Latest news with #FaizanZaki
New York Post
2 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Reds vs. Cubs prediction, picks: MLB odds, best bets Saturday
Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. Faizan Zaki is the new Scripps National Spelling Bee champion after the 13-year-old correctly spelled 'éclaircissement.' Lots of mail asking if I would back the Knicks again in Game 6, but this éclair can spell, too. Quitwhileyoureahead. Quite a spell. Saturday will be the first major league start since 2019 for the Cubs' Drew Pomeranz. He's pitched 12 ²/₃ innings of solid relief this season, scattered four hits, hasn't given up a run and has fanned 14. The Reds are at Wrigley. Nick Lodolo has surrendered 15 runs on 32 hits over his last 27 ²/₃ innings. Nick Lodolo AP And we thought we had a rough month of May. Take the 'wild card' Pomeranz over the 'every five days' Lodolo? OK. $50 on the Cubbies. This one was over faster than you can spell philaflopia. Learn all you need to know about MLB Betting The Brewers scored twice in the opening frame off Taijuan Walker and phlogged the Phillies 6-2. Christian Yelich hit two homers for Milwaukee. Down -264 toryspellings. Why Trust New York Post Betting The one and only Stitches has been handicapping baseball, daily, for the Post since 2019. Miraculously, he has finished in the black twice. But wait there's more. He showed his versatility by winning the Post's NFL Best Bet crown last year.
NBC News
2 hours ago
- General
- NBC News
Faizan Zaki wins Scripps National Spelling Bee a year after coming in 2nd
"Éclaircissement" was the winning word, but for Faizan Zaki it spelled success. The seventh grader from Dallas won the Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thursday, after last year having come in second place on the big stage. Faizan, 13, showed little hesitation as he spelled "éclaircissement," which means the clearing up of something obscure, in the final word to win the title of national spelling champ. He fell to the stage in joy as confetti rained down. 'I don't know what to say. I'm just really happy,' he said. The culmination of the national championship came with a shock. In what could have been the last round, when there were three left, Sarvadnya Kadam and Sarv Dharavane got their words wrong. It seemed to be Faizan's big chance. But he rushed to spell his word before a proper explanation and got the first letter wrong — a blunder on "commelina," a genus of plant that sent all three back for an additional round. Faizan joked about the pressure when he later faced what would be the winning word and after the spelling bee's official pronouncer, Jacques Bailly, suggested everyone take a deep breath. "That did not help at all," Faizan said, eliciting laughter from the crowd. Nine spellers made it to Thursday's final round, from Arizona, California, New York, New Jersey, Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Texas. This year is the 100th anniversary of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. In the first contest, there were just nine participants. How times have changed. This year, 243 young people competed in the Spelling Bee, which kicked off Tuesday in National Harbor, Maryland. Those 243 young spellers made their way to the national competition after having qualified in regional contests in March. Almost all of the kids who made it to the nationals were there for the first time, organizers said. Fifty-three were in the 2024 national contest, while 178 were national first-timers.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Scripps National Spelling Bee crowns new champ
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WSAV) — How do you spell success? For the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion, it's spelled 'éclaircissement.' The word is French and means 'the clearing up of something obscure: enlightenment.' 13-year-old Faizan Zaki from Allen, Texas, beat out eight others in the final round before successfully spelling it to win. 'It was just so amazing. I mean when I heard the word, I instantly knew it. I recognized it was from French and when they said it was correct, I was just so elated and happy that I got it right.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Faizan Zaki Says Twin Sister Knew He'd Win Scripps National Spelling Bee, Credits Parents for Helping When He Felt Burnt Out
Faizan Zaki, 13, won the Scripps National Spelling Bee championship on Thursday, May 29 After his big win, the young Texan received "hundreds" of messages from friends and classmates His family was his integral to his victory, he tells PEOPLE, sharing how his twin sister kept telling him he was going to win, while his parents helped when he felt burnt outBefore Faizan Zaki's Scripps National Spelling Bee win, he leaned on his family for support, including his twin sister, who had a feeling this was his year. 'She kept saying, 'Oh my God, you're going to win, Faizan,' ' the 13-year-old Texan remembers his sister Zara saying before he won the final round, which aired on Thursday, May 29. "Honestly, I didn't believe her at first," he tells PEOPLE, but adds that "it was just nice hearing her say that." "That really reassured me," he says. The teen was the runner-up last year and dedicated himself to preparing before reentering the competition. He says he spent about five or six hours a day during the week — and even more on the weekends — reading the dictionary to spot words he didn't know. While he trained with coaches, Faizan says his parents — mother Arshia Quadri and father Zaki Anwar — were instrumental in his success. 'In mid-April, I got really burnt out from studying,' says Faizan. 'But then my mom and my dad, they really supported me." 'I don't recall exactly what my dad said, but it was just so encouraging,' he adds. Sometimes, his parents would sit by him while he was studying as a show of support. They'd been there from the very beginning. Although Faizan isn't sure what first drew him to spelling and a love of words, he says his mom has a video of him when he was only 2 years old reading full sentences. 'I really had that passion for words and reading and linguistics and stuff,' he says. Early on, his family realized he was a 'natural" — and he first entered the National Spelling Bee when he was 7. 'I honestly wouldn't be here without them,' he says. He also received support from his classmates and friends. Some of them had an online viewing party, so they could watch as he secured his big win during the 11th round of the finals with the word "éclaircissement." (The word means "a clearing up of something obscure," according to Merriam-Webster.) Faizan made headlines for the way he immediately leaped into spelling the French word, without asking standard questions about the word's origin or definition. 'I immediately recognized the word,' he says. 'So, without hesitation, I went straight for it.' When he finally had a moment to look at his phone, the teen found 'hundreds' of messages from friends — just like this twin, they were all confident he was going to win. 'They kept texting me like, 'You got this.' And, 'Oh my God, you're going to do so well,' ' Faizan recalls of the encouraging texts. He was most appreciative of a former competitor, Shrey Parikh, who participated in the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'Even when he lost, he was so brave in that moment and that really inspired me,' says Faizan, who adds that this year Parikh 'was there for me all the way.' Faizan plans on continuing the cycle of generosity. The winner will receive $50,000 in cash from Scripps, $2,500 cash prize and reference library from Merriam-Webster and $400 worth of reference works from Encyclopædia Britannica, according to Scripps. The teen says he plans on saving half of the money for college — he plans on becoming a neurosurgeon one day — and donating half to charity. 'Seeing people in poverty, it's just really unfortunate,' says Faizan. 'I want to help change that.' Read the original article on People
India Today
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Indian-American Faizan Zaki wins 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee
13-year-old Faizan Zaki of Dallas, Texas, won the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee by accurately spelling the difficult French word "claircissement" in an exciting climax that had the audience on the edge of their seats. His significant victory included the coveted Scripps Cup trophy, a commemorative medal, and a $50,000 cash a seventh-grader at C.M. Rice Middle School, started his spelling journey at the age of 7. What began as a fun family activity quickly turned into a serious passion. 'He just enjoys learning new words,' said his mother, Arshia Quadri. 'It's something that came naturally to him.'advertisementHis father, Zaki Anwar, recalled, 'We just wanted him to enjoy the experience of competing at the bee. If he could spell a few words and achieve a few rounds, that would be great. But this is amazing!'A Special Year For The Bee This year's spelling bee was especially significant, marking its 100th anniversary. The competition saw 243 participants aged 8 to 14 from around the world gather at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, from May 27 to 30. Only nine made it to the final spelled his winning word in the 21st round. As confetti rained down, he dropped to the floor in disbelief, living the moment. 'I'm going to be having nightmares about that tonight,' he said, still overwhelmed by the Time's The CharmadvertisementThis was Faizan's fourth time participating in the national bee. Last year, he was narrowly defeated in a tiebreaker round by his friend, Bruhat Soma, who jokingly said, 'I think he cared too much about his aura.'Proud of his son's achievement, Faizan's father called him 'the GOAT,' adding, 'He's been doing this for years. He knows the dictionary like the back of his hand.'Faizan's win not only highlights his love for words but also inspires countless young spellers chasing the same dream.
