Latest news with #Chaldee
Kuwait Times
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Kuwait Times
Faizan Zaki, 13, crowned US National Spelling Bee champion
Faizan Zaki, a 13-year-old boy from the Dallas area, won the 97th Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thursday, swiftly nailing the French-derived word 'eclaircissement,' synonymous with enlightenment, in the 21st round of the contest finals. He edged out 14-year-old Sarvadnya Kadam, from Visalia, California, who finished in second place after misspelling 'Uaupes,' a tributary of the Rio Negro in South America, in the 20th round. Zaki, who was last year's runner-up, had correctly spelled 'Chaldee,' a dialect of the Biblical Aramaic language, in the 20th round. But under spelling bee rules, Zaki needed to land one more word in a solo round to claim the trophy. He did so in round 21 by instantly and precisely spelling 'eclaircissement' - defined as a clearing up of something obscure. He surprised the audience by giving his answer without taking the customary pause afforded contestants to ask the judges for more information about the word's origins, meaning and pronunciation. He was crowned champion in a hail of confetti before being joined on stage by his parents and other relatives, and will receive $50,000 in prize money. Cyleane Equra Ama Quansah, 11, of Accra, Ghana spells her word. Kaden Haddox (left), 12, of Steubenville, Ohio reacts after successfully spelling his word in the preliminaries. The spelling finalists are seen before the finals of the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Faizan Zaki , 13, of Dallas, Texas holds up the Scripps Cup after winning in the 21st round of the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Faizan Zaki, (second right) 13, of Dallas, Texas holds the Scripps Cup alongside family and friends after winning. E. W. Scripps Company CEO Adam Symson (left) hands Faizan Zaki (right), 13, of Dallas, Texas the Scripps Cup after winning in the 21st round of the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Zaki, a resident of Allen, Texas, had nearly been eliminated in round 18 when he rushed, and stumbled over, the spelling of 'commelina,' a genus for some 200 species of dayflowers. But his two fellow finalists at that point, including Kadam, likewise fumbled their words, leading to a 19th round in which all three boys returned, but only two - Zaki and Kadam - survived to face off in the decisive 20th round. Sarv Dharavane, an 11-year-old boy from Tucker, Georgia, finished in third place after misspelling 'eserine,' the antidote of choice for many poisons, with one 's' too many. Thursday's total roster of nine finalists emerged from three days of competition at a convention center outside Washington, DC, among 243 contestants aged eight to 14 who advanced from regional competitions across the country. Challenged with some of the most difficult and least-used words that English has to offer, many young competitors amazed spectators with their ability to produce the correct spellings with poise and precision. The Scripps media group has sponsored the event since 1925, with three years off during World War Two and one more for the COVID pandemic in 2020. Most competitors were from the United States, coming from all 50 states. Other spellers came from Canada, the Bahamas, Germany, Ghana, Kuwait, Nigeria, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. - Reuters
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
US boy wins Spelling Bee after coming in second place last year
Faizan Zaki, a 13-year-old boy from the Dallas area, won the 97th Scripps National Spelling Bee, after missing out on the title and coming in second place last year. Mr Zaki swiftly nailed the French-derived word "eclaircissement," synonymous with enlightenment, in the 21st round of the contest finals, clenching the victory. He edged out 14-year-old Sarvadnya Kadam, from Visalia, California, who finished in second place after misspelling "Uaupes," a tributary of the Rio Negro in South America, in the 20th round. Mr Zaki had correctly spelled "Chaldee," a dialect of the Biblical Aramaic language, in the 20th round. But under spelling bee rules, Mr Zaki needed to land one more word in a solo round to claim the trophy. He did so in round 21 by instantly and precisely spelling "eclaircissement" - defined as a clearing up of something obscure. He surprised the audience by giving his answer without taking the customary pause afforded contestants to ask the judges for more information about the word's origins, meaning and pronunciation. Mr Zaki was crowned champion in a hail of confetti before being joined on stage by his parents and other relatives, and will receive $50,000 (€44,125) in prize money. Asked what he would do next, Mr Zaki replied, "I'm probably going to stay up the entire night or something." Mr Zaki, a resident of Allen, Texas, had nearly been eliminated in round 18 when he rushed, and stumbled over, the spelling of "commelina," a genus for some 200 species of dayflowers. But his two fellow finalists at that point, including Mr Kadam, likewise fumbled their words, leading to a 19th round in which all three boys returned, but only two - Mr Zaki and Mr Kadam - survived to face off in the decisive 20th round. Sarv Dharavane, an 11-year-old boy from Tucker, Georgia, finished in third place after misspelling "eserine," the antidote of choice for many poisons, with one "s" too many. The total roster of nine finalists emerged from three days of competition at a convention center outside Washington, among 243 contestants aged eight to 14 who advanced from regional competitions across the country. Challenged with some of the most difficult and least-used words that English has to offer, many young competitors amazed spectators with their ability to produce the correct spellings with poise and precision. The Scripps media group has sponsored the event since 1925, with three years off during World War Two and one more for the COVID pandemic in 2020. Most competitors were from the United States, coming from all 50 states. Other spellers came from Canada, the Bahamas, Germany, Ghana, Kuwait, Nigeria, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Scripps National Spelling Bee 2025: Indian-Americans Sarvadnya Kadam, Sarv Dharavane runner-ups as Faizan Zaki takes lead: All you need to know
In a heart-stopping finish to the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee, 13-year-old Faizan Zaki from Dallas, Texas, emerged victorious, spelling 'Chaldee' correctly in the 20th round to secure the championship. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now However, the drama wasn't over yet — Zaki was required by the judges to spell one more word flawlessly before being officially crowned champion, a challenge he met with confidence and without any assistance. Zaki's win was a story of redemption. Last year, he narrowly lost in the spell-off to Bruhat Soma after rushing his final word and stumbling on the homonym of 'commelina.' This time, determined to avoid a repeat, he made sure the contest didn't go to a spell-off. 'I'm really happy,' Zaki said after his triumph. The competition, held over three intense days outside Washington DC, featured some of the country's best young spellers. Zaki's steady composure was visible as he kept his hands tucked into the pockets of his black Aeropostale hoodie, his long dark hair falling between his eyeglasses. His trademark hand gesture — a back-and-forth motion with each letter — reappeared as he confidently asked the necessary questions and spelled each word correctly. Runner-up Sarvadnya Kadam and third-place finisher Sarv Dharavane, the youngest finalist at 11 years old and a fifth grader, impressed the crowd with their skill and poise. Dharavane, known for his relaxed demeanor, greeted the microphone with a casual 'wassup' and confidently spelled his words, even uttering 'here goes nothing' before a successful attempt. Dramatic twists in the final rounds The competition's tension peaked in the 18th round, when Zaki had a chance to clinch the title after Kadam and Dharavane misspelled their words. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now However, Zaki's excitement got the better of him, and he began spelling before fully completing his thought process, prompting judge Mary Brooks to ring the bell, invalidating his attempt. This unexpected turn allowed Kadam and Dharavane back into the contest, prolonging the battle for the championship. Throughout the finals, the field showed incredible depth and precision. At one point, the finalists spelled 23 words consecutively without a single mistake. The pressure finally cracked for some contenders: Harini Mulari missed the last letter of 'tekke,' Brian Liu stumbled on 'kyah,' and Aishwarya Kallakuri faltered on 'Keighley,' a town in northern England. By the final rounds, only Zaki, Kadam, and Dharavane remained standing, facing off in a test of nerves and vocabulary mastery. The six finalists demonstrated remarkable skill, delivering multiple perfect rounds even as the difficulty level escalated. Meet the finalists The 'Still-Standing Six' demonstrated incredible endurance. They included: Faizan Zaki (13) – Dallas, Texas, competing in his fourth Bee, and the only returning finalist from 2024. – Dallas, Texas, competing in his fourth Bee, and the only returning finalist from 2024. Sarvadnya Kadam (14) – Visalia, California, in his third and final year of eligibility. – Visalia, California, in his third and final year of eligibility. Sarv Dharavane (11) – Tucker , Georgia, the youngest finalist and a fifth grader. – , Georgia, the youngest finalist and a fifth grader. Harini Murali (13) – Edison, New Jersey, competing for the fourth time. – Edison, New Jersey, competing for the fourth time. Brian Liu (13) – Great Neck, New York, in his final year of eligibility. – Great Neck, New York, in his final year of eligibility. Aishwarya Kallakuri (14) – Charlotte, North Carolina, also competing in her final year. Other notable finalists included Esha Marupudi, Oliver Halkett, and Akshaj Somisetty, with Somisetty being the first eliminated in the finals after missing a vocabulary question on the word 'imbroglio.' The historic backdrop The 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee marked the 100th anniversary of the competition, which began in 1925 as a collaboration among newspapers to identify America's best young spellers. While it is the 97th edition due to cancellations during World War II and the 2020 pandemic, the Bee continues to be a celebrated tradition. The contest has evolved over the years, including the addition of the 'spell-off' in response to the historic eight-way tie in 2019, designed to prevent ties by testing speed and accuracy in rapid-fire spelling rounds. Prize package and legacy Winning the Bee comes with more than just the glory. Zaki will receive: $50,000 in prize money The prestigious Scripps Cup trophy $2,500 and a reference library courtesy of Merriam-Webster $400 worth of Encyclopædia Britannica reference works $1,000 in Scholastic Dollars to donate to a school of his choice All finalists receive $2,000, with tiered prizes awarded down to sixth place. Competition scale and reach This year's Bee Week began with 243 spellers representing every U.S. state and territory, as well as international participants from Canada, the Bahamas, Germany, Ghana, Kuwait, and Nigeria. The youngest contestant was eight-year-old Zachary Teoh from Texas, while about 30% of participants were 14 years old, nearing the age limit. Scripps estimates that between 10 and 11 million children participate in local and regional Bees each year, making it a truly nationwide educational event. The finals experience The final rounds were broadcast live on Scripps-owned networks including ION, Bounce, Grit, and streamed on multiple platforms. The finals began with an enthusiastic 'Bear Down!' from semifinalist Yahya Ali Mohammed, setting a spirited tone. After the finals, Scripps announced that starting in 2026, the Bee would move from the Gaylord National Convention Center in Maryland back to Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., the site of many early competitions. Looking ahead Faizan Zaki's victory puts him in elite company as only the fifth speller ever to win the Bee the year after finishing second — a feat last accomplished in 2001. His steady nerves, methodical approach, and clear love for the competition suggest he will be remembered among the great champions of this historic event.
Dubai Eye
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Dubai Eye
Faizan Zaki, 13, crowned US National Spelling Bee champion
Faizan Zaki, a 13-year-old boy from the Dallas area, won the 97th Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thursday, swiftly nailing the French-derived word "eclaircissement," synonymous with enlightenment, in the 21st round of the contest finals. He edged out 14-year-old Sarvadnya Kadam, from Visalia, California, who finished in second place after misspelling "Uaupes," a tributary of the Rio Negro in South America, in the 20th round. Zaki, who was last year's runner-up, had correctly spelled "Chaldee," a dialect of the Biblical Aramaic language, in the 20th round. But under spelling bee rules, Zaki needed to land one more word in a solo round to claim the trophy. He did so in round 21 by instantly and precisely spelling "eclaircissement" - defined as a clearing up of something obscure. He surprised the audience by giving his answer without taking the customary pause afforded contestants to ask the judges for more information about the word's origins, meaning and pronunciation. He was crowned champion in a hail of confetti before being joined on stage by his parents and other relatives, and will receive $50,000 in prize money. Asked what he would do next, Zaki replied, "I'm probably going to stay up the entire night or something." Zaki, a resident of Allen, Texas, had nearly been eliminated in round 18 when he rushed, and stumbled over, the spelling of "commelina," a genus for some 200 species of dayflowers. But his two fellow finalists at that point, including Kadam, likewise fumbled their words, leading to a 19th round in which all three boys returned, but only two - Zaki and Kadam - survived to face off in the decisive 20th round. Sarv Dharavane, an 11-year-old boy from Tucker, Georgia, finished in third place after misspelling "eserine," the antidote of choice for many poisons, with one "s" too many. Thursday's total roster of nine finalists emerged from three days of competition at a convention center outside Washington DC, among 243 contestants aged eight to 14 who advanced from regional competitions across the country. Challenged with some of the most difficult and least-used words that English has to offer, many young competitors amazed spectators with their ability to produce the correct spellings with poise and precision. The Scripps media group has sponsored the event since 1925, with three years off during World War II and one more for the COVID pandemic in 2020. Most competitors were from the United States, coming from all 50 states. Other spellers came from Canada, the Bahamas, Germany, Ghana, Kuwait, Nigeria, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
ARN News Center
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- ARN News Center
Faizan Zaki, 13, crowned US National Spelling Bee champion
Faizan Zaki, a 13-year-old boy from the Dallas area, won the 97th Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thursday, swiftly nailing the French-derived word "eclaircissement," synonymous with enlightenment, in the 21st round of the contest finals. He edged out 14-year-old Sarvadnya Kadam, from Visalia, California, who finished in second place after misspelling "Uaupes," a tributary of the Rio Negro in South America, in the 20th round. Zaki, who was last year's runner-up, had correctly spelled "Chaldee," a dialect of the Biblical Aramaic language, in the 20th round. But under spelling bee rules, Zaki needed to land one more word in a solo round to claim the trophy. He did so in round 21 by instantly and precisely spelling "eclaircissement" - defined as a clearing up of something obscure. He surprised the audience by giving his answer without taking the customary pause afforded contestants to ask the judges for more information about the word's origins, meaning and pronunciation. He was crowned champion in a hail of confetti before being joined on stage by his parents and other relatives, and will receive $50,000 in prize money. Asked what he would do next, Zaki replied, "I'm probably going to stay up the entire night or something." Zaki, a resident of Allen, Texas, had nearly been eliminated in round 18 when he rushed, and stumbled over, the spelling of "commelina," a genus for some 200 species of dayflowers. But his two fellow finalists at that point, including Kadam, likewise fumbled their words, leading to a 19th round in which all three boys returned, but only two - Zaki and Kadam - survived to face off in the decisive 20th round. Sarv Dharavane, an 11-year-old boy from Tucker, Georgia, finished in third place after misspelling "eserine," the antidote of choice for many poisons, with one "s" too many. Thursday's total roster of nine finalists emerged from three days of competition at a convention center outside Washington DC, among 243 contestants aged eight to 14 who advanced from regional competitions across the country. Challenged with some of the most difficult and least-used words that English has to offer, many young competitors amazed spectators with their ability to produce the correct spellings with poise and precision. The Scripps media group has sponsored the event since 1925, with three years off during World War II and one more for the COVID pandemic in 2020. Most competitors were from the United States, coming from all 50 states. Other spellers came from Canada, the Bahamas, Germany, Ghana, Kuwait, Nigeria, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
