US
Shrey Parikh, a California teen, wins the US National Spelling Bee after a tense spell-off.
The 14-year-old triumphed in the Scripps National Spelling Bee finals, bouncing back and dominating the final rounds.
Image is an AI-generated illustration, not a real photograph.
Shrey Parikh, a 14-year-old from Rancho Cucamonga, California, has been crowned the champion of the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee. He secured his victory in a thrilling 90-second spell-off against 12-year-old Ishaan Gupta from Jersey City, New Jersey.
During the rapid-fire tiebreaker, Parikh correctly spelled 32 words compared to Gupta's 25, demonstrating remarkable precision under pressure. This win marks a significant comeback for Parikh, who previously placed third in 2024 and was unable to compete at his school bee last year due to illness.
What each outlet emphasizes
- CNN: focuses on the 'final flurry of words' and the winner's name
- BBC: highlights the California teen winner and offers a quiz for readers
- AP: emphasizes Parikh's resilience, battling nerves, and dominating the spell-off