Quebecois Excel Expert Competes in World Championship
Vincent Morin, a 29-year-old Excel expert from Joliette, will compete in the World Championship of Microsoft Excel this December in Las Vegas. His journey began earlier this year after watching a YouTube video of last year’s championship. Morin, who works as a business analyst at Harnois Énergies, believed he could excel in this challenging competition.
Path to the Championship
Morin climbed the ranks by participating in monthly competitions, ultimately securing one of the eight direct spots for the finals. These finals will feature a thrilling challenge where participants must respond to 140 questions in 30 minutes using their own Excel files.
Understanding Excel Competitions
Competitors are not required to have advanced knowledge in finance or statistics. Instead, success relies on their familiarity with Excel’s features. Typical tasks can include decoding messages represented as numbers or determining outcomes in game scenarios.
- Example Task: Decoding messages from a series of numeric inputs.
- Another Task: Evaluating which of two card sets wins in a game of war.
Vincent Morin’s Excel Journey
Morin’s experience with Excel dates back to his high school education. He views the software as essential for modern office work. His belief that Excel can be enjoyable drives him to turn it into a sport.
Throughout the year, Morin trained rigorously, using past competition cases to enhance his skills. He remains informed about Excel updates and solutions preferred by other participants in the community.
World Championship Details
The championship will take place on December 3rd. Morin will join 16 additional competitors, selected just before the final, making a total of 24 finalists. They will be divided into two groups of 12, with the top six from each group advancing to the ultimate showdown.
Live Coverage
The finals will be broadcast live on YouTube and ESPN3, showcasing this unique, emerging sport to a broader audience. Morin reflects on the daunting task of presenting before an audience, having only trained in solitude before this.
Despite the challenges, Morin expresses his desire to progress as far as possible in the competition. He recognizes the joy of representing a little-known yet impressive facet of competitive gaming, likening himself to a family athlete rather than just a “nerd.”
A Look at the Competition
This year, participants from over 55 countries will compete. Last year’s champion, Michael Jarman from the United Kingdom, now living in Toronto, set a high bar. Each of the 24 finalists will receive prizes ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 based on their rankings.
Conclusion
As Vincent Morin prepares for this championship, he embodies the spirit of competition gleaned from understanding Excel’s vast capabilities. He looks forward to a thrilling experience and hopes to make a significant impression at this prestigious event.
