Shrey Parikh, a 14-year-old from Rancho Cucamonga, California, has been crowned the champion of the Scripps National Spelling Bee following a dramatic lightning-round tiebreaker.
Parikh secured his victory by correctly spelling a record-breaking 32 words in just 90 seconds, ultimately defeating Ishaan Gupta, who managed 25 words.
This triumph marks the culmination of a six-year competitive spelling career for Parikh, who overcame significant nerves and a previous setback where he missed a regional bee due to illness.
His win comes with a substantial prize package, including $52,500 in cash and a custom trophy, and continues a notable trend of champions of Indian heritage.
The lightning-round format, which prioritises speed and memorisation, has sparked debate among spelling bee purists who prefer the traditional head-to-head duel.
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National Spelling Bee winner’s prize and winning word revealed after dramatic victory
