Meet the Canadian Excel king who just got crowned the new world spreadsheet champion [Video]

Canadian Michael Jarman pumped his fists into the air and shouted to his adoring fans – dubbed Jarmy’s Army – as he ran out onto the stage at the Microsoft Excel World Championships in Las Vegas.

Sporting a varsity jacket, khakis and sneakers, little did he know he would leave that day with a cheque for US$5,000 and a shiny, new accessory: the wrestling-style belt that accompanies the title of spreadsheet champion.

“I probably have more plans for the belt than I do the money. We’re currently looking at how to mount it above the television,” he said in an interview.

Typically, Excel is something taught at school or work, where it’s used to analyze data and perform calculations. For those who don’t take to it right away, the software can seem mundane or tedious. But at the world championships, held at the HyperX Arena in Vegas, Excel feels anything …