Faizan Zaki Wins 100th Scripps National Spelling Bee in Dramatic Finish

Faizan Zaki, a 13-year-old from Allen, Texas, won the 100th Scripps National Spelling Bee, earning over $50,000 in prizes after an exciting sudden-death round at the Gaylord National Resort in National Harbour, near Washington, D.C. This victory marked a historic moment for him, as he had previously been a runner-up.

The competition began with 243 spellers aged 11 to 14 and narrowed down to three finalists: Zaki, 11-year-old Sarv Dharavane, and 14-year-old Sarvadnya Kadam. An unusual, sudden-death round occurred after all three contestants misspelt their words. “It’s rare to see this late-round drama level, ” said analyst Paul Loeffler.

#Speller207 Faizan Zaki left everything on stage. A four-time competitor, 2024 Runner-Up, and now, the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee Champion! Summing up his journey, “I was amazed when I won my first school bee. Then I just kept winning.”🐝 #TheBeeTurns100 #SpellingBee pic.twitter.com/CDJ3kuYcCt

— Scripps National Spelling Bee (@ScrippsBee) May 30, 2025

Zaki won the competition by correctly spelling “éclaircissement,” a noun meaning clarification, without hesitation. He celebrated with fist pumps before collapsing to the floor in joy.

Last year’s runner-up, Zaki, entered as a favourite and showcased confidence, spelling the decisive word without clarifying questions. “I’m really happy,” he told reporters. The 100th Spelling Bee win adds Zaki to a legacy of 110 champions since 1925, including recent ties like 2019’s eight-way victory.

The Spelling Bee 2025 event showcases young talent and will move to Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., next year. Zaki’s triumph inspires aspiring spellers and highlights the competition’s enduring appeal.