Introducing the 14-year-old Champion of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, who emerged victorious with the word 'Psammophile'.

In Oxon Hill, Maryland, Dev Shah's journey to the Scripps National Spelling Bee championship took an unexpected turn. Despite enduring five hours of challenging weather conditions at a regional competition in Orlando, Florida, Dev fell short of his dream of returning to the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Dev described feeling despondent and uncertain about his future in spelling at that time.

However, Dev's resilience and determination shone through as he confidently navigated the competition. With his soft-spoken demeanor and a deep understanding of Greek roots, Dev swiftly spelled his second-to-last word and emerged as the champion of the National Spelling Bee on Thursday night.

Originally from Largo, Florida, in the Tampa Bay area, Dev had previously participated in the national bee in 2019 before facing interruptions in his spelling career. The COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of the 2020 bee, and in the mostly virtual 2021 bee, Dev didn't qualify for the in-person finals held at Walt Disney World in his home state.

Last year presented further challenges when Dev had to compete in the Orlando region due to a change in his regional sponsor after the pandemic. Dev's mother, Nilam Shah, revealed that it took four months to help him regain his focus and motivation.

Determined to try again, Dev incorporated an exercise routine into his preparations and even lost weight to enhance his concentration. Throughout the competition, Dev displayed his vast knowledge and posed precise questions, impressing the bee's pronouncers and judges. When he emerged as the winner, he celebrated by holding the trophy high, surrounded by confetti.

Scott Remer, Dev's coach and a former speller and study guide author, emphasized the significance of grit in distinguishing top spellers. Dev's winning word, "psammophile," meaning sand lover in Greek, showcased his mastery.

Reflecting on his victory, Dev admitted to feeling nervous internally, particularly before spelling his winning word. Runner-up Charlotte Walsh expressed her joy and admiration for Dev, acknowledging the years of hard work he had dedicated to the competition.

Dev's triumph brings him a prize of over $50,000 in cash and prizes, while Charlotte, as the runner-up, receives $25,000. In the final stages of the competition, a moment of confusion arose when Dev encountered the spell-off buzzer, but he quickly spelled his word with ease. Dev's victory adds to the legacy of South Asian champions, marking the 22nd such champion in the past 24 years.

Dev's father, Deval, who immigrated from India to pursue his master's degree, praised his son's remarkable word recall, which began at the young age of three. Dev also gained valuable experience through participation in academic competitions organized by the North South Foundation, a nonprofit that supports Indian children with scholarships.

The Scripps National Spelling Bee, open to students through the eighth grade, witnessed a display of exceptional knowledge from the finalists. The challenging word list, curated by Scripps' 21-person panel, comprised words from various domains, including lesser-known terms and geographical names.

As Dev concludes his journey in spelling for now, he looks forward to prioritizing sleep and recovering from the sleepless nights he endured during the intense preparation period.