Thirteen-year-old Faizan Zaki has emerged as the champion of the United States 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee competition, held at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.

Master Faizan, a resident of Allen in Texas, triumphed over eight other spellers in a battle of words on Thursday night, clinching more than $50,000 worth of cash and prizes.

The runner-up in last year’s edition secured his ultimate victory by spelling the word “eclaircissement” correctly against his tight opponents, Sarv Dharavene and Sarvadnya Kadam. The word, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, means “clearing up of something obscure.”

Upon spelling the assigned word correctly, Master Faizan, out of breath, fell to the floor just as the crowd cheered his final victory.

“I’m really happy,” he said.

The spelling bee contest began in 1925 when nine newspapers came together to host the first tournament. It has since been held annually, bringing students from across the United States to spell increasingly difficult words.

The 2025 competition is the 97th edition, also marking the 100th year since it began.

The competition was not held during World War II (1943-45) and in 2020, during the COVID-19 outbreak.