Surpassing over 1,000 competitors in the qualifications, 120 candidates across the nation joined the final round of the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship – Viettel 2019 on April 7.

The candidates of the northern region at the final round (Photo: hanoimoi.com.vn)

This year, the number of student and pupil finalists were equal, with the youngest an eighth grader. 

Notably, it was the first time in a decade that the final round of the annual competition posted a record 82 out of 120 candidates, equaling 68.3 percent, securing the maximum score of 1,000 points. 

The annual competition for students aged 13 to 22 comprises three separated contests – Microsoft Office 2013, Microsoft Excel 2013 and Microsoft PowerPoint 2013. This year, it will present three first, six second, nine third, prizes among others, with total award values amounting to 1 billion VND (43,193 USD).

The three national winners will move on to the World Championship in the US from July 29 to 31 this year, with their travel fees, estimated at 80 million VND (3,440 USD) each, sponsored by Viettel. The first prize of the World Championship values 7,000 USD, and the second and third prizes 3,500 USD and 1,500 USD, respectively.

The award ceremony to honor the national winners is scheduled for mid-May.

The competition has been organised worldwide since 2002 and was first held in Vietnam in 2010. Vietnamese candidates won medals at every edition of the championships in the past seven years, making the country one of the top ten strongest teams worldwide. -VNA