Shrey Parikh, a 14-year-old student from Rancho Cucamonga, California, won the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee after defeating fellow finalist Ishaan Gupta in a fast-paced lightning-round tiebreaker.The competition concluded with a ‘spell-off’, a timed round in which contestants had 90 seconds to correctly spell as many words as possible.Shrey dominated the decisive round, correctly spelling 32 words, while Ishaan managed 25.Parikh entered the competition as one of the favourites due to his strong performances in recent spelling contests.

His victory marked the culmination of a year of consistent success on the competitive spelling circuit, particularly in online events where he had already defeated many of the same participants.

The win also represented a comeback story for the teenager, who had faced disappointment the previous year after losing his school spelling bee while suffering from a fever.Throughout the national competition, Shrey demonstrated confidence and composure whenever he recognised a word.The final was described as tense and highly competitive before the tiebreaker decisively separated the two finalists.

The Scripps National Spelling Bee remains one of the most prestigious academic competitions for young students in the United States, attracting top spelling talent from across the country.

Parikh’s victory earned him recognition as the best young English-language speller in the nation and capped an impressive rise in the spelling community.