11 Finalists Confirmed For Krystal Square Off VI Final Table
Watch the Krystal Square Off VI this Sunday to see Chestnut and Kobayashi - one of competitive eating's biggest rivalries - contend with the new Big Angus Burger Points and No-Dunking rule for the very first time.
The culmination of months of training, seven qualifying rounds and countless Krystal burgers finally comes to its pinnacle on Sunday, Sept. 27 when 11 competitors take to the final table for the sixth annual Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship.
The eight-minute, live-televised eating contest will feature the number one-ranked gurgitator Joey Chestnut, Japan’s legendary Takeru Kobayashi and the second-ranked eater in the world Patrick Bertoletti in addition to eight more masters of mastication. The 12th eater will be selected from the crowd to compete against the pros as they battle for the top hamburger title and a share of a record $50,000 cash purse.
This year’s Krystal Square Off VI winner will not only receive $20,000 and the coveted World Hamburger Championship Belt and Trophy made out of crystal but will also have bragging rights for establishing a new world-record in front of a live audience of 10,000 people. The runner-up and third place finalists will each take home $10,000 and $5,000, respectively, and the remaining nine will receive payouts ranging from $3,000 to $500.
And as any true competitive eating fan knows, the contest isn’t just about the money or the great-tasting Krystal Burgers – it’s about the battle. While defending Champion Joey “Jaws” Chestnut and Japanese eating sensation Takeru Kobayashi automatically receive seats into this year’s final, the remaining nine had to fight to bite. During a two-month qualifying circuit, dozens showed up, but only a select seven won a spot at the finals while the rest fought for two wild card seats.
Will the new Big Angus Burger Points and “No-Dunking” policy be too much for Chestnut and Kobayashi to handle for the first time? Will last year’s runner-up and current Qualifying-circuit leader Patrick Bertoletti steal the spotlight from the two most famous eaters in the world with a victory himself? Only time will tell.
The 11 finalists for Krystal Square Off VI are:
* Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, San Jose, Calif. (Automatic seat as defending champ)
* Takeru Kobayashi, Tokyo, Japan (Automatic seat as three-time KSO Champion)
* Pat “Deep Dish” Bertoletti, Chicago, Ill. (67 Krystal Burger Points in Chattanooga)
* “Humble” Bob Shoudt, Philadelphia, Pa. (66 Krystal Burger Points in Atlanta)
* Hall “Hoover” Hunt, Jacksonville, Fla. (65 Krystal Burger Points in Jacksonville)
* Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas, Alexandria, Va. (64 Krystal Burger Points in San Antonio)
* Tim “Eater X” Janus, New York, N.Y. (55 Krystals in Knoxville)
* Tim “Gravy” Brown, Chicago, Ill. (54 Krystals in Nashville)
* Eric “Badlands” Booker, Long Island, N.Y. (51 Krystal Burger Points in Birmingham)
* Erik “The Red” Denmark, Seattle, Wash. (55 Krystal Burger Points in San Antonio – Wild Card)
* Jim “Buffalo” Reeves, (50 Krystal Burger Points in Nashville – Wild Card)
You can catch each second of sixth annual Krystal Square Off World Championship in person this Sunday, Sept. 27 at Chattanooga’s 21st Century Waterfront (Ross’s Landing) beginning at 2 p.m. or by watching live on SportSouth. Live updates will also be available on Twitter @ksquareoff.
