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CBS News
3 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Scripps National Spelling Bee champion Faizan Zaki on his winning moment and resilient comeback
Faizan Zaki was the big winner at the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which celebrated its 100th anniversary. At the first Scripps National Spelling Bee in 1925, there were only nine participants. This year, 243 kids from across the country competed for the championship title. Zaki, from Allen, Texas, correctly spelled "éclaircissement" for the win, a word he said he instantly recognized. "I know that from … my previous studying. It means enlightenment and … it comes from French. So I just knew all that in my head and, so I just got right to spelling," Zaki said. But before his victory, in the final minutes of the competition, Zaki, along with the two other finalists, missed their words, sending the contest into another round. "There was a word that I got earlier, 'Commelina' and without thinking, I started spelling and so then I realized, 'oh, I need to slow down.' I asked for the information and then I realized that what I had spelled was wrong." NATIONAL HARBOR, MARYLAND - MAY 29: Faizan Zaki, 13, of Dallas, Texas holds the Scripps Cup after winning in the 21st round of the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center on May 29, 2025 in National Harbor, Maryland. Kayla Bartkowski / Getty Images Zaki described his spelling process, saying he likes to get a general idea of the word first. "Basically, I hear the word and I try to get the information about the word before I spell," he said. The 13-year-old was last year's runner-up and encouraged people to never give up on their dreams. "If you really are passionate about something and stick to it then you can get it done since that's what I did. Like last year, I got second and I was really disappointed and I was really sad that I didn't win. But the next year, I just kept on studying and studying and studying and now I'm here, I have the trophy," Zaki said.
Fox News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Teen from Allen, Texas wins Scripps National Spelling Bee with 'eclaircissement'
No éclaircissement was needed after 13-year-old Faizan Zaki triumphed in the 21st round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The teen collapsed on the floor with excitement after correctly spelling "éclaircissement" and securing the national title — not to mention a trophy and $50,000. Zaki's win also coincided with a major milestone: the 100th anniversary of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. When spelling the "M-E-N-T" in "éclaircissement," Zaki, who hails from Allen, Texas, was understandably thrilled after coming in second place at last year's competition behind Bruhat Soma, who was 12 years old when he took home the trophy. However, his victory didn't come without drama — Zaki nearly lost in round 18 when asked to spell "commelina." Zaki started saying "K-A-M" before stopping himself and telling head judge Mary Brooks to "just ring the bell," which she did. Zaki got another shot after 14-year-old Sarvadnya Kadam misspelled "Uaupes" in round 20 — paving the way for his win with "éclaircissement." In a post on X congratulating the 13-year-old, the Scripps National Spelling Bee wrote that Zaki "left everything on stage." "He's the GOAT. I actually believe that. He's really good, man. He's been doing it for so long, and he knows the dictionary in and out," Zaki's father, Said Zaki Anwar told ESPN. Zaki's win was notable not only for the final word and the Bee's centennial, but also because it marked the first time in nearly 25 years that a former runner-up returned to win the title. According to ESPN, the last person to do so was Sean Conley, who was the 2001 champion. Zaki and Conley are members of an extremely exclusive club with just five members total from the event's 100 years. The final three in the 2025 competition also included 11-year-old Sarv Dharavane, who would have been the competition's youngest champion since Nihar Janga, who won in 2016. Zaki's stumble over "commelina" and subsequent comeback are not the first examples of drama at the spelling bee. This children's competition has produced a surprising number of historic moments. In 2019, the spelling bee's results were arguably some of the most controversial, as the competition ended with the only eight-way tie in the Scripps National Spelling Bee's history.
