Faizan Zaki, a 13-year-old from Allen, Texas, has won the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee by correctly spelling the word “éclaircissement” in round 21. The word, which means “the clearing up of something obscure: enlightenment,” secured his place as the champion of this year’s prestigious competition.
Faizan, who is of Indian origin, was crowned winner at the 97th edition of the Bee, held at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. The event began on Tuesday with 242 spellers from around the country.
This was Faizan’s fourth time participating in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. A student of C.M. Rice Middle School, he had previously finished second in 2024 after a spell-off with Bruhat Soma.
In 2023, he tied for 21st place, and in 2019, he was ranked 370th. With this victory, he becomes only the fifth speller in the history of the competition to win after placing second the previous year. He was sponsored by the Dallas Sports Commission.
The trophy was presented to Faizan by Adam Symson, president and CEO of The E.W. Scripps Company, just before the broadcast ended on ION. “Faizan exemplified the determination that defines a champion,” said Symson.
“In this landmark 100th year of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Scripps is honored to celebrate Faizan’s extraordinary achievement as well as the spellers throughout the Bee’s history who continue to inspire millions. Their stories remind us of the shared joy in cheering for their success, reinforcing the Bee’s legacy as a beloved tradition that, for a century, has championed connection, resilience and the limitless potential of young minds,” he added.
Faizan’s win brings with it a number of rewards. He receives a USD 50,000 cash prize, a commemorative medal and the Scripps Cup from the organisers. Merriam-Webster is awarding him a USD 2,500 cash prize along with a reference library. Encyclopædia Britannica is giving him a USD 400 worth of reference works, including a replica of their 1768 edition, and a three-year subscription to Britannica Online Premium. Scholastic is offering a USD 1,000 in Scholastic Dollars to be donated to a school of Faizan’s choice. His school will also receive a five-year subscription to News-O-Matic’s K-8 news platform.
Second place went to Sarvadnya Kadam of Visalia, California, who was representing the Tulare County Office of Education. Kadam will receive USD 25,000. The third place was taken by Sarv Dharavane of Dunwoody, Georgia, who was representing the Georgia Association of Educators. Dharavane will receive USD 15,000.
This year’s Bee marked a special moment in its century-long history, celebrating not only a new champion but also the spirit of learning and perseverance that the competition continues to foster in young students across the world.
