Overview

• Thirteen-year-old Zaki, a seventh-grader from Allen, Texas, clinched the championship by correctly spelling the French-derived word éclaircissement in the 21st round.
• He recovered from a near-elimination after misspelling commelina earlier in the finals, securing a second chance and maintaining his composure to prevail.
• The $52,500 first-place prize boosts Zaki’s total bee earnings to $77,500 after his $25,000 runner-up award in 2024.
• The centennial competition featured 243 qualifiers from across the U.S. and abroad, narrowing to nine finalists on the final night.
• Zaki’s victory marks the 30th Indian-American champion in the past 36 years, underscoring the community’s sustained success in the bee.