Faizan Zaki, a 13-year-old student from Allen, Texas, has won the 100th Scripps National Spelling Bee. He claimed victory by correctly spelling the French word éclaircissement during a tense sudden-death round.
Faizan had finished as the runner-up in last year’s competition, and this year, he came back even stronger. He outperformed 243 other talented spellers aged 11 to 14 who came from all over the United States to compete.
The final round was full of suspense. Three top spellers made it to the end, but each misspelled their assigned word. When Faizan was given éclaircissement, he spelled it correctly without asking for the word’s definition or any extra help. His confident and accurate spelling won him the top prize.
For his impressive win, Faizan received more than $50,000 in cash and prizes. The competition was held at the Gaylord National Resort in Maryland, and many families, teachers, and spelling fans watched the event closely.
The Scripps National Spelling Bee is known for challenging young students with difficult words, and this year’s event marked its 100th anniversary. It celebrated a long history of academic excellence and young achievers.
Next year’s spelling bee will move to a new location — Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. Fans are already looking forward to another exciting contest.
Faizan’s win is a proud moment for his family and school, and an inspiration for many students who hope to follow in his footsteps.
