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. Ties also occurred in 1950 and 1957, organizers said.
For the first time since 1962, we have #SpellingBee CO-CHAMPIONS!
— NationalSpellingBee (@ScrippsBee) May 30, 2014
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.
"I think we both know that the competition was against the dictionary, not against each other," Hathwar said after the win. "I am happy to share this trophy with him."
"I was pretty happy when I made the finals, and now I'm even happier that I'm a co-champion," added Sujoe.
In #SpellingBee history, only three Bees have ended with co-champions. The last was in 1962. @ScrippsBee pic.twitter.com/zpgxUpV6f4
— Natalie DiBlasio (@ndiblasio) May 30, 2014
Sujoe, 13, is a student at Bethesda Christian School in Fort Worth, Texas. 2014 marked his second trip to the spelling bee.
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, fame and congratulatory tweets from the President of the United States.
Congrats to Ansun and Sriram, the incredible co-champs of the #ScrippsNationalSpellingBee. You make us all proud! -bo
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 30, 2014