Overview

• The 2025 competition marks the centennial of the Bee’s inaugural contest in 1925, celebrating a century of academic rivalry.
• Spellers navigated oral spelling, multiple-choice vocabulary and a 40-question written exam across preliminaries, quarterfinals and semifinals.
• Contestants of Indian-American heritage, who have claimed 29 of the last 35 titles, maintain strong representation in the final lineup.
• Returning runner-up Faizan Zaki and past semifinalist Harini Murali join first-time finalist Oliver Halkett among the nine who advanced.
• The champion will earn a custom trophy and more than $52,000 in cash and prizes, including reference works from Merriam-Webster and Britannica.