With a little computer know-how,training and luck,you could be the next Microsoft 365 champ (Picture: Metro)

For security reasons,only select people were allowed inside the grand ballroom at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista in Florida,last July.

Yet all they’d see behind the plush doors was Xavier Diebold,19,and nine others sitting behind a computer,typing on Microsoft Excel.

Xavier,who lives two miles north of Chicago,Illinois,was representing the US in the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) World Championships.

‘I was familiar with Google Sheets,but Excel was a completely different world,and I was amazed by its capabilities,’ Xavier tells Metro.

‘Over time,I became obsessed with learning every little bit of the application until I felt fluent in it.

‘My time at the Championship was incredible – a trip I’ll never forget. I was lucky enough to bring my girlfriend along.’

Xavier Diebold won $4,000 (a little under £3,000) for coming second (Picture: Xavier Diebold)

The Championships,in its 24th year,sees students aged 13 to 22 flex their Microsoft Word,Excel,PowerPoint and Adobe skills.

It’s split into software-specific competitions,called tracks,with tasks that involve designing something for a non-profit within 100 minutes.

This could be a brief to create a slideshow using specific effects,or a web of spreadsheets that include mind-bending formulas and data validation.

This year’s competition kicks off on Tuesday,with 190 competitors from 46 countries flying to the Disney Grand Californian Hotel and Spa in Anaheim,California,for it.

In 2025,Xavier showed that he,well,excels in Excel (‘I haven’t heard that one before,’ he says) by creating documents for Limbitless Solutions,which makes 3D-printed bionic arms.

‘What really stuck with me was seeing kids from around the world proudly representing their countries,’ Xavier says,‘which in turn made me more competitive and prouder to represent mine.’

Microsoft Office champs (from left to right): Tony Jin,Tsan Ying Wong,In Iat Li,Eleni Karakasidou,Maria Abi Khalil and Hai Long Do (Picture: Jake Campos Fotoproduktion)

She had never heard of the MOS Championships until her teacher,Mr Panagiotis Aslanidis,suggested she apply.

Hallie Mitchell,22,similarly hadn’t heard of the competition before applying.

The graphic designer at Taxi Studio,an agency in Bristol,taught herself how to use the image-editing tool Adobe Photoshop at college.

Within a few years,she won silver in the Adobe round of the Championships.

‘I decided to compete in the Championships just as a bit of fun,never imagining that I would end up as the second-place champion,’ she says.

‘Being able to travel to America for the first time was an amazing experience,so the medal was the cherry on top.

Hallie Mitchell,from Bristol,won big in the Adobe track (Picture: Hallie Mitchell)

Hallie created posters and social media posts for Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE),a non-profit inspiring young innovators.

‘I think having an eye for the little details is so valuable,along with the creative flair and together that really brings ideas to life in the best way possible,’ she adds.

The MOS Championship is the only Microsoft Office technology skills competition endorsed by Microsoft.

On top of big-league glory – and an excuse to geek out with fellow tech buffs – organisers started it to encourage young people to try the Microsoft Office Specialist certification programme.

Xavier remembers when he loaded Excel for the first time while working towards the certificate at school.

His teacher pulled him aside one day to say he had scored the highest in the state in the Excel exam,so he was on track to represent the US.

Excel is often associated with finance bros (Picture: Shutterstock/PixieMe)

Now he has people messaging him online,asking him for advice on how to get fame and fortune in the world of competitive Microsoft Excel-ing.

‘Don’t spend the whole trip stressed out about the competition; just qualifying is a huge achievement,and opportunities like this don’t come around often,so enjoy it,’ Xavier says.

‘And of course,make sure to review your pivot tables!’

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