Florida's 12-year-old boy, Bruhat Soma, wins this year's Scripps National Spelling Bee competition.
The 12-year-old boy from St. Petersburg, Florida, emerged victorious in the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Soma is a 7th grader who won the prestigious title after an intense tiebreaker round, spelling nearly 29 words correctly in 90 seconds. The event, held on May 30, saw Soma triumph over sixth grader Faizan Zaki from Dallas, Texas.
The 2024 Spelling Bee Winner Survives The Lightning Round
This year's spelling competition was marked by an unprecedented lightning round tiebreaker, which was needed before the contestants could even face each other in a conventional round.
Soma, one of the eight finalists-the smallest number in 14 years-showcased his spelling skills by correctly spelling 29 words. His competitor, Zaki, attempted 25 words but missed four, securing Soma's win.
The decisive word for Soma was "abseil," a term used in mountaineering for a rope descent. The Scripps organization announced that Soma's correct spelling of "abseil" clinched the victory and highlighted the boy's remarkable talent and preparation.
A Year of Intense Preparation Towards Championship
Soma's journey to the top was fueled by relentless dedication and hard work. In an interview, Soma revealed his rigorous study routine, which included six hours of spelling practice on weekdays and over 10 hours on weekends.
The 12-year-old boy's journey towards this year's championship took years of trying and preparation.
It was revealed that this year's win marked his third attempt at the Scripps National Spelling Bee, having previously competed in 2022 and 2023, where he tied for 163rd and 74th place, respectively.
"I've been working really hard this whole year," Soma shared. "After I lost in the quarterfinals last year, I was really disappointed, and I knew I had to work harder in order to win."
The boy stated that it became an inspiration for him to work hard in this last year. He added that winning became a dream come true after all the hard work, so he is definitely happy with his achievement.
Grand Prizes and Honors for the 2024 Spelling Bee Winner
Soma's victory comes with significant rewards. The first-place prize includes $50,000 in cash from the Scripps organization, a $2,500 cash prize and reference library from Merriam-Webster, and $400 worth of reference works from Encyclopædia Britannica.
Soma chose to represent the Rays Baseball Foundation and the Rowdies Soccer Fund as his charities of choice.
The competition began with 148 spellers on Wednesday, May 29, and by the end of the first quarterfinal round, only 59 remained. Of these, 46 advanced through a vocabulary round to the semifinals, culminating in Soma's thrilling win.
The young spelling champion's joy was palpable as he hoisted the trophy amid falling confetti, a moment captured in a video shared by Scripps on social media.
Florida's 12-year-old boy smiles with a big grin on his face, saying he's still shaking out of happiness. This victory, achieved under the guidance of Scripps' executive director, Corrie Loeffler, highlights the evolving and challenging nature of the competition.
As Soma basks in his well-deserved victory, his story serves as an inspiration to aspiring spellers and underscores the importance of perseverance and hard work.
