Annual U.S. spelling contest run by E.W. Scripps Company
A 14-year-old from Rancho Cucamonga has reached the National Spelling Bee semifinals after intensive coaching and online competition. He competes against a rival who relies on traditional dictionary study, while a veteran coach to past champions dominates the field.
The 98th Scripps National Spelling Bee has narrowed to nine finalists who will compete for $50,000 and the coveted Scripps Cup in Washington, D.C. The event has moved back to Constitution Hall after years in Maryland, with Mina Kimes as host. Finals air tonight on ION and be streamed on spellingbee.com.
Shrey Parikh, 14, from Rancho Cucamonga, has won the National Spelling Bee after a 32-word spell-off against Ishaan Gupta, setting a record for a 90-second round. The victory concludes a six-year run in competitive spelling and follows a prior miss in 2024. Parikh’s win includes a $50,000 prize and a Scripps Cup.