Here's the Most Niche Esport on Earth

About this video

Welcome to Great Big Story’s Amazing Humans - our celebration of the outliers, dreamers, and everyday heroes who remind us just how extraordinary life can be. Here, we share true stories and real-life biographies that capture the weird, wonderful, and everything in between. These often untold stories sit at the heart of our DNA - portraits of creativity, courage, and curiosity in all their forms. From quiet change makers to joyful eccentrics, each film is a glimpse into what makes us beautifully complex and deeply human. Join us and meet the people who make the world a little more remarkable. And if you know someone who should be featured on the series, we'd love to hear - get in touch Most people use Excel for budgets and charts, but for Michael Jarman, it’s a way to win world championships. Originally from the UK and now based in Toronto, Michael is the reigning Excel World Champion, turning spreadsheets into a high-speed game of logic, accuracy, and endurance. Held at the HyperX Esports Arena in Las Vegas and broadcast on ESPN, the Microsoft Excel Championship transforms data into drama. Players face timed puzzles built around games like Scrabble and Monopoly, with eliminations, bonus rounds, and live commentary creating a true esport spectacle. In this film, Michael walks us through the world of Excel esports, how the competition works, how to train like a champion, and what it takes to stay on top of one of the most niche competitions on Earth. 00:00 - Meet Michael Jarman 00:13 - Welcome to the Excel World Championship 00:50 - The Origins of Competitive Excel 01:40 - Going Big in Las Vegas 02:20 - How the Competition Actually Works 02:55 - Puzzle Themes and Challenges 04:17 - The Spreadsheet Community 04:38 - Why You Should Give It a Try #microsoftexcel #esports #greatbigstory #truestory Welcome to Great Big Story - Where the extraordinary hides in plain sight. From forgotten histories and unsung heroes to mind-blowing innovations and mesmerising cultures, We’re a global storytelling collective obsessed with the extraordinary tucked inside the everyday. Our producers are filmmakers, adventurers, and curious souls who believe a great story can change how you see the world. We publish new videos every week. Please join us in exploring a world of fascinating perspectives around history, culture, technology, food, real life stories, and beyond. Got a story idea for us? Send us an email at pitch [at] GreatBigStory [dot] com 📧 Get exclusive GBS items from our online store 🛒 👉 https://shop.greatbigstory.com/ SUBSCRIBE: https://buff.ly/41yqVHF NOTIFICATIONS: Make sure you enable the 🔔 to get notified about our latest video publishes. Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greatbigstory Check us out on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@greatbigstory Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greatbigstory Give us a shout on Twitter: https://twitter.com/greatbigstory Sign up to our newsletter: https://greatbigstory.com/signup/