Oxon Hill, May 30 (AP) The finals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee have begun, with 50 kids on stage competing for more than USD 50,000 in cash and prizes and a new, custom-designed trophy.

This year's bee had the biggest field ever, with 562 spellers, more than half of whom got in through Scripps' wild-card program. Last year was the first time that wild cards were allowed into the bee, and the eventual champion was a wild card.

Thursday's finalists include nine spellers who finished in at least a tie for 10th last year. The field will be narrowed to about a dozen spellers in the morning and early afternoon before the prime-time finals on ESPN.

The last 14 champions and 19 of the past 23 have been Indian-American.

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