Shrey Parikh emerged victorious at the Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thursday night, outlasting a deep field of finalists in a lightning-round tiebreaker. The 14-year-old from Rancho Cucamonga, California spelled 32 words correctly in 90 seconds to set a record for the spell-off format introduced in 2022.
Key Takeaways
Shrey Parikh won the Scripps National Spelling Bee after a lightning-round tiebreaker against Ishaan Gupta. Shrey spelled 32 words correctly in 90 seconds, setting a record for the spell-off format introduced in 2022. The winning word was 'bromocriptine'.
- Shrey Parikh wins Scripps National Spelling Bee after tiebreaker
- Spelled 32 words correctly in lightning-round tiebreaker against Ishaan Gupta
- Winning word: 'bromocriptine'
- Takes home $52,500 cash prize and other awards
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▼Source Claims Check
High ConsensusAll 4 publishers report consistent facts across 3 key claims.
| Claim | Status | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spell-off Record | Broad Agreement | Shrey set new spell-off record with 32 words in 90 seconds | |
| Winning Word | Broad Agreement | 'bromocriptine' was the winning word | |
| Prize Amount | Broad Agreement | $52,500 cash prize plus other awards |
Spell-off Record
Broad AgreementShrey set new spell-off record with 32 words in 90 seconds
Winning Word
Broad Agreement'bromocriptine' was the winning word
Prize Amount
Broad Agreement$52,500 cash prize plus other awards
This analysis is AI-generated and may not perfectly represent each source's reporting. Always read the original articles for full context.
The competition came down to Shrey and Ishaan Gupta, a 12-year-old seventh-grader from Jersey City, New Jersey. In the tiebreaker round, each speller had 90 seconds to spell as many words as possible. Shrey's performance was dominant, while Ishaan spelled 25 words correctly. The winning word was later announced as 'bromocriptine', a polypeptide alkaloid that mimics the activity of dopamine.
The victory marks a remarkable comeback for Shrey, who finished third in 2024 and missed his regional bee last year due to illness. He has since rededicated himself to competitive spelling, working with coaches Sam Evans and Sohum Sukhatankar, both former champions themselves. The finalists were described as unusually strong by observers.
The event was held at Constitution Hall in Washington D.C., a change from previous years that drew some controversy but created a lively atmosphere for the finals. Shrey's victory continues a trend of spellers with Indian heritage dominating the competition, with 31 out of the past 37 champions having Indian roots.
How this summary was created
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