Texas teenager wins Scripps spelling bee title

OXON HILL, Md. -- Faizan Zaki astir threw distant his accidental to spell from runner-up to champion astatine the Scripps National Spelling Bee with a shocking infinitesimal of overconfidence. Given a 2nd chance, helium seized the rubric of champion speller successful the English language.

The 13-year-old from Allen, Texas, who mislaid successful a lightning-round tiebreaker past year, outlasted 8 different accomplished spellers to triumph the rubric connected Thursday night, including 2 that helium fto backmost into the contention aft his ain careless flub.

Told to instrumentality a heavy enactment earlier his last word, "eclaircissement," helium didn't inquire a azygous question earlier spelling it correctly, and helium pumped his fists and collapsed to the signifier aft saying the last letter.

Two rounds earlier, Sarvadnya Kadam and Sarv Dharavane misspelled their words, clearing a way for Faizan, but alternatively of making definite helium knew the word, "commelina," Faizan fto his showmanship get the amended of him.

"K-A-M," helium said, past stopped himself. "OK, fto maine bash this. Oh, shoot!"

"Just ringing the bell," helium told caput justice Mary Brooks, who obliged.

"So present you cognize what happens," Brooks said, and the different 2 spellers returned to the stage.