
Faizan Zaki overcomes a shocking, self-inflicted flub and wins the Scripps National Spelling Bee
Faizan Zaki has seized the title of best speller in the English language at the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The 13-year-old from Allen, Texas, was runner-up last year after he lost in a lightning-round tiebreaker. He ousted eight other accomplished spellers to win the title on Thursday night, including two that he let back into the competition after his own careless flub. Told to take a deep breath before his final word, “eclaircissement,” he didn’t ask a single question before spelling it correctly. He pumped his fists and collapsed to the stage after saying the final letter.