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

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.