Latest news with #Dharavane
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.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Faizan Zaki wins 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee a year after heartbreaking runner-up finish
At the end of last year's Scripps National Spelling Bee, Faizan Zaki grimaced, nodded his head and offered a gracious handshake as runner-up to winner Bruhat Soma after a dramatic spell-off. One year later, Zaki stood alone, with a trophy in hand. Advertisement The 13-year-old Allen, Texas native beat out eight other finalists to win the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thursday at National Harbor, Maryland. His winning word: "éclaircissement." You can see the moment he won in the video above. His prizes: $50,000 cash from Scripps, a medal and the Scripps Cup trophy $2,500 cash from Merriam-Webster, plus a reference library from the dictionary company. $400 of books from Encyclopædia Britannica $1,000 in Scholastic Dollars donated to the school of his choice a five-year subscription to a News-O-Matic platform for his school First runner-up Sarvadnya Kadam will receive $25,000, while second runner-up Sarv Dharavane will get $15,000. Zaki had previously competed three times in the spelling bee, finishing 370th in 2019, 21st in 2023 and as the runner-up in 2024. The fourth time was the charm for Faizan Zaki at the Scripps National Spelling Bee. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) It was nearly another heartbreaker for Zaki earlier in the finals, though. He was poised to win the event after Kadam and Dharavane both misspelled their words in the 18th round. After being asked to spell "commelina," Zaki jumped the gun and started spelling before bothering to ask for the definition or origin. Three letters in — "K, A, M" — Zaki realized his mistake. Advertisement Kadam and Dharavane re-entered the competition, with Dharavane quipping, "This is surprising." Fortunately for Zaki, Dharavane misspelled his next word too, while Kadam fell in the next round, setting him up to take the title. On the final word, longtime spelling bee pronouncer, and former champion, Jacques Bailly playfully asked for "all of us to take a deep breath," to which Zaki deadpanned, "That did not help at all." Zaki again didn't ask for the definition or origin of "éclaircissement," but he clearly had the letters in his head as soon as he heard it. And as soon as the judges confirmed he got it right, he fell to the ground, followed a moment later by the confetti. You can see every word Zaki spelled on his way to victory here.
