Shrey Parikh felt his body shake from nerves and doubts every time he walked to the microphone at the Scripps National Spelling Bee, the final test of a six-year competitive spelling career marked by triumph and heartbreak that he knew could end at any moment. Then he listened to pronouncer Jacques Bailly, and his dour body language vanished as he nodded vigorously, his tell that, yes, he knew the words he was asked to spell. All of them.
"Once I get the word," Shrey said, "I'm not really nervous anymore, because then it's all in my control."
Shrey arrived as a favorite and walked away as a National Spelling Bee champion Thursday night, outlasting a deep and experienced group of finalists and beating Ishaan Gupta in a lightning-round tiebreaker that looked like it was over as soon as Shrey raced through his first word. His final tally: 32 words spelled correctly in 90 seconds, a record for the shootout-style finish that was first used in 2022.
What the Right Is Saying
Critics within the spelling community have raised concerns about the spell-off format's emphasis on speed over traditional head-to-head competition. Some argue the current format prioritizes memorization over the deeper linguistic analysis that historically defined the bee.
"It's a perversion of many values that I and many in the spelling community hold dear," said Navneeth Murali, who competed through 2020 and now coaches. "I think everyone would have liked to see a duel, but it looks like the spell-off is here to stay. It's something that we'll have to adapt to."
Others note that the format change reflects broader questions about how competitive academic activities should evolve to remain relevant to modern audiences while maintaining their educational foundations.
What the Left Is Saying
Educational advocates who support competitive spelling argue that events like the National Spelling Bee promote dedication, vocabulary development, and academic excellence among young people. Supporters point to the rigorous preparation required, noting that Shrey's story demonstrates how perseverance through failure can lead to achievement.
"Whenever I would quiz him, he would take notice of his missed words. He'd analyze every missed word he had, try to figure out why he missed it," said Sohum Sukhatankar, a co-champion in 2019 who coached Shrey along with Sam Evans and Vijaya Ganesh. "All the time I coached him, he'd never miss a word twice."
Proponents of competitive academic activities argue these events provide structure and goals that can benefit students from all backgrounds, encouraging discipline and a love of learning.
What the Numbers Show
Shrey becomes the 31st of the past 37 champions with Indian heritage, a run that began with Nupur Lala's victory in 1999. The 14-year-old from Rancho Cucamonga, California, set a spell-off record with 32 words spelled correctly in 90 seconds. His prize package includes $52,500 in cash and a custom trophy. A stout, experienced group of nine finalists went 18 for 18 at the start, breezing through the first spelling and vocabulary rounds before the competition narrowed to its final two competitors.
The Bottom Line
"When it comes to competition, he goes all the way," said his father, Gaurav Parikh. Or, as Evans put it: "He's got that dog in him." Shrey's journey included a notable setback at his school bee last year when, woozy from a virus and running a fever, he blanked on the word "calipers" and bowed out of competition he would typically dominate. He rededicated himself over the following months, working with coaches to refine his skills before returning to claim the national title.
The win marks the culmination of six years of competitive spelling for Shrey, who now has two young competitors—Sarv Dharavane and Ishaan Gupta—both under 13 years old with multiple years of eligibility remaining. Their continued presence in the competition suggests the championship may see new challengers emerge in coming years.