Scripps National Spelling Bee: Faizan Zaki, 13-year-old prodigy from Texas, wins despite blunder
The 13-year-old prodigy Faizan Zaki won the latest installment of the Scripps National Spelling Bee contest despite nearly throwing away the chance because of a careless error. He outlasted eight accomplished spellers to achieve the feat and bag a cash prize of $52,500. Interestingly, two of them actually got a second chance in the contest because of Faizan's blunder.
Faizan Zaki wins Scripps National Spelling Bee despite a scare
Faizan Zaki, a teenager from Texas, got an opportunity to shut out the competition when Sarvadnya Kadam and Sarv Dharavane misspelled their words. He, however, failed to seize the chance as he misspelled the word 'commelina'. This allowed Sarvadnya and Sarv to return to the stage.
🏆 Faizan Zaki is your 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion!The 13-year-old, who was last year's runner-up, took home the Scripps Cup after correctly spelling éclaircissement — outspelling more than 240 students from across the country.👏 Congrats to Faizan.… pic.twitter.com/KhLwjjkcb0
However, luckily for Faizan, both of them misspelled their words. Post this, the teenager stayed calm and ensured that his competitors did not get another chance to return to the microphone. He took home the prize by spelling '
éclaircissement' in one go.
With this, he took home a cash prize of $52,500. He had previously taken home $25,000 for securing second place in the competition. His total earnings from the competition are $77,500.
About Scripps National Spelling Bee
Scripps National Spelling Bee wads first held in 1925 ands has emerged as a major attraction since. It is backed by Scripps, a media company. This year's contest marked the last time it was held at a convention center just outside Washington on the banks of the Potomac River, which has been its home for 14 years. Next year, it will be held at Constitution Hall, a nearly century-old concert venue near the White House.
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Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
What is ‘Éclaircissement'? See how a Texas teen's perfect spelling sealed the Scripps National Spelling Bee!
See how a Texas teen's perfect spelling sealed the Scripps National Spelling Bee In a nail-biting final that showcased both linguistic mastery and emotional resilience, 13-year-old Faizan Zaki of Allen, Texas, emerged victorious at the 97th Scripps National Spelling Bee, held on May 29, 2024. This remarkable win came just a year after Zaki's second-place finish in the 2023 Bee, positioning him among a rare group of comeback champions. The event, hosted just outside Washington, D.C., captivated viewers with unexpected turns, high-pressure moments, and a showcase of America's brightest young spellers. With a flawless rendering of the word 'éclaircissement' in the championship round, Zaki secured the coveted title and the $52,500 top prize. But the road to victory was far from straightforward. How a rare rule saved Faizan Zaki's chance at the championship The final round featured eight exceptional spellers, all of whom had advanced through rigorous rounds of competition. Among them were Sarvadnya Kadam and Sarv Dharavane, both of whom had built strong reputations throughout the preliminary rounds. During one of the pivotal rounds, Zaki was presented with the word 'commelina', a genus of flowering plants. In a moment of misstep, he began spelling it incorrectly, getting the first three letters wrong before halting himself. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo According to the rules, prematurely attempting a word usually results in disqualification. However, head judge Mary Brooks determined that Zaki's answer was incomplete, and allowed the round to end without penalizing him fully. This rare decision reset the competition, bringing back Sarvadnya and Sarv for another attempt. Unfortunately, both were eliminated in subsequent rounds, while Zaki recovered with striking composure. His focus in the final stages proved unshakable, culminating in his championship-winning performance. How Faizan Zaki joined the elite club of Spelling Bee comeback winners Faizan Zaki now joins an elite circle of spelling bee participants who've managed to return from a near-win to ultimately take home the title. He is only the fifth contestant in the Bee's nearly century-long history to achieve this feat and the first since Sean Conley in 2001. In 2023, Zaki had narrowly lost to Bruhat Soma in a 'spell-off' lightning round — a format introduced to break ties with speed-based spelling. Despite the disappointment, Zaki continued to train rigorously, using his previous experience as motivation. His perseverance not only earned him the championship but brought his total spelling bee earnings to $77,500, including the $25,000 runner-up prize from the previous year. When asked how he used part of his previous winnings, Zaki shared that he had purchased a $1,500 Rubik's Cube with 21 squares per side, underscoring his fascination with intellectual challenges and puzzles. What is Éclaircissement Zaki's winning word — 'éclaircissement' — is a French-derived noun that means 'clarification' or 'an enlightening explanation.' Its use in the final round added an extra layer of difficulty, not only due to its French origin and spelling nuances but also because of its relatively rare usage in everyday English. Zaki's swift and confident delivery of the correct spelling demonstrated both his phonetic precision and his deep familiarity with language etymology. Honoring the past and looking ahead The 2024 competition also marked a significant milestone in the history of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. This year's event was the final one held at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland — the Bee's home for the past 14 years. Beginning in 2026, the event will move to the DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., a historic venue just blocks from the White House. This change in venue is part of the build-up to the 100th anniversary of the Bee, which will be celebrated in 2025. To commemorate the occasion, past champions were invited to this year's finals as special guests, highlighting the legacy and cultural impact of the competition. Inside the Scripps National Spelling Bee Founded in 1925, the Scripps National Spelling Bee is more than just a spelling contest — it's a high-pressure intellectual competition that demands months (if not years) of preparation. Participants, mostly between the ages of 11 and 14, must master word roots, language rules, etymology, pronunciation, and foreign-derived vocabulary. Winners often gain not just prize money, but national recognition, academic opportunities, and scholarships. The grand prize package, sponsored by the E.W. Scripps Company, includes: $50,000 cash An engraved championship trophy A $2,500 cash prize from Merriam-Webster A reference library and subscription package Airfare and accommodations for finalists and their families What makes a champion? Faizan Zaki's edge Zaki's victory is a reflection of more than raw talent — it showcases qualities like mental resilience, composure under pressure, and sustained dedication. Experts in education and cognition often point to spelling bee champions as models of how early intellectual challenges can shape young minds. Zaki's journey, especially his recovery from the 2023 loss, illustrates the value of persistence in the face of setbacks. With his Rubik's Cube collection and passion for wordplay, Zaki has proven that curiosity and commitment are at the heart of elite-level academic achievement. Also read | Can mushrooms really talk? Study suggests fungi have a vocabulary of 50 words
NDTV
2 days ago
- NDTV
This Is The Word That Won 13-Year-Old Faizan Zaki The US Spelling Bee
A 13-year-old Indian-American boy won the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee by correctly spelling the word "eclaircissement". Faizan Zaki, who was last year's runner-up, sealed his victory on May 29 by confidently spelling the challenging word without hesitation, then celebrated by pumping his fists and collapsing on stage as confetti fell. The winning word "eclaircissement" is pronounced ek-lehr-see-sma and was described by Faizan as instantly recognisable. The word, of French origin, means "clarification" or "enlightenment," commonly used to indicate the clearing up of confusion. Faizan Zaki took home $52,500 (almost Rs 45 lakh) in prize money, adding to the $25,000 (over Rs 21.3 lakh) he won as runner-up last year. He plans to donate a large part of his winnings to charity. This win was a remarkable comeback for Faizan. In 2024, Faizan had an almost flawless run during the conventional rounds, never misspelling a word. He lost in the tiebreaker round, a fast-paced "spell-off" where contestants spell as many words as possible in 90 seconds. That year, Faizan Khan spelled 20 words correctly but was edged out by Bruhat Soma, who spelled 29 words correctly. The 2025 finals featured nine talented spellers, including Faizan, 11-year-old Sarv Dharavane from Georgia, and 14-year-old Sarvadnya Kadam from California. As the contest narrowed to the final three, Mr Kadam and Mr Dharavane missed their words consecutively, putting Faizan just two words away from victory. Faizan stumbled briefly on the word "commelina", which he ultimately corrected. Faizan's victory adds to the long-standing success of Indian-American spellers in the Bee, with 30 of the last 36 champions from this community. The legacy began with Nupur Lala in 1999. The Scripps National Spelling Bee celebrated its 100th anniversary this year and introduced new rules to reduce early tiebreakers, allowing a longer, more competitive final round. Faizan Zaki has been spelling for most of his life. He first competed in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 2019 when he was just 7 years old, getting in through a wild-card programme that no longer exists. He came back in 2023 and reached the semifinals, then finished as runner-up in 2024. Faizan says his love for words and constant enthusiasm have driven his success. He also credits his three coaches - Scott Remer, Sam Evans, and Sohum Sukhantankar.
NDTV
2 days ago
- NDTV
NDTV Asked Indian-Origin Spelling Bee Champion To Spell 4 Words. His Response
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. Faizan Zaki, a 13-year-old Indian-American from Texas, won the Scripps National Spelling Bee by spelling "éclaircissement." He praised his supportive parents and shared his journey, emphasising perseverance and motivation for aspiring competitors. New Delhi: 'P-E-R-S-P-I-C-A-C-I-O-U-S'. 'S-C-H-A-D-E-N-F-R-E-U-D-E'. 'C-A-C-O-P-H-O-N-Y'. 'G-A-R-R-U-L-O-U-S'. Faizan Zaki, an Indian-American student from Texas who recently won the Scripps National Spelling Bee championship, spelled these words effortlessly. Playing a short spelling bee on NDTV, all it took Faizan was to hear the word, understand the meaning, and spell it out. Perspicacious means having a keen understanding of something, schadenfreude means taking pleasure in someone else's misfortune, cacophony means a harsh discordant sound, and garrulous means someone who is very talkative. The 13-year-old champion who took home over Rs 40,00,000, a medal, and a trophy after winning the National Spelling Bee championship, told NDTV that the moment was overwhelming for him. "I was just relieved that I got my word right. At the end, when I finished my word, you could hear me gasping for air. It was a really great moment," he said. Faizan had started participating in spelling bee competitions since his first grade. "I started in my first grade, where I did my school spelling bee, and luckily, I won. So I decided that spelling bees are a great thing, and I wanted to do it, so I kept working harder and harder. I had my ups and downs. But finally it culminated in this, where I won," he said. He also praised his parents for the constant support. "My parents, other than helping me with spelling itself, were also really supportive. They were really there for me when I was unmotivated and when I didn't want to study. They kept pushing me, and they taught me how to persevere through that. So all my credit goes to them," he said. The spelling bee champion added, "When my parents first came to the US from India, they basically had no idea what they were doing, and they were struggling. It makes me sad, so I want to give back to the community." Faizan gave a piece of advice to other students who are participating in such competitions. "My biggest piece of advice is stay motivated because that's what I did when I got second place last year and I kept studying harder and harder - then finally I won," he said. The word that won Faizan Zaki championship Faizan Zaki, a seventh-grade student at CM Rice Middle School in Texas, seemed to have a good chance at winning a few minutes before the culmination of the championship. But he rushed to spell his word before a proper explanation and got the first letter wrong in one of the rounds. Hardly before the word "commelina" had left the pronouncer's mouth, Faizan said: 'K-A-M-" He recognised his mistake right away. In the last round, it came down to Faizan and Sarvadnya Kadam. The last word that Faizan spelled correctly was 'eclaircissement' - which is defined as "the clearing up of something obscure: enlightenment." He bested Sarvadnya to win the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thursday night. Seconds after spelling the word correctly, confetti rained down on Faizan. Organisers also congratulated Faizan's parents and his grandparents, who were watching the competition from their home in Hyderabad. This was Faizan's fourth time participating in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Last year, he won second place. He is the only fifth speller in Bee history to win after coming in second place the year before. He tied for 21st place in 2023 and 370th place in 2019. 30 of the past 36 champions, including Faizan, of the Scripps National Spelling Bee have been Indian American.
