Overview

• Nine spellers, ages 12 to 14, advanced through preliminary, quarterfinal and semifinal rounds to reach tonight’s finals in National Harbor, Maryland.
• Returning runner-up Faizan Zaki was the only finalist to earn a perfect score on the written prelim test after falling short in last year’s spell-off.
• The champion will receive $52,500 in cash, reference works from Encyclopaedia Britannica and Merriam-Webster plus a $1,000 school donation, while other finalists earn tiered cash prizes between $25,000 and $2,000.
• Finals begin at 8 p.m. ET on ION and are streamed on Scripps-owned networks and digital platforms including Bounce, Grit, ION Mystery and Laff.
• The centennial Bee began with 243 contestants from all 50 states, U.S. territories and six countries and continues a quarter-century streak of Indian American champions.