Pat Bertoletti Downs 66 Krystals To Win Atlanta Krystal Square Off V Qualifier

It was a Chicago sweep in Atlanta today with Pat Bertoletti (on right, foreground) and Tim "Gravy" Brown (on left) finishing one-two at the Krystal Square Off V Qualifier at Lenox Square Mall.

Atlanta’s Lenox Square Mall is known for its world-class shopping but today it was the scene of world-class competitive eating as Chicago’s Pat Bertoletti and a host of other top ranked eaters faced off in an eight-minute Krystal eating contest with the winner earning a spot at the Krystal Square Off V World Hamburger Eating Championship on Sept. 28 in Chattanooga.

Bertoletti, the number-two ranked eater in the world, was no doubt the odds on favorite to win and he did not disappoint as he devoured 66 Krystals to capture the Atlanta title, out-eating his nearest competitor and fellow Chicagoan Tim “Gravy” Brown by 21 Krystals. Finishing just one behind Brown with 44 Krystals was “Buffalo” Jim Reeves of Buffalo, New York.

With his victory today, the 23-year-old Bertoletti has earned a berth in the finals on Sept. 28 where he’ll compete live on FSN South against defending champ and Krystal world record holder Joey Chestnut, three-time Krystal Square Off World Champion Takeru Kobayashi, the top finisher from each regional qualifier and three wild card entries. On the line will be a $50,000 cash purse, the largest in competitive eating history.

While good enough for him to move on to the finals, Bertoletti’s mark of 66 Krystals today is far from his best of 94 Krystals, which he did at last year’s championship, and is much less than the 85 he downed at the Atlanta qualifier a year ago.

Both Brown and Reeves, the 13th and 28th ranked eaters in the world, respectively, achieved their personal bests today and remain in contention for one of three coveted wild card spots. The two eating pros join Sonya Thomas, who finished second in Jacksonville last week with 55 Krystals, as the top three so far this year who are hoping to sneak into the finals without winning a qualifier.

Here are the official results for today’s final:

1. Pat Bertoletti - 66
2. Tim Brown - 45
3. Jim Reeves - 44
4. Eric Livingston - 35
5. Allen Goldstein - 33
5. Micah Collins - 33
7. Beautiful Brian - 23
8. Damien Boykin - 21
8. Paul Barlow - 21
10. Steve Martin - 18
11. John Russell - 12
12. Eric Young - 11
12. Paul Aarrington - 11
14. Jason Birch - 10
15. Carl Oden - 8

Eight of the eaters who competed today are ranked in the Top 40 of Major League Eating’s world rankings. At least 9 different cities and four states were represented at the table today.

Stay tuned to the Krystal Square Off blog for photos from today’s Qualifier.

KSOV Podcast: The Pat Bertoletti Interview

Pat Bertoletti (above left) is ready to face off against Joey Chestnut (above right), Takeru Kobayashi and other top eaters this Sept. 28 in Chattanooga.

For this week’s audio podcast, the Krystal Square Off Blog had the pleasure of chatting with competitive eating’s mohawked master of mastication Pat Bertoletti. The Chicago native known as “Deep Dish” is heading to the ATL tonight in advance of tomorrow’s Krystal Square Off V Qualifier at Lenox Square Mall, where he’ll look to repeat as the Atlanta champ and earn a seat at this year’s final.

During our interview, Bertoletti talks about everything from his hectic travel schedule to the girls in Prague to why the heat doesn’t bother him when it comes to chowing down Krystals. He also gives his opinion on what the top numbers will be at this year’s Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship and how his 94 Krystals at last year’s championship was an “off day” for him.

What you won’t hear is what Bertoletti told us after the podcast, which is that he plans to head to the nearest Krystal restaurant as soon as he lands tonight and eat 30 plus Krystals and wash them down with a Krystal MilkQuake. A good warm-up for tomorrow? Completely insane? Or both?

Stay tuned as we’re hoping to get video of this Atlanta Qualifier eve chowdown.

Listen to our full audio interview with Pat by clicking the play arrow on the right below.

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Relatedly, check out the video of Pat Bertoletti training for the Krystal Square Off over at our sister site Krystalist.com here.

Follow the action as it happens this Saturday. Sign up for the Krystal Square Off Twitter feed.

Pat Bertoletti Seeks Repeat At Atlanta Krystal Square Off V Qualifier

Pat Bertoletti has yet to break the 100 Krystals mark but will have a chance to do so this Saturday in Atlanta.

Pat Bertoletti, the number two ranked eater in the world, will lead a stacked roster of competitive eating pros at the Atlanta Krystal Square Off Qualifier this Saturday, Sept. 6.

The 23-year-old eating phenom, who won last year’s Atlanta event with an astounding 85 Krystals in eight minutes, will be joined by the likes of Tim “Gravy” Brown, Allen Goldstein, Eric “Steakbellie” Livingston and many more as they battle for a seat at the World Championship in Chattanooga on Sept. 28.

While the 2007 Atlanta Qualifier took place outside under extreme conditions of heat and humidity, this year’s contest will be held in the cool, climate-controlled environs of Lenox Square Mall. Action will get underway at 2:00 p.m. with registration for the 5 amateur on-the-spot slots starting at 1:00 p.m.

Known as Deep Dish, the Chicago-based Bertoletti set the Atlanta record last year with his 85 Krystals, the second best number ever posted in qualifier history. Making his Krystal debut in Nashville in 2005, where he finished second to Badlands Booker with 28 Krystals, Bertoletti has made huge improvements over the past couple years, achieving his personal best of 94 Krystals at the 2007 championship last October.

As a preview to this Saturday’s contest, three Atlanta-based eaters who are set to compete this Saturday–Super Paul Barlow, Steve Martin and Ben Griffith–will put on an eating demonstration live on FOX 5 Good Day Atlanta tomorrow morning.

Sign up for live updates during this year’s Krystal Square Off via Twitter here.