At the Microsoft Excel World Championships, portraits and a ‘noise’ tunnel.

yard. A hype tunnel, the kind that NBA players typically pass through. Competitor wearing a plaid shirt with a six pack.

In a new article for the New York Times Takes readers into the action Called the Microsoft Excel World Championship by organizers, the 40-minute, Las Vegas-based competition features 12 contestants — each solving thorny Excel puzzles. About 400 people attended the December event, which was broadcast live on ESPN3 between “competitions such as speed chess and the World Dog Surfing Championships,” the Times reported.

The event was no joke, even if the self-described nerds had a healthy sense of humor. According to the story, the winner — a Toronto-based financial advisor — received a $5,000 prize, a wrestling-style championship belt, and the title of best spreadsheet in the world after two top contestants stumbled. Selfies were taken.

The hope is that the prize money will eventually reach $1 million as more spectators and sponsors participate. Meanwhile, the four-year-old event — which was held in person last month for the first time — has already been a huge success. “You’ll never see this with Google Sheets,” one contestant told the Times. “You’ll never get that level of passion.”