The UP student who turned Excel into a world title – Pieter Pienaar

When you’re filling in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, the idea of an international competition testing those skills is probably far from your mind. Yet Excel has become an esport, with competitors from around the world solving high‑pressure challenges on a major stage in Las Vegas. This year, University of Pretoria student Pieter Pienaar became the world champion in the 2025 Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge. Pienaar, who is currently completing his chartered accountant articles with PwC, told BizNews that for him Excel is a powerful problem‑solving tool, and that is exactly what the championship tested. When it comes to future developments in Excel, he strongly supports the role of AI because it democratises problem‑solving, provided companies act responsibly and ensure proper auditing. But, he adds, it should definitely not be used by the National Treasury to do your taxes.