What is Éclaircissement? 13-year-old Faizan Zaki spelt it correctly to win 97th Scripps National Spelling Bee after recovery from on-stage error
Texas teen claims
Scripps National Spelling Bee
title
Faizan Zaki
, a 13-year-old student from Allen, Texas, won the 97th Scripps National Spelling Bee, overcoming an early mistake to secure the championship.
Zaki, who finished as runner-up in 2023, competed against eight finalists on Thursday night, May 29. The competition took place at a convention center outside Washington, D.C., the Bee's home for the past 14 years. He claimed the top prize of $52,500 after spelling the word 'éclaircissement' correctly in the final round without hesitation.
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Also read:
Scripps National Spelling Bee: How to watch, top competitors, rules, and prizes
In an earlier round, both Sarvadnya Kadam and Sarv Dharavane had been eliminated after misspelling their words. However, Zaki's premature response to 'commelina', spelling the first three letters incorrectly before stopping himself, allowed both competitors to return to the stage.
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Head judge Mary Brooks allowed Zaki to end the round after his incomplete attempt, resetting the competition. Sarv and Sarvadnya were given another opportunity, but both were eliminated in subsequent rounds. Zaki remained composed through the final rounds to secure the championship.
Zaki joins select group of Spelling Bee
comeback champions
Faizan Zaki becomes only the fifth runner-up in the history of the Scripps National Spelling Bee to return and win the title. He is the first to accomplish the feat since Sean Conley in 2001.
Zaki's performance follows his 2023 finish behind Bruhat Soma, who won the title in a lightning-round 'spell-off.' With this year's win, Zaki brings his total spelling bee earnings to $77,500, including the $25,000 second-place prize from last year.
According to Zaki, his previous winnings funded the purchase of a $1,500 Rubik's Cube featuring 21 squares per side.
Also read:
NYT Strands hints and answers for May 27: Full word list, theme, and spangram from dystopian novel puzzle
The 2025 event also marked the final time the Bee will be held at its current venue. Starting in 2026, the competition will relocate to Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., a historic concert venue near the White House.
Scripps, the Cincinnati-based media company that organizes the spelling bee, hosted several past champions this year to commemorate the upcoming 100th anniversary of the event, which began in 1925.
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