Ha Dang, a 33-year-old stockbroker from Leeds, will participate in the Microsoft Excel World Championships this December in Las Vegas, representing the UK. He secured his spot by defeating over 40 competitors in the inaugural British competition. The championship offers a prize of $5,000 and a personalized belt for the title of the “world’s best spreadsheeter.”
Despite only learning about competitive Excel tournaments last year, Dang won the national title earlier this month. He has expressed amazement at his achievement and the recognition he has received within the Excel community. “Growing up, I have always been into working with spreadsheets but I did not find many peers with whom I could exchange my formulae and Excel tricks,” he stated.
In these tournaments, players solve complex equations and puzzles using specific formulas and shortcuts within a limited timeframe. This format has gained traction as a new form of esports in recent years. Jaq Kennedy, founder of the Financial Modeling World Cup UK, noted Dang’s remarkable accomplishment, highlighting that he triumphed over skilled competitors, including the second-place finisher from last year’s world championship. Kennedy anticipates that Dang’s participation in Las Vegas will encourage more UK players to engage in competitive Excel.
Dang arrived in the UK from Vietnam over a decade ago for university and recently gained British citizenship. He has expressed pride in representing his adopted country, acknowledging the opportunities it has afforded him. “I cannot stress how grateful I am for the opportunities that this country has given me,” he remarked.
Looking forward to the competition, Dang feels excited rather than intimidated, hoping to inspire future Excel users and esports competitors. He emphasized his eagerness to meet other participants and continue improving both personally and professionally during this experience.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/sep/14/winning-formulae-briton-books-place-in-microsoft-excel-world-championships