California teen Shrey Parikh wins National Spelling Bee in dramatic tiebreaker
California teen Shrey Parikh won the 2026 National Spelling Bee in a dramatic tiebreaker against Ishaan Gupta. Parikh, 14, showcased his spelling prowess by correctly spelling 32 words in a 90-second spell-off. This victory follows his previous experiences in the competition, including a third-place finish in 2024.
- ▪Shrey Parikh, a 14-year-old from Rancho Cucamonga, California, won the National Spelling Bee.
- ▪He beat Ishaan Gupta in a tiebreaker, spelling 32 words correctly in 90 seconds.
- ▪Parikh had previously finished third in the competition in 2024 and faced challenges last year due to illness.
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EW Scripps Company president and CEO Adam Symson, right, gives the trophy to Shrey Parikh, winner of the 2026 National Spelling Bee. Photograph: José Luis Magaña/APView image in fullscreenEW Scripps Company president and CEO Adam Symson, right, gives the trophy to Shrey Parikh, winner of the 2026 National Spelling Bee. Photograph: José Luis Magaña/APNational Spelling BeeCalifornia teen Shrey Parikh wins National Spelling Bee in dramatic tiebreakerParikh, 14, beats Ishaan Gupta in spell-offFavorite gets 32 words right in tiebreakerAgenciesThu 28 May 2026 22.26 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleShrey Parikh felt the pressure of arriving at the Scripps National Spelling Bee as a favorite, but his confidence showed every time he got a word he knew.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Guardian — US.
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