Boy from the United States secures Spelling Bee victory with the word "éclaircissement"
Dallas resident Faizan Zaki, a 13-year-old linguistics enthusiast, claimed victory at the 97th Scripps National Spelling Bee. The contest, marking its centennial, concluded with Zaki correctly spelling "éclaircissement," a French-derived term synonymous with enlightenment, in the 21st round. His achievement comes after a narrow second place finish in the 2024 competition.
Zaki triumphed over 14-year-old Sarvadnya Kadam, from Visalia, California, who missed the mark with "Uaupes," a tributary of the Rio Negro in South America, in the 20th round. Zaki had previously spelled "Chaldee," a dialect of the Biblical Aramaic language, correctly in the same round. To clinch the trophy, Zaki nailed one more word unassisted in round 21.
Witnesses were left in awe as Zaki instantly spelled "éclaircissement" without utilizing the customary period allowed for contestants to request more information about the word's origins, meaning, and pronunciation. His swift response secured him the championship title amidst a shower of confetti.
Following his victory, Zaki, a resident of Allen, Texas, remarked, "I'm probably going to stay up the entire night or something."
During round 18, Zaki nearly faced elimination, finding himself momentarily stumped by the spelling of "commelina," a genus of dayflowers. Yet, his fellow contestants, including Mr. Kadam, also struggle at the time, leading to a shared survival in the 19th round, with only Zaki and Kadam making it to the decisive 20th round.
California's Sarv Dharavane, an 11-year-old contestant from Tucker, Georgia, completed the top three, incorrectly spelling "eserine," an antidote for many poisons, with an extra "s."
The roster of nine finalists was carefully selected from 243 contestants aged 8 to 14, who emerged as winners from regional competitions across the United States. The competition took place over three days at a convention center outside Washington, D.C. The young spellers amazed spectators with their poise and precision in tackling some of the most challenging and least-used words in the English language.
The Scripps media group has sponsored the event since 1925, withdrawing funding only during World War Two and the COVID pandemic in 2020. Competitors hailed from numerous countries aside from the United States, including Canada, the Bahamas, Germany, Ghana, Kuwait, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.
Zaki, having triumphed in the 97th Scripps National Spelling Bee, also demonstrates an interest in areas beyond education-and-self-development, as he participates in sports. In his free time, he might engage in a friendly match of basketball or soccer, showcasing his athletic skills alongside his remarkable linguistics abilities.
Despite the demands of extensive education-and-self-development, Zaki is able to find a balance, allowing him to excel in both the world of words and the realm of sport. He may continue to master complex vocabulary one day, and dive into a competitive game the next, forming a unique blend of academic and athletic prowess.
