Third year in a row Bee is producing co-champions.
Well, what a finish! Like the last couple of years, the Bee has again produced co-champions — despite the best efforts by the organizers to prevent that from happening. Again, more Indian American champions. Nine times in the past nine years. If this isn’t a dynasty, then what is?
Congratulations to both Janga, the youngest ever champion, and Hathwar, the second one from his family! Read our final report here. Also, do check out our YouTube channel for interviews with the two champions.
Co-champions again!
Janga: “Gesellschaft”
Hathwar: “feldenkrais.” Correct!
Hathwar: “Mischsprachah.” Spelled incorrectly!
Janga: “Groenendael.”
The ping pong match continues!
Hathwar: “Juamave.”
No more than 5 rounds remaining!
Janga: “Hohenzollern.” Correct.
Hathwar: “Guignolet.” Correct.
Janga: “Haab.” Correct.
Hathwar: “Kjeldahl.” Correct.
Janga: “Phulkari.” Correct.
Hathwar: “Pavonazzetto.” Correct.
Janga: “Ynambu.” Correct.
Hathwar: “Stymphalian.” Correct.
Janga: “Parinari.” Correct.
Hathwar: “Myiasis.” Correct.
Janga: “Villancico.” Correct.
Hathwar: “Krausen.” Correct.
Janga: “Ecorche.” Correct.
Hathwar: “Lygaeid.” Correct.
Janga spells the insane word”Promyshlennik” correct!
Hathwar: “Doab.” Correct!
Hathwar is still alive!
Janga spells “AYACAHUITE” wrong!
Janga: “gerrhosaurid” correct!
That means if Nihar Janga spells the 2 next words correctly he will the youngest Scripps National Spelling Bee winner ever!
Hathwar spells “drahthaar” incorrectly!
The duo is spelling word after word correctly!
Janga: “ge
Hathwar: “whau”
Janga: “uintije”
Hathwar: “chremslach”
Janga: “taoiseach”
Hathwar: “gyttja”
Janga, clearly the crowd favorite, seems to know the definition of every word! He spells “biniou”
Hathwar: “Keurboom.”
Janga: “ergataner”
Hathwar: “Fothergilaa.”
Janga captures the heart of the audience as he spells “appetitost” correctly
The two seem to get better and better each round, as no more than 21 rounds remain.
Hathwar: “Harmattan.”
Janga: “giallolino” correct!
Hathwar: “lerot.”
Janga: “melilot.”
Hathwar: “ripieno.”
Janga: “cypraeiform.” Correct.
Hathwar: “achalasia.” Correct.
Nihar Janga spells “schepen” correctly!
Jairam Hathwar, one of the two final spellers left, spells the incredibly tough word “gelandesprung” correctly!
Snehaa Kumar spells “usicapion” incorrectly, leaving Jairam and Nihar as the final two.
CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND STARTS
Nihar Janga correctly spells ”
Jairam Hathwar “launeddas” correctly.
With the elimination of Lamontagne, the next champion will also be an Indian American.
Sylvie Lamontagne is next. Takes a deep breath! Spells CHAOBORINE. The correct spelling is chaobborrhine. Gets standing ovation.
Snehaa Kumar gets the word “nasaump.” Spelled correctly.
Next round commences.
Nihar Janga receives a big round of applause as he spells “quillon” correctly.
Jairam Hathwar survives yet another grueling round by spelling “collyridian” correctly!
Sylvie Lamontagne spells “ekka” correctly.
Snehaa Kumar begins round 14 by spelling “aplustre” correctly!
The rounds keep getting tougher and tougher as round 13 comes to an end, with no eliminations, however.
Nihar Janga spells “bailliage” correctly!
Jairam Hathwar spells “caracal” correctly.
Sylvie Lamontagne spells the Japanese word “kakiemon” correctly
Snehaa Kumar spells “poitrel” correctly to begin round 13.
Nobody gets eliminated in round 12, as round 13 begins.
Nihar Janga spells “gisant” correctly!
Jairam Hathwar stays alive by spelling “epergne” correctly!
Sylvie Lamontagne spells “shubunkin” correctly
Snehaa Kumar kicks off round 12 by spelling “prochoos” correctly.
Only four remain as round 12 commences.
Nihar Janga spells “iiwi” correctly.
Smrithi Upadhyayula has been eliminated by spelling “theriaca” incorrectly.
Jairam Hathwar spells “calamistrum” correctly.
Sylvie Lamontagne spells “ptyalism” correctly
Snehaa Kumar begins round 11 by spelling “rhinolophid” correctly, much to her surprise!
Nihar Janga spells “hypozeuxis” correctly!
Smirthi Upadhyayula spells “chalazion” correctly
Jairam Hathwar spells “amanitin” correctly.
Sylvie Lamontagne spells “venetic correctly.
Sylvie Lamontagne spells “venetic” correctly.
Rutvik Gandhasri mispells “bettony” and is the first to be eliminated from round 10.
As round 10 starts, spelling bee veteran, Snehaa Kumar spells “soogee” correctly!
Smrithi Upadhyayula spells “levirate” correctly!
Nihar Janga spells “lovat” correctly
Jairam Hathwar, younger brother of 2014 winner, Sriram Hathwar, spells “ptyxis” correctly!
Mitchell Robson kept the audience chuckling as he spells “Wehrmacht” incorrectly
Sreeniketh Vogoti, with a hopeful attitude spells “pelaghenite” incorrectly. He receives a big round of applause after thanking everyone along the way.
Third speller in round 9, Sylvie Lamontagne spells “panachure” correctly. Boy, that was tough!
Cooper’s take away: the importance of work ethic, he tells the ESPN reporter.
Rutvik Gandhasri spells “guyot” correctly
Snehaa Kumar spells “chubasco” correctly.
Cooper, a Japanese American bows out. A big round of applause as he spells “illicium” incorrectly.
That’s the end of Round 8, only 9 spellers survive!
Nihar Janga: spells “galago” right!
Smrithi Upadhyayulu: “epistaxis” — correct!
After nearly 30 minutes, nine spellers are still in contention.
Jairam Hathwar: “chaussure” — correct!
Mitchell Robson: “esquisse.” Correct!
Jashun Paluru becomes the first speller to be eliminated from the final round. Got “vasopressin” wrong!
Sreeniketh Vogoti spells “moshav”
Sylvie Lamontagne spells comitatus.”
Rutvik Gandhasri spells “hirundine”
Sneha Ganesh Kumar spells pneumatomachy correctly!
Cooper Komatsu goes first — spells the word “myoclonus” correctly!
Updated May 27, 2016.