Scripps National Spelling Bee crowns champion after 90‑second spell‑off
educationMay 28, 202626672
At the Scripps National Spelling Bee, the champion clinched the title by correctly spelling 32 words during a 90-second lightning round. The final three competitors were 14-year-old Shrey Parikh of California, 12-year-old Sarv Dharavane of Georgia, and 12-year-old Ishaan Gupta of New Jersey. Ishaan Gupta was the only finalist WHO was not a returning competitor. The lightning tiebreaker forces spellers to demonstrate rapid-fire accuracy as well as traditional correctness, changing how the Bee resolves ties and crowning a speed-focused champion.
