Shrey Parikh Crowned National Spelling Bee Champion After Dramatic Tiebreaker
Shrey Parikh has emerged victorious at the Scripps National Spelling Bee, securing the coveted title in a breathtaking lightning-round tiebreaker. Parikh spelled an astonishing 32 words correctly in just 90 seconds, setting a new record in the competition’s history. This dramatic win marks the culmination of a six-year journey in competitive spelling for the young champion, who navigated intense nerves to claim his ultimate prize.
Parikh confessed to experiencing palpable nerves before stepping up to the microphone for each word. However, this anxiety seemed to vanish the moment pronouncer Jacques Bailly delivered the word. “Once I get the word,” Parikh stated, “I’m not really nervous anymore, because then it’s all in my control.” His confident demeanor and decisive nods indicated a high level of certainty about his answers.
A Fierce Final Showdown
Entering the competition as a favored contender, Parikh outperformed a robust field of finalists, ultimately facing off against Ishaan Gupta in the rapid-fire spell-off. While Parikh displayed remarkable speed, correctly spelling his way through his allotted words, Gupta also performed admirably, spelling 25 words correctly but with a more measured pace.
Khyati Mehta, Shrey’s mother, described the nail-biting tension of the tiebreaker. “I was counting and I’m like, OK, this is more than 30. And at that point, I’m like, ‘I think this is it,’” she recounted. The competitors exchanged handshakes as the electrifying results were announced.
The final showdown followed the exit of Sarv Dharavane, who secured third place for the second consecutive year. Prior to the tiebreaker commencing, a technical issue with the buzzer caused a five-minute delay, leaving Parikh alone on stage. “That was really, like, scary for me,” he admitted.
The Winning Word and Prize
While the fast-paced nature of the spell-off makes identifying the exact winning word in real-time challenging, officials later confirmed that “bromocriptine,” a polypeptide alkaloid, was the decisive word that clinched the championship for Parikh.
Parikh’s victory comes with a significant prize package, including $52,500 in cash, a custom trophy, and other accolades. His win also continues a notable trend: he is the 31st champion of Indian heritage in the past 37 years, a lineage dating back to Nupur Lala’s victory in 1999.
Overcoming Adversity on the Path to Victory
The 14-year-old from Rancho Cucamonga, California, took an unexpected route to this year’s title. While he placed third in 2024, his participation last year was derailed by illness. A fever left him woozy, causing him to miss a crucial word – “calipers” – and bow out of his school’s spelling bee at Day Creek Intermediate School, a competition that, given his talent, would typically be considered straightforward for him.
“Right now I’m probably the happiest I’ve ever been. I’m just so happy and relieved, and just such a flood of emotions,” Parikh expressed. “At my school bee last year, I was really dejected and just very upset. It didn’t even sink in until the next day. I had a really tough time, but I’m glad I was able to bounce back.”
Following a period of rest, Parikh recommitted himself to the sport, seeking every possible advantage through dedicated coaching and study. He achieved numerous victories in online competitions against many of the same spellers he encountered this week in Washington.
Sohum Sukhatankar, a co-champion from 2019 who coached Parikh alongside Sam Evans and Vijaya Ganesh, noted his analytical approach. “Whenever I would quiz him, he would take notice of his missed words. He’d analyze every missed word he had, try to figure out why he missed it,” Sukhatankar said. “All the time I coached him, he’d never miss a word twice.”
Sam Evans, who has worked with the last three champions, highlighted Parikh’s exceptional work ethic. “I’ve really never seen someone put this much effort into spelling bees, into learning everything that he possibly can,” Evans stated. “Shrey is relentless.”
Debate Over the Spell-Off Format
The lightning-round spell-off format, while efficient, is not universally embraced by spelling bee enthusiasts. Critics argue that it prioritizes speed and memorization over the intricate process of deciphering challenging words with complex origins or spelling patterns.
Navneeth Murali, a former competitor and current coach, expressed his reservations. “It’s a perversion of many values that I and many in the spelling community hold dear,” Murali commented. “I think everyone would have liked to see a duel, but it looks like the spell-off is here to stay. It’s something that we’ll have to adapt to.”
A Strong Field and Notable Exits
The competition featured a highly skilled group of nine finalists who demonstrated their prowess by successfully spelling all their words in the initial rounds. This streak was broken by Aiden Meng, who stumbled on “catometope.” The tension escalated when Oliver Halkett, for “Faesulae,” and Zwe Spacetime, for “vaesite,” were eliminated, both having words with particularly tricky vowel combinations and origins.
Oliver and Zwe, both eighth-graders, have now aged out of the competition. Sarv Dharavane, a 12-year-old sixth-grader, has two years of eligibility remaining to potentially replicate Parikh’s journey from third place to champion. Ishaan Gupta, a 12-year-old seventh-grader, will also have another opportunity to compete next year.
The relocation of the bee finals from a suburban convention center to Constitution Hall presented some logistical challenges for spellers and their families. However, the finals held at Constitution Hall offered a more intimate and engaging atmosphere, with improved seating and sightlines bringing the audience closer to the action. The broadcast also received a refresh with Mina Kimes of ESPN hosting, alongside longtime analyst Paul Loeffler.
Despite ongoing discussions about the method used to determine the champion, and the absence of the traditional winner’s confetti shower for Parikh, his victory is widely recognized as well-deserved. “When it comes to competition, he goes all the way,” said his father, Guarav Parikh. Adding to the sentiment, Sam Evans remarked, “He’s got that dog in him.”
