This week, the best young spellers in the English language are gearing up for one of the most prestigious competitions in the world: the Scripps National Spelling Bee. This annual event is not just a contest; it’s a celebration of language and learning that has been a tradition for over a century! The three-day competition kicks off on Tuesday and wraps up on Thursday night.
The first Spelling Bee took place in 1925, initiated by the Louisville Courier-Journal, which invited newspapers across the country to send their best spellers to compete in Washington, D.C. After many years at a convention center in Maryland, this year the Bee returns to the heart of the nation at Constitution Hall, just a few blocks from the White House.
This year, there’s a fresh face hosting the event: Mina Kimes, an ESPN NFL analyst and recent champion of “Celebrity Jeopardy!” Her involvement brings a new vibe to the competition, which is sure to excite both participants and viewers alike.
As the 98th iteration of the Bee, it’s important to note that the event was canceled during World War II from 1943 to 1945 and again in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The winner this year will be the 111th champion, considering previous years had multiple tie situations, including an eight-way tie in 2019.
Interestingly, 30 of the last 36 champions have been of Indian heritage, showcasing a strong legacy in the competition. Last year’s winner, Faizan Zaki, is among this impressive group.
How to Watch the Scripps National Spelling Bee
If you’re eager to catch the action, the Bee will be broadcast and streamed across various channels and platforms owned by Scripps, a media company based in Cincinnati.
On Tuesday, you can watch the preliminary rounds live on Scripps Sports Network and spellingbee.com from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. EDT. Wednesday’s quarterfinals will stream on the same platforms from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by the semifinals from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. If you miss the live semifinals, they will be available tape-delayed on ION from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The finals, which are the grand culmination of the event, will air on ION on Thursday from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., and you can also find them on various Scripps-owned channels, including ION Plus, Bounce, Grit, and more.
Rules of the Scripps National Spelling Bee
To participate, spellers must qualify by advancing through regional bees hosted by sponsors nationwide. The competition is open to students who have not passed the eighth grade or are older than 15.
Contestants will tackle two preliminary rounds, answering questions on words from a pre-provided list. The competition includes one spelling round and one multiple-choice vocabulary round. Those who excel will move on to take a written spelling and vocabulary test, and about 100 of the top scorers will advance to the quarterfinals.
In the quarterfinals and semifinals, participants face elimination through oral spelling or vocabulary questions. Only a dozen spellers usually make it to the finals. If it comes down to just two spellers, Scripps has a lightning-round tiebreaker known as a “spell-off” to determine the champion.
Who’s Competing This Year?
This year, a total of 247 spellers from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, three U.S. territories, and five other countries—including The Bahamas, Canada, Ghana, Nigeria, and the United Arab Emirates—are set to compete.
One standout is Sarv Dharavane from Dunwoody, Georgia, who finished third last year. He’s only 11 years old and still has two years of eligibility to compete in future Bees, even if he doesn’t win this year.
Other strong contenders include:
- Shrey Parikh, a 14-year-old eighth-grader from California, who has dominated the bee circuit recently.
- Oliver Halkett, a 14-year-old eighth-grader from Los Angeles, who tied for seventh last year.
- Esha Marupudi, another 14-year-old eighth-grader from Chandler, Arizona, who also tied for seventh last year.
Prizes for the Champion
Winning the Scripps National Spelling Bee is no small feat, and the rewards reflect that. The champion will receive a custom trophy and more than $50,000 in cash and prizes. Here’s how the prize payouts break down:
- First place: $52,500 in cash, reference works from Encyclopedia Britannica and Merriam-Webster, a custom trophy, a commemorative medal, and $1,000 in flight credits from Delta Air Lines.
- Second place: $25,000.
- Third place: $15,000.
- Fourth place: $10,000.
- Fifth place: $5,000.
- Sixth place: $2,500.
- All other finalists: $2,000.
With such an exciting lineup and the stakes higher than ever, fans can expect a thrilling competition filled with impressive displays of skill and knowledge.
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Ben Nuckols has been covering the Scripps National Spelling Bee since 2012. Follow his work for the latest updates and insights.
