National Spelling Bee 2009: Round 6

Yes, there is a Round 6 this afternoon. So far Illinois retains its twosome.

UPDATE Serena Laine-Lobsinger remained a leader with imprimis.

And third-time returnee Neetu Chandak of Seneca Falls has emerged as New York's last hope in this race, persevering with dauerlauf.

UPDATE Ohio lost a speller, ceding the game of the states to Illinois.

UPDATE Among those still in the bee are Kennyi "Mr. Joviality" Aouad (who could not be replaced by austausch), Kavya Shivashankar (surely no stranger to escritoire), and Sidharth "Mr. Busy Bee" Chand (who rocked unakite).

UPDATE Four down in Round 6 leaves 11 finalists. I must've made a math mistake earlier when coming up with my totals. But 11 it is for tonight's climax. [Ah—there were actually five down in Round 6. Aditya Chemudupaty's mispelling of grenache seems to have been omitted from the web page showing the results.]

UPDATE Here's to Neetu Chandak!