WASHINGTON, D.C.: Faizan Zaki, 13, just became a household name after winning the 97th Scripps National Spelling Bee with a word most adults have never even heard of—“eclaircissement.” That’s French for “enlightenment,” and he spelled it flawlessly in the final round.
Hailing from Allen, Texas, Faizan didn’t just win—he owned it. The final round was intense, with 14-year-old Sarvadnya Kadam from California hot on his heels. She tripped on “Uaupes,” a tricky river name from South America, giving Faizan his shot at the trophy.
And he didn’t miss. Faizan spelled the word without even asking for its meaning or language origin—just went for it. Then came the confetti, the cheers, and a $50,000 prize. “I’m probably going to stay up the entire night or something,” he said with a huge grin.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing. In round 18, he nearly got knocked out on “commelina,” but luck was on his side—others fumbled too, and he bounced back stronger.
Third place went to Sarv Dharavane, 11, from Georgia, who misspelled “eserine.” But all nine finalists wowed the crowd with their focus, calm, and brainpower.
This year’s Bee brought together 243 spellers aged 8 to 14 from across the US and countries like Ghana, Germany, Kuwait, and Nigeria. It’s been running since 1925, and year after year, it shows just how sharp these young minds can be.
For Faizan Zaki, it’s a sweet ending to a long journey—last year’s runner-up, this year’s Spelling Bee champ. He’s proof that second chances can lead to spelling glory.
