WASHINGTON — The weight of expectations followed Shrey Parikh into the Scripps National Spelling Bee as a top contender, but his self-assurance was evident each time he received a familiar word. When the competition ultimately came down to a lightning-round showdown with Ishaan Gupta, Shrey delivered a decisive performance.
The 14-year-old transformed what had been a tight, high-caliber championship into a commanding victory Thursday evening, blazing through the 90-second “spell-off” and correctly spelling 32 words to claim the title of America’s top young speller. Ishaan managed 25 correct spellings during the tiebreaker round.
Hailing from Rancho Cucamonga, California, Shrey had previously placed third in 2024 but suffered a setback at his school competition last year while fighting illness. Since then, he has dominated spelling competitions, claiming victories in multiple online contests against many of the same competitors he defeated this week in the nation’s capital. His championship prize includes a personalized trophy and $52,500 in prize money.
“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,” Shrey said. “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.”
Ishaan, a 12-year-old seventh-grader from Jersey City, New Jersey, had reached the semifinals previously, exceeded expectations by outperforming seasoned competitors in the finals, and remains eligible for next year’s competition.
Sarv Dharavane, a 12-year-old sixth-grader from Dunwoody, Georgia, claimed third place for the second year running and has two additional opportunities to better that result.
This marks the first time in the competition’s history that both second- and third-place finishers from a previous year have gone on to claim victory. Faizan Zaki captured last year’s title after finishing as runner-up two years prior, just ahead of Shrey, who is his close friend.
Dressed in business-casual attire featuring a dark, long-sleeved collared shirt, khakis and sneakers, the tall Shrey approached the microphone wearing a serious, nervous expression that immediately disappeared when he heard his word from pronouncer Jacques Bailly and nodded enthusiastically — his signature indication that he recognized the word.
When the announcement declared his spell-off victory, Shrey turned and offered his competitor a handshake.
His triumph can be attributed to rigorous preparation. Shrey worked with three coaches: Sam Evans, who has guided each of the last three champions; Sohum Sukhatankar, himself a co-champion in 2019; and Vijaya Ganesh, a veteran coach and mother of a former competitor. He engaged in continuous practice against other elite spellers, studied advanced materials thoroughly, and worked to minimize the factors that had caused the few surprising defeats in his extensive spelling career.
“The school bee last year was a blessing in disguise,” said Shrey’s father, Gaurav Parikh. “That’s very important in life to experience, you know, ups and downs. You’re not going to win everything. You’re going to learn how to deal with setbacks.”
Past competitors, coaches and other experts characterized this year’s finalists as exceptionally talented, and they demonstrated their abilities early by achieving a perfect 18-for-18 start, sailing through the initial spelling and vocabulary segments. Aiden Meng of Orinda, California, broke that perfect streak when he stumbled on “catometope” at the beginning of the second spelling round.
The audience then reacted with surprise when the elimination bell sounded for two contestants considered championship contenders: Oliver Halkett for “Faesulae” and Zwe Spacetime for “vaesite,” words featuring challenging etymological origins and vowel combinations.
The competition’s relocation to Constitution Hall, which had drawn criticism from spellers and their families due to logistical challenges, actually enhanced the event’s energy, with more intimate seating arrangements and improved sightlines bringing spectators closer to the competition.
New television host Mina Kimes of ESPN provided smooth commentary alongside veteran bee analyst Paul Loeffler.
One element absent from the new venue: The traditional confetti shower when the winner was announced. Shrey’s celebration remained subdued and respectful. However, there was no question that he had earned his victory.
“Shrey’s relentless,” Evans said. “I’ve really never seen someone put this much effort into spelling bees and learning everything that he possibly can.”
