Shrey Parikh, a 14-year-old from Rancho Cucamonga emerged victorious at the Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thursday night.
Shrey clinched the title by excelling in a lightning-round tiebreaker against Ishaan Gupta. Shrey spelled 32 words correctly in 90 seconds, setting a record for the spell-off format, which was first introduced in 2022. Ishaan, a 12-year-old from Jersey City, New Jersey, spelled 25 words correctly in the tiebreaker.
Shrey’s journey to the championship was not without challenges. In 2024, he finished third, and last year, he missed his school bee due to a fever. Despite these setbacks, Shrey dominated the bee circuit, winning several online competitions against many of the same competitors he faced in Washington, D.C.
Shrey’s victory was a result of intense preparation and dedication. His coaching team included Sam Evans and Sohum Sukhatankar, a co-champion from 2019. Shrey’s mother, Khyati Mehta, expressed her pride, saying, “I was counting and I’m like, OK, this is more than 30.” Shrey’s father, Guarav Parikh, added, “When it comes to competition, he goes all the way.”
The Scripps National Spelling Bee featured 247 spellers from across the United States and several other countries. The finalists showcased their skills by going 18 for 18 in the initial rounds. The bee’s move to Constitution Hall provided a lively atmosphere, with ESPN’s Mina Kimes and analyst Paul Loeffler narrating the event.
Shrey’s win marks him as the 31st champion of Indian heritage in the past 37 years. Along with the title, Shrey received $52,500 in cash, a custom trophy, and other prizes. Ishaan, who has another year of eligibility, plans to return next year to compete again.
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