Surya Kapu, speller 223, is an unexpected Finalist.
The Utah seventh grader was reinstated into the Bee after judges' review and deliberation of the word “leucovorin," which he misspelled. He was the first to spell on stage tonight; by getting his word right, he’s officially finalist No. 13.
That word was "schläger," a long straight basket-hilted blunt-ended sword that is sharpened only near the end and is used in duels by German university students.
“I’m pretty excited, cuz it’s a second chance,” Surya said before he spelled. “I’m so close to Finals. I have to spell one last word before I get there.”
Surya said he was thankful for the additional opportunity and was “super glad” to be back at the Bee after his first appearance, in 2019.
He said he likes learning about words and piecing them together. When he’s not spelling, Surya likes to play Minecraft, practice the saxophone and play basketball.
“I’ve made so many friends,” he said of the Bee experience. “When you’re on the stage with your friends, you don’t want them to get out. You’re rooting for them.”
He's wearing yellow tonight, a good luck charm. So far, the luck seems to hold up.