Excel Esports? India Gets Its First-Ever Microsoft Excel World Championship Qualifier
Participants will solve advanced problem-solving challenges that demand logic, analytical prowess, and out-of-the-box thinking — all within the familiar rows and columns of Microsoft Excel.
Who says esports is only about controllers and combat? In a groundbreaking move, Chennai will soon witness a very different kind of competition — one fought on cells and formulas, not consoles. Skyesports has partnered with the Financial Modeling World Cup (FMWC) to host the India Qualifier of the Microsoft Excel World Championship (MEWC) for the very first time. Backed by the Indian Digital Gaming Society (IDGS), this initiative marks India’s official entry into the elite circle of global Excel competition.
The stakes? A fully sponsored trip to Las Vegas, USA, for the MEWC 2025 World Finals Round of 64. But that’s not all — the national winner also earns a spot at an exclusive three-day financial modelling training camp in Vegas, valued at over Rs 1 lakh.
Excel as an Esport? You Bet
The MEWC isn’t your average spreadsheet session. Participants will solve advanced problem-solving challenges that demand logic, analytical prowess, and out-of-the-box thinking — all within the familiar rows and columns of Microsoft Excel. Far from being a solo affair, the World Finals will be broadcast not just on the FMWC YouTube channel, but also on ESPN and global media outlets including The Guardian, Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times.
“The India Qualifier for the Microsoft Excel World Championship is an esports tournament like no other,” said Shiva Nandy, Founder and CEO of Skyesports. “It provides professionals across the country with an opportunity to demonstrate their spreadsheet skills on a national platform. Hosting the finals at our Skyesports HQ studio enables us to produce a high-quality live show for fans to enjoy, and we’re proud to support the winner on their journey to represent India in Las Vegas this December.”
Open to All, But Only One Gets the Glory
The road to the finals kicks off with three online qualification rounds, open to anyone in India. Registrations are now live on the official MEWC India Qualifier website. Once registered, participants receive an access link shortly before each round, allowing them to download the problem case and submit answers via a dedicated competition platform.
Each round gives players a 45-minute window to start and a strict 30-minute timer to solve and submit, with both clocks running independently. Those who delay starting could end up with significantly less time to crack the challenge.
The top 12 scorers from the online rounds will be invited to a live national final at Skyesports HQ in Chennai. The entire event will be livestreamed, giving spectators a front-row seat to this high-stakes brain battle.
And when the dust settles, one Excel wizard will emerge to represent India at the world stage, sporting the tricolour on their jersey and gunning for international recognition and a share of the $61,500 prize pool.
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