Thirteen-year-old Faizan Zaki from Allen, Texas, emerged victorious at the 100th Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thursday night, securing over $50,000 in cash and prizes after a dramatic showdown among the top finalists.
A returning contender and last year’s runner-up, Zaki was considered a strong favorite entering the finals. He ultimately clinched the title after a tense and rare sudden-death round involving the final three spellers: 11-year-old Sarv Dharavane, 14-year-old Sarvadnya Kadam, and Zaki.
All three finalists initially stumbled on their words, triggering an additional round under the Bee’s sudden-death rules. The pressure was palpable as the stakes climbed even higher.
Zaki sealed his victory by flawlessly spelling éclaircissement, a French-derived word meaning “a clearing up of something obscure.” He did so without requesting any definitions or language-of-origin clues, confidently delivering the winning spelling before collapsing to the stage floor in elation.
“I’m really happy,” Zaki said moments after being declared champion.
This year’s competition featured 243 participants, ages 11 to 14, who advanced through local and regional spelling bees across the U.S.
The event was hosted at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C. The Bee will relocate to Constitution Hall in Washington for next year’s edition.
First launched in 1925, the Scripps National Spelling Bee has crowned 110 champions over its 100-year history, owing to several ties in recent years — most notably the eight-way tie in 2019.
