Trending Now - Spelling Bee: Mastery Vs. Memorization Among Competitors
WHO:
ABC News - Shrey Parikh, a 14-year-old from Rancho Cucamonga, California; Sarv Dharavane, a 12-year-old sixth-grader from Dunwoody, Georgia; Dev Shah, the 2023 champion; Sohum Sukhatankar, a former champion and coach; Sam Evans, a coach of the past two champions.
WHAT:
ABC News - On Wednesday, Shrey Parikh became one of nine spellers who got through the semifinals and will compete in the finals Thursday night.
ABC News - Sarv Dharavane is back in the finals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
ABC News - The 98th Scripps National Spelling Bee finals are scheduled for Thursday night.
ABC News - The 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee competition features 247 of the best young spellers in the country.
ABC News - Shrey Parikh finished third in the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee and is competing in the current semifinals.
ABC News - There are 54 kids competing in the semifinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
ABC News - Sarv Dharavane finished third in 2025 and has no coach or online bee participation.
ABC News - Dev Shah won the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee.
ABC News - Shrey Parikh won the annual SpellPundit bee, the South Asian Spelling Bee, and several other online bees.
WHERE:
ABC News - The Scripps National Spelling Bee is held in Washington, D.C.
ABC News - Shrey Parikh is from Rancho Cucamonga, California, and Sarv Dharavane is from Dunwoody, Georgia.
WHEN:
Variety - The 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee competition is taking place this week.
ABC News - The Scripps National Spelling Bee has been held since 1925.
WHY:
ABC News - There is a debate in spelling circles about the importance of mastery of languages versus rote memorization in preparation for the competition.
ABC News - Shrey Parikh aims to eliminate variables in his performance after a past experience where he blanked on a word during a school bee.
HOW:
ABC News - Shrey Parikh mentioned that an interactive, AI-assisted platform called Onyma, which offers personalized learning and competition with other spellers, launched this month by Sukhatankar and Evans, has helped with his preparation.
ABC News - Shrey Parikh's preparation includes using an interactive, AI-assisted platform called Onyma, which launched this month.
ABC News - Shrey Parikh works with three coaches and pays for word lists and study guides.
ABC News - Sarv Dharavane uses Merriam-Webster’s Unabridged dictionary as his only study guide.
ABC News - Dev Shah advocates for mastering roots and language patterns to figure out unknown words.
ABC News - Shrey Parikh uses an AI-assisted platform called Onyma for personalized learning and competition.
(UPDATED May 28, 2026 08:17 UTC)
Shrey Parikh has advanced to the finals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, joining eight other spellers in the competition set for Thursday night. Sarv Dharavane is also making a return to the finals, showcasing his skills once again. Parikh credits his preparation to an interactive, AI-assisted platform called Onyma, which launched this month and offers personalized learning and competition with fellow spellers.
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(UPDATED May 28, 2026 01:35 UTC)
The 98th Scripps National Spelling Bee finals are set to take place on Thursday night, showcasing 247 of the best young spellers from across the country. Among the competitors is Shrey Parikh, who has been preparing for the event using an interactive, AI-assisted platform called Onyma, which just launched this month. This year's competition promises to be an exciting display of talent and skill as these young spellers take the stage.
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(UPDATED May 27, 2026 21:35 UTC)
In an exciting week for the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., 54 young competitors are vying for the title, including 14-year-old Shrey Parikh from Rancho Cucamonga, California, who finished third in the 2024 competition and is currently in the semifinals. Sarv Dharavane, a 12-year-old from Dunwoody, Georgia, is also in the mix, having previously secured third place in 2025, while Dev Shah, the 2023 champion, emphasizes the importance of mastering language roots and patterns for success. Shrey, who has won multiple spelling competitions, including the SpellPundit bee, is preparing with three coaches and utilizing an AI-assisted platform called Onyma to enhance his skills.