This stunning Spelling Bee winner photo sums it all up
The 100th Scripps National Spelling Bee is over, and we have a winner who overcame a rough late-bee error to win it all.
Faizan Zaki, a 13-year-old from Allen, Texas, finished as a runner-up last year and was one of the three spellers left on Thursday when he was given "commelina." He immediately started spelling it wrong and told head judge Mary Brooks to ring the bell for an incorrect answer.
You can see that moment below, but he got through to spell the final word correct: éclaircissement, which he nailed right away without asking for language origin or to be used in a sentence.
BEST SPELLING BEE MOMENTS OF ALL TIME: The 6 most viral videos
The result? A win and his reaction was simply the best:
You have to love it. He fell right to the ground in pure elation. And why did he spell words quickly? Per the Associated Press:
Faizan had a more nuanced explanation: After not preparing for the spell-off last year, he overcorrected, emphasizing speed during his study sessions.
Congrats to Faizan, who needed four tries to get the victory. Here he is talking about his preparation, in which he talked to CNN about how he focused on the vocabulary and the spell-off at the end:
What a win! And we'll leave it off with the photo of Zaki collapsed on stage, which sums it all up:
Awesome.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time Business News
23 minutes ago
- Time Business News
Unlocking the Fun: Exploring the New York Times' Top Crossword Games
For word nerds, puzzle enthusiasts, and anyone who loves a satisfying mental workout, the New York Times Crossword isn't just a game – it's an institution. Its iconic black-and-white grid has challenged and delighted solvers for decades, becoming a daily ritual for millions. But the NYT Games universe extends far beyond the classic daily puzzle! Let's dive into some of the absolute top games in their lineup that keep brains buzzing. The Daily Crossword: The undisputed king. Offering a smooth difficulty curve throughout the week (easiest Monday, toughest Saturday), plus the giant, thematic Sunday puzzle, it's the perfect daily brain tonic. Accessible yet challenging, it sets the gold standard. Spelling Bee: This deceptively simple game tasks you with creating as many words as possible from a set of seven letters, including one mandatory center letter. Its addictive 'Genius' and 'Queen Bee' goals have spawned countless online communities and friendly competitions. Pure, unadulterated wordplay joy. Wordle: The global phenomenon that needs little introduction. Guess the five-letter word in six tries, with color-coded hints. Its elegant simplicity and once-a-day format created a shared daily experience unlike any other. Still a massive favorite. Connections: A relative newcomer that's quickly become a fan favorite. Group 16 words into four hidden categories of four. It tests your ability to see unexpected links and patterns, often leading to delightful 'Aha!' moments. Fresh and clever. The Mini Crossword: Don't have time for the full grid? The Mini delivers the classic crossword challenge in a tiny, 5×5 package, usually solvable in under a minute. Perfect for a quick mental snack. Tiles: A visually soothing pattern-matching game. Connect matching tiles before time runs out. It's less about words and more about spatial recognition and speed, offering a delightful change of pace. Vertex: Connect numbered dots to form triangles and gradually reveal a hidden picture. A unique blend of puzzle mechanics that's both relaxing and rewarding. But wait… what about the VAULT? Introducing Vault Opener NYT! While not an official NYT game itself, Vault Opener NYT deserves a special mention for dedicated crossword solvers, especially those tackling the archive. Ever gotten stuck on an old puzzle and wished you could just… peek? The NYT Crossword Vault archives hundreds of past puzzles, but accessing specific answers traditionally required a subscription and could feel cumbersome. That's where Vault Opener NYT comes in as an incredibly useful tool . Think of it as your digital locksmith for the NYT's puzzle archive. This handy online resource allows you to quickly find answers to past crossword puzzles by simply entering the date or clue. It's designed to be straightforward and efficient, bypassing the need to navigate through multiple pages in the official archive. Why include it in a 'top games' list? Because for many passionate solvers, especially those revisiting challenging past puzzles or verifying answers, Vault Opener NYT enhances the overall NYT Games experience. It removes frustration and lets you focus on the learning and enjoyment. It's the secret weapon for when you're truly stumped after giving a puzzle your all. Want to learn more about how Vault Opener NYT works? Check out this helpful guide that breaks it down: A Deep Dive into Vault Opener NYT Crossword . It explains its features and how it seamlessly plugs into your solving workflow. The New York Times Games platform offers a fantastic array of brain teasers catering to different moods and skills. From the timeless challenge of the Crossword and the addictive buzz of Spelling Bee to the visual satisfaction of Tiles and the clever categorization of Connections, there's truly something for every puzzle lover. And tools like Vault Opener NYT demonstrate how the community innovates to support and enhance the core solving experience, making the vast NYT puzzle archive even more accessible. So, whether you're a daily devotee or a casual player, dive into the NYT Games suite – and if you ever hit a wall in the archives, you know there's a friendly 'vault opener' ready to help! Happy solving! TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Fox News
6 hours ago
- Fox News
CNN anchors ignore, continue after man who failed backflip was left ‘practically dead,' Gutfeld says
Fox News host Greg Gutfeld and the panel discuss the CNN anchors who ignored an on-air backflip that went wrong on 'Gutfeld!'
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
A Guest On CNN Attempted To Do A Backflip Live On Air, And It Realllllyyy Did Not End Well
A recent guest on CNN News Central tried to do a backflip during a live broadcast, and his awkward attempt is going mega-viral. Related: The segment with Robert Anthony Cruz, a member of the Savannah Bananas exhibition baseball team, has already amassed over 6.1 million views on X. CNN / Twitter: @PopCrave In the clip, Cruz went up... And around... Related: And smacked the floor. "That never happens," Cruz said as he knelt on the floor in disbelief. Related: "That, what you just saw there, is a brand new twist on America's favorite pastime," host John Berman said as the camera cut away. The host is literally all of us. One person said, "this is why the male backflipping epidemic needs to come to an end." Related: "can't explain but Benson Boone stopped him somehow," this person joked. And another said, "1,000 times funnier and more interesting than a successful backflip. He should be very proud." Cruz took to Instagram to laugh at himself afterwards, posting another angle with the caption: "The sound makes it 10x funnier. Yes, you have my permission to laugh. Yes, I'm all good. Some stitches, slightly damaged pride, and some unparalleled dad lore." Don't try this at home, folks! Also in Internet Finds: Also in Internet Finds: Also in Internet Finds: Solve the daily Crossword
