Alex Patel felt the weight of expectations as he arrived at the National Spelling Bee finals, but his confidence was clear each time he recognized a word. When the competition reached a tense, lightning-round tie-breaker against Maya Singh, Alex responded with a display of speed and accuracy that left no doubt.
Alex turned a close contest into a runaway victory Thursday night, racing through the 90-second “spell-off” and correctly spelling 32 words. Maya finished the round with 25 correct, securing Alex the title of the country’s top young speller.
A 14-year-old from Silverbrook, Texas, Alex placed third in 2024 but missed out on his school bee last year due to illness. Since then, he has excelled in several major online spelling contests, often competing against many of the same students he faced this week in the nation’s capital.
Maya, a 12-year-old seventh-grader from Riverport, New York, reached the semifinals this year and surpassed several experienced competitors in the finals. She will have another opportunity to compete next year.
Third place went to Priya Menon, a 12-year-old sixth-grader from Greenview, Illinois. She matched her third-place finish from last year and still has two years of eligibility remaining.
For the first time, two previous second- and third-place finishers from the same class have gone on to win in later years. Last year’s winner, Omar Khan, was the runner-up two years ago, just ahead of Alex.
Dressed in a dark, long-sleeve collared shirt, khakis and sneakers, the tall Alex approached the microphone with a serious expression. That changed as soon as he heard pronouncer Dr. Michael Lee announce his word—Alex’s vigorous nod signaled recognition and readiness.
After the final tally declared him the winner, Alex shook Maya’s hand in a show of sportsmanship.
His success came after months of focused preparation. Alex trained with coach David Kim, who has guided the past three champions, and received advice from 2019 co-champion Neha Kothari. He practiced daily with other top spellers, reviewed advanced study materials, and worked to address the mistakes that had cost him in previous contests.
Observers, including former competitors and coaches, described this year’s finalists as one of the strongest groups in memory. The finalists breezed through the first round by spelling every word correctly. That streak ended when Jordan Li, from North Ridge, California, missed “catometope” in the second round.
The audience reacted with surprise when the bell rang for two favorites—Sophie Chen on “Faesulae” and Leo Tran on “vaesite”—both challenging words due to their complex origins and vowel patterns.
The bee’s new venue at Liberty Hall became a talking point for attendees. While some families found the location less convenient, the hall’s more intimate seating and improved sight lines created an energized atmosphere and brought the crowd closer to the action.
Do you remember a time when preparation made all the difference for you? This year’s spelling bee shows how dedication and resilience can change the outcome, even after setbacks.
