The Agony and the Ecstasy of the National Spelling Bee

The most skillful young spellers in the U.S. came together for the 86th Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee Finals in Oxon Hill, Maryland, on Thursday. Eleven finalists took the stage for the two-and-a-half-hour spell-a-thon, advancing from a pool of 281 in a fierce competition for $30,000 in cash and prizes and the elation of a nation obsessed with the bee. Here, Amber Born, 14 of Marblehead, Massachusetts, reacts after spelling the word “malacophilous” correctly during the semifinal round.

Evan Vucci/AP

galleries/2013/05/31/the-agony-and-the-ecstasy-of-the-national-spelling-bee/130531-spelling-bee-14_vxsm1b

Caleb Miller, 13, of Calhoun, Louisiana, cast his head back after incorrectly spelling “cyanope.” Christopher O'Connor, 13, of Tucson incorrectly spells “pultaceous.” Mary Skirvin, 13, of Nashville, Indiana, incorrectly spells “laureation.”

Cliff Owen/AP

galleries/2013/05/31/the-agony-and-the-ecstasy-of-the-national-spelling-bee/130531-spelling-bee-04_if4bkl

Vismaya Kharkar, 14, of Bountiful, Utah, covers her face as she concentrates on her word “temenos” during the final round.

Evan Vucci/AP

galleries/2013/05/31/the-agony-and-the-ecstasy-of-the-national-spelling-bee/130531-spelling-bee-11_mviwaa

Joseph Delamerced, 13, of Cincinnati, Ohio, spells “malleolus.” Syamantak Payra, 14, of Bountiful spells “stultiloquence.” Alia Abiad, 13, of Western Springs, Illinois, spells “hypnopompic.”

Cliff Owen/AP

galleries/2013/05/31/the-agony-and-the-ecstasy-of-the-national-spelling-bee/130531-spelling-bee-05_ilb708

Jonathan Caldwell, 13, of Hendersonville, Tennessee, waits for his turn during the semifinal round.

Evan Vucci/AP

galleries/2013/05/31/the-agony-and-the-ecstasy-of-the-national-spelling-bee/130531-spelling-bee-13_jmxbvb

Caldwell spells “persiflage.” Kuvam Shahane, 13, of Rochester Hills, Michigan, spells “griseous.” Christal Schermeister, 13, of Pembroke Pines, Florida, spells “gelastic.”

Cliff Owen/AP

galleries/2013/05/31/the-agony-and-the-ecstasy-of-the-national-spelling-bee/130531-spelling-bee-10_ljizxs

Margaret Flaherty Peterson, 13, of Granger, Indiana, sits alone onstage after she was not chosen to advance to the final round.

Cliff Owen/AP

galleries/2013/05/31/the-agony-and-the-ecstasy-of-the-national-spelling-bee/130531-spelling-bee-06_mgqgqv

Emily Keaton, 14, of Pikeville, Kentucky, spells “encephalitis.” Emma Greenlee, 14, of Aurora, Minnesota, spells “joculator.” Ryan Devanandan, 13, of Albany, New York, spells “aporia.”

Cliff Owen/AP

galleries/2013/05/31/the-agony-and-the-ecstasy-of-the-national-spelling-bee/130531-spelling-bee-02_dgjfrm

Nadar Chandran and wife Sumita Chandran react after their daughter Nikitha Chandran, 13, of Valrico, Florida, spells the word “peristalith” correctly during the semifinal round.

Evan Vucci/AP

galleries/2013/05/31/the-agony-and-the-ecstasy-of-the-national-spelling-bee/130531-spelling-bee-09_wxdpwb

Sriram Hathwar, 13 of Painted Post, New York, reaches out to shake hands with Syamantak Payra, 12, of Friendswood, Texas, as he high-fives Kharkar. Chetan Reddy, 13, of Plano, Texas, yellow shirt, and Arvind Mahankali, 13, of Bayside Hills, New York, center, watch after they learned that they will advance to the final round.

Cliff Owen/AP

galleries/2013/05/31/the-agony-and-the-ecstasy-of-the-national-spelling-bee/130531-spelling-bee-08_p2fop0

Katharine Wang, 11, of Beijing gathers herself before the start of the semifinal round. Seated by Wang are Eva Kitlen of Niwot, Colorado, to her left, and Audrey Bantug, 13, of San Ramon, California.

Evan Vucci/AP

galleries/2013/05/31/the-agony-and-the-ecstasy-of-the-national-spelling-bee/130531-spelling-bee-07_qjdfpy

Mahankali watches confetti fall after he won the bee.

Cliff Owen/AP

galleries/2013/05/31/the-agony-and-the-ecstasy-of-the-national-spelling-bee/130531-spelling-bee-12_ayzmpy

Mahankali is congratulated by his family.

Evan Vucci/AP

galleries/2013/05/31/the-agony-and-the-ecstasy-of-the-national-spelling-bee/130531-spelling-bee-01_uedy7h

Mahankali holds the championship trophy after he won by spelling the word “knaidel” correctly.

Evan Vucci/AP

The Agony and the Ecstasy of the National Spelling Bee

The most skillful young spellers in the U.S. came together for the 86th Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee Finals in Oxon Hill, Maryland, on Thursday. From utter anguish to sheer joy, see the faces of determination.