At the Microsoft Excel World Championship, selfies and a ‘hype’ tunnel

an arena A hype tunnel, the kind NBA players usually streak through. A jersey-clad contestant with six-pack abs.

A new piece, New York Times Takes readers to a ceremony That’s what organizers call the Microsoft Excel World Championship, a 40-minute, Las Vegas-based competition featuring 12 competitors — all of whom solve thorny Excel puzzles. About 400 people attended the December event, which ESPN3 live-streamed “competitions like speed chess and the World Dog Surfing Championships,” the Times reported.

The event was no joke, even if the self-described nerds involved had a healthy sense of humor. As the story goes, the winner — a Toronto-based financial consultant — walked away with a $5,000 prize, a wrestling-style championship belt and the title of world’s best spreadsheeter after the two front-runners stumbled. Selfie taken.

It is hoped that the prize money will eventually reach $1 million as more viewers and sponsors become involved. Meanwhile, the four-year-old event – held in person for the first time last month – is already a big hit. “You’d never see that with Google Sheets,” one competitor told the Times. “You’ll never get this level of passion.”