Shrey Parikh, a 14-year-old from Rancho Cucamonga, California, emerged victorious Thursday in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, becoming the best young speller in the English language.
Parikh won the title by beating Ishaan Gupta in a tense, lightning-round tiebreaker. During the eliminatory spell-off, Parikh correctly spelled 32 words in just 90 seconds, setting a record for the shootout-style finish.
This is the third time the competition has been decided by a rapid-fire spell-off since the practice was introduced. The win marks a comeback for Parikh, who finished third in 2024 and did not participate in 2025.