Watch 13-year-old win US Nationwide Spelling Bee

Faizan Zaki appropriately spelled the French-derived phrase “éclaircissement”, synonymous with enlightenment, to win the 2025 Scripps Nationwide Spelling Bee within the US.

The 13-year-old from Texas outlasted eight different finalists and defeated final yr’s champion, Sarvadnya Kadam, to assert the title and take residence the $52,500 prize.

Zaki misplaced to Kadam in 2024 throughout a tiebreaker rapid-elimination spherical.