- Thursday, June 19, 2025
Indian-American teen Faizan Zaki claims victory at the 100th Scripps National Spelling Bee in a thrilling contest, making a stunning comeback after last year’s narrow loss and capturing hearts with his passionate, carefree approach.
By: Vibhuti Pathak
Indian-American teen Faizan Zaki won the prestigious Scripps National Spelling Bee 2025, held in Oxon Hill, Maryland, marking a triumphant comeback after finishing runner-up last year.
The 13-year-old from Allen, Texas, known for his carefree confidence and love for words, captured the title during the Bee’s 100th anniversary celebration, making history with both his spelling skills and unforgettable showmanship.
Faizan was considered a frontrunner this year after a flawless run in conventional rounds in 2024, only to lose in a tiebreaker “spell-off” he hadn’t prepared for. Determined to return stronger, he refined his strategy but maintained his animated spirit.
During the final round, with just two spellers left, Faizan stumbled by prematurely beginning to spell “commelina” without asking the typical clarifying questions. Realizing his error mid-way, he paused and admitted defeat on that word—an unusual move for a finalist.
However, fate was on his side. After the other contenders—Sarvadnya Kadam of California and Sarv Dharavane from Georgia—missed their words, Faizan got another chance. Without hesitation, he spelled the final word, “eclaircissement,” perfectly, collapsing to the stage in joy and relief as confetti rained down.
The 2025 Bee saw fierce competition among nine finalists, with six participants correctly spelling 28 words in a row at one point. Faizan’s win was not only emotional but historic. He became the fifth runner-up in the Bee’s century-long history to return and win the championship. His triumph also continued the dominance of Indian-Americans in the competition—30 of the last 36 winners have shared Indian heritage, a tradition started by Nupur Lala in 1999.
Faizan, who has been competing since age 7, now has $77,500 in total Bee earnings. He plans to donate a significant portion to charity. Last year, he spent part of his prize on a rare $1,500 Rubik’s Cube. His coaches—Scott Remer, Sam Evans, and former champion Sohum Sukhantankar—praised his joy and authenticity, which shone through on stage.
Faizan credits his success not just to preparation, but to his genuine passion for language. “When he’s not studying, he’s exploring archaic words just for fun,” said last year’s champion Bruhat Soma. Faizan added, “I had fun with this Bee. I didn’t play it safe, but I still won—and that means everything.”
