Overview
- He took home $52,500 in cash and prizes for the centennial victory, bringing his combined 2024–25 winnings to $77,500.
- After misspelling 'commelina' in the 18th round, he steadied himself as competitors faltered and sealed the title by correctly spelling 'éclaircissement'.
- Zaki’s triumph marks the 30th Indian-American championship in the past 36 years, underscoring the community’s strong showing at the Bee.
- The 243 contestants converged at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Maryland for the 100th anniversary competition.
- Since debuting at age 7 in 2019 and finishing runner-up in 2024, he became only the fifth contestant to win after a runner-up finish the year before.