Competitive Eating Pros To Face Off First At Press Conference Friday

The Krystal Square Off press conference has been the site of weigh-ins, stare downs and the official unveiling of the three-digit Krystal counter.

Before this Sunday’s Krystal Square Off V World Hamburger Eating Championship, the top three ranked eaters in the world–Joey Chestnut, Pat Bertoletti and Takeru Kobayashi–will meet face-to-face for the official pre-contest press conference. The media event will take place at 2:30 p.m. on Friday at Ross’s Landing in downtown Chattanooga.

This will be Kobayashi’s first time in Chattanooga since he won Krystal Square Off III in 2006 by eating 97 Krystals in eight minutes. This is also the first face-to-face meeting between Chestnut and Kobayashi on American soil since July 4’s hot dog eating championship in Coney Island.

During the press conference the eaters are expected to make predictions and discuss their strategies for winning the top burger title and its $20,000 cash prize. A total of $50,000 in prize money will be awarded with second place winning $10,000 and third earning $5,000.

Chestnut and Kobayashi will also discuss their rivalry, going back to when Chestnut first challenged Kobayashi at Krystal Square Off II in 2005.  Chestnut, who surged to his No. 1 ranking by beating Kobayashi at hot dogs, has never beaten Kobayashi in a Krystal hamburger match-up. Chestnut does own the current world record of 103 Krystals in eight minutes, which he did at last year’s Krystal Square Off with Kobayashi absent due to a jaw injury.

Bertoletti, the No. 2 eater in the world, finished third at last year’s championship with 94 Krystals. He has beaten both Chestnut and Kobayashi in the past.

George Shea of Major League Eating will host the press conference, providing an expert’s perspective on what is being hailed the biggest event in the history of Major League Eating.