Spelling Bee Names Co-Champions For First Time Since 1962

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Ansun Sujoe, 13, of Fort Worth, Texas, left, and Sriram Hathwar, 14, of Painted Post, N.Y., celebrate after being named co-champions of the National Spelling Bee, on Thursday, May 29, 2014, in Oxon Hill, Md.

Image: Evan Vucci/Associated Press

By Brian Ries2014-05-30 02:56:50 UTC

The Scripps National Spelling Bee named Ansun Sujoe and Sriram Hathwar co-champions of its 2014 contest.

It was the first time since 1962 that two spellers shared the title.

The bee came down to a nail-biting conclusion, as Sujoe and Hathwar traded turns correctly spelling words like augenphilologie, sdrucciola, holluschick, thymelici, paixtle, encaenia, terreplein and stichomythia.

But it was Ansun Sujoe spelling the word "feuilleton" that proved to be the true clutch moment. Had he spelled it wrong, Hathwar would've had a chance to win it entirely. But he didn't. He spelled it right, finishing with confidence as confetti showered the two teens from above.

Sujoe, 13, is a student at Bethesda Christian School in Fort Worth, Texas. 2014 marked his second trip to the spelling bee.

See also: 22 Spelling Bee Faces That Are the Definition of Drama

Hathwar, a student of the Alternative School for Math and Science in Corning, New York had been there before, too. He finished third in 2013. In 2008, as an 8-year-old, he set the record for being the bee’s youngest competitor.

Now, the two boys are destined to be linked together for history, sharing the winnings and fame that's sure to follow.

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Topics: spelling bee, U.S., US & World