'I knew I was good at Excel' - World champion finalist

An IT professional who thought he was "good at Excel" can now prove it after he reached the final of a global competition.

Harry Watson, 25, is usually a senior systems analyst in Sudbury, Suffolk, but in December he went to Las Vegas to compete at the World Excel Championships.

He was introduced to the concept of competitive spreadsheet events by his friend a couple of years back and "it turned out I was pretty good", he told the BBC.

Mr Watson said he first became aware of his talent at school in Colchester, Essex, where he was "by far" the most proficient at using spreadsheets.

To get to the Microsoft Excel World Championship, participants must first qualify by competing in online battles throughout the year.

The battles consist of "unusual game tasks" which are worked out on a spreadsheet to test logical thinking skills.

After play-off rounds, the in-person finals are held in Las Vegas.

Mr Watson said it was his first time in the US state of Nevada, which he described as "quite unlike anywhere else".

"I think everyone's enthusiastic about it just because it is such a niche thing," he said.

"A three-day spreadsheet conference - I mean what more could you want?

"It's very bonkers but also at the same time people take it very, very seriously."

He said the concept of competitive Excel goes back to about 2013 but this event has been around since 2021.

Mr Watson said he was ranked 5th in the UK and 52nd in the world at the last tournament and wanted to place higher next time round.

"I need to get onto that final stage and defeat everyone - it's easier said than done and the thing is the standard of the competition - and of the people participating - improves massively each year," he added.

"There are so many new features being released on Microsoft Excel that the way you have to compete is changing all of the time."

Mr Watson said he put in a lot of effort to keep up to standard and said it "becomes a bit of an arms race".

When he is not hitting the spreadsheets, Mr Watson spends what remains of his spare time playing croquet - his "other sport".

But, by his own admission, not to the same world standard as his spreadsheet endeavours.

"I'm up against some very competitive people at the Sudbury Croquet Club who practise five or six times a week which I can't quite make the time for."

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