National Spelling Bee Quarterfinals See High Hopes Dashed

Over 100 contestants eliminated as competition intensifies under new rules, leaving only eight finalists.

Achyut Ethiraj and other top contenders faced unexpected exits after misspelling challenging words.
The competition has become significantly harder in recent years, with a broader and more difficult word list.
High expectations from past performances added pressure on many participants, leading to mistakes.
The remaining eight finalists will compete for the championship and over $50,000 in prizes.
Coaches and parents highlighted the emotional and mental toll on young spellers.