Thirteen-year-old Faizan Zaki, an Indian-American student from Texas, was crowned champion of the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee after flawlessly spelling the word “éclaircissement”, reaffirming the strong presence of Indian-origin children in one of America’s most revered academic competitions.
A student of CM Rice Middle School, Zaki edged past fellow finalist Sarvadnya Kadam on Thursday night to seize the title. This victory marked a remarkable turnaround for Zaki, who had finished second in the 2024 edition, losing in a spell-off to compatriot Bruhat Soma.
Zaki’s triumph came in the 21st round, where he outlasted eight other accomplished spellers and correctly spelled “éclaircissement”, defined as “the clearing up of something obscure: enlightenment”.
The contest, held in Maryland, took an unexpected twist in the 18th round. With three finalists remaining, Kadam and another speller, Sarv Dharavane, both faltered on their assigned words. Zaki was then presented with a winning opportunity but stumbled as he hastily began spelling the word “commelina”, misidentifying its initial letter.
“Hardly before the word ‘commelina’ had left the pronouncer’s mouth, Zaki jumped on it, saying, ‘k-a-m ——’,” said one official. “He recognised his mistake right away, but it was too late.”
Despite the early error, Zaki recovered with poise and secured the title. As confetti rained down, he fell to the stage floor in celebration.
“I don’t know what to say. I’m just really happy,” Zaki told reporters immediately after the win.
The organisers extended warm congratulations to Zaki’s parents and grandparents, who watched the event from their home in Hyderabad.
“I can’t describe it,” he added later. “It’s so amazing, getting to this point. Winning? I never expected this.”
Adam Symson, president and chief executive of the E W Scripps Company, presented the championship trophy and praised Zaki’s perseverance.
“Faizan exemplified the determination that defines a champion,” Symson said. “His unwavering focus and preparation led to a well-earned victory tonight on the Bee’s largest stage.”
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Marking the 100th year of the Spelling Bee, Symson said the competition had evolved into a “beloved tradition” that “championed connection, resilience and the limitless potential of young minds”.
The inaugural Spelling Bee was held in 1925 in Washington DC, with just nine children participating. This year’s centenary edition saw over 200 spellers compete for the coveted title.
Zaki, who tied for 21st place in 2023 and was placed 370th in 2019, has now become only the fifth speller in the Bee’s history to win the contest after securing second place the year before.
As champion, Zaki will receive USD 50,000, a championship trophy, and a medal. He will also be awarded a USD 2,500 cash prize and a reference library from Merriam-Webster, the Bee’s dictionary partner.
Sarvadnya Kadam, from Visalia, California, took second place and will receive USD 25,000, while Sarv Dharavane, of Dunwoody, Georgia, secured third place and will be awarded USD 15,000.
Notably, Zaki is the 30th Indian-American among the last 36 champions of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The trend began in 1999 when Nupur Lala became the first Indian-American to win the contest.
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