Faizan Zaki Crowned Champion of Scripps National Spelling Bee
Faizan Zaki’s journey to becoming the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion was as thrilling as it was unconventional.
The 13-year-old from Allen, Texas, returned to the national stage with a mission after finishing runner-up last year, a year in which he never misspelled a word in a standard round but lost in a lightning-round tiebreaker he hadn’t prepared for.
This year, Faizan wore the weight of expectation lightly. With his shaggy hair and black hoodie, he approached the microphone with a casual confidence and an infectious joy for spelling that set him apart. He breezed through the rounds with a mix of precision and showmanship, looking every bit the champion in waiting.
Then, in a surprising twist, Faizan nearly derailed his own chances. Down to the final three contestants, both of his remaining competitors missed their words. All Faizan needed was to correctly spell “commelina” and one final word to claim the title. But instead of asking the usual clarifying questions—definition, language of origin—he jumped in with a confident but incorrect start: “K-A-M.” He paused, realized the mistake, and asked the judge to ring the bell.
“So now you know what happens,” head judge Mary Brooks said as the other spellers returned to the stage. It was a shocking moment of overconfidence that nearly cost him everything.
But Faizan recovered. When his final opportunity came with the word “eclaircissement,” he again skipped the questions but this time nailed the spelling. As he finished, he pumped his fists and collapsed to the stage, overcome with emotion. It was a jubilant moment that perfectly captured his unique spirit.
The bee celebrated its 100th anniversary this year, and Faizan may be remembered as one of its most charismatic winners—one whose near-miss was as memorable as his victory.
His approach contrasted sharply with last year’s champion and close friend, Bruhat Soma, who had followed the textbook method of methodical, emotionless spelling. Faizan, on the other hand, embraced the stage with heart and humor.
“I think he cared too much about his aura,” Bruhat joked. Faizan offered a more thoughtful reflection: after last year’s loss in a speed-based tiebreaker, he had overcorrected during his preparation, emphasizing speed over caution.
Despite working with three elite coaches—Scott Remer, Sam Evans, and Sohum Sukhantankar—Faizan never let himself become a robot on stage.
Faizan’s win adds to a remarkable legacy: he is the latest in a long line of Indian American champions, continuing a streak that began with Nupur Lala’s 1999 win, famously featured in the documentary Spellbound. Of the last 36 champions, 30 have been of Indian descent.
With this year’s $52,500 prize added to his $25,000 runner-up winnings from last year, Faizan now holds $77,500 in spelling earnings. Last year, he splurged on a $1,500 Rubik’s cube with 21 squares per side. This time, he said a large portion of his winnings would go to charity.
Faizan’s spelling journey began young, he first appeared at the national bee in 2019 at just 7 years old. Since then, he’s grown into a competitor who balances skill with joy, and seriousness with spontaneity. As his friend Bruhat noted, Faizan’s love for language is genuine.
