 256 participants to the final 24 in Sin City. Early, a three-time financial Excel tournament champion, edged out triple-world champion Andrew Ngai to claim his first overall title.
Reflecting on the win, Early told BBC News NI: "I've gone in as one of the pre-tournament favourites, and I have a record of choking. So it was nice to deliver for once."
His mother caught the final 15 minutes of the match live from Ireland, tuning in despite an eight-hour time difference.
A sport born from spreadsheets
The Excel World Championships transformed a mundane office tool into a dynamic esports event, complete with dramatic lighting, live commentary, and roaring crowds at the HyperX Arena. Competitors faced timed eliminations in the final round, with the last-place player cut every five minutes.
"You're constantly watching your back. You're just settling in, kind of figuring out how this is going to work, and you'll just hear: 'Thanks for playing, you're out.'"
Diarmuid Early
Challenges ranged from solving mazes to scoring poker hands, with no finance or accounting expertise required. Early described the format: a 30-minute test broken into levels, where speed and adaptability determined the winner.
From office tool to global phenomenon
The competitive Excel scene, now over two decades old, has expanded beyond finance to include general problem-solving. Early, who runs a financial business in New York, noted a surge in interest, with clients seeking him out after hearing of his championship win.
"I've had clients approach me like: 'Hey, we heard that there's this Excel competition and there's this guy who wins it. He's in New York and we're in New York-can we work together?'"
The community thrives on platforms like YouTube and WhatsApp, where Early shares walkthroughs and live solves. While he dismissed the idea of TikTok or Instagram, he acknowledged the sport's growing appeal.
Next steps for the Excel elite
Early, known as "Dim" to fans, embraced his "LeBron James of Excel" moniker with humor. "It must be because I'm so unusually tall," he joked, adding: "I try not to take myself too seriously."
The next "Road to Las Vegas Battle" is set for January 22, 2026, with signups already open. Early encouraged newcomers: "There's a super active community... A lot of people approach you as well for help trying to get into the scene."
