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.

Photos And Video Of Tim “Eater X” Janus At KSO VI Knoxville Qualifier

Seen here at the Krystal Square Off VI, Tim "Eater X" Janus pounded back enough Krystals for a repeat win of the Knoxville Qualifier.

Not even the threat of a torrential downpour put a damper on what was a fierce competition between Tim “Eater X” Janus and Juliet “The Lovely” Lee at the last Krystal Square Off VI qualifying round held at the Tennessee Valley Fair in Knoxville on Sunday, Sept. 20. Clouds may have loomed overhead, but the only things the audience could see falling were the hopes and dreams of Juliet Lee, “Crazy Legs” Conti and the nine other competitors that champ Tim “Eater X” Janus left in the dust by chomping down a winning 30 Krystals and 5 Big Angus Burgers for a total of 55 Krystal Burger Points.

If you’re bummed you opted to stay in last weekend, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered with all the action via video. And chin up, tiger: you still have one last chance to see Janus kill some Krystal burgers this Sunday, Sept. 27 as the sixth annual Krystal Square Off World Championship goes down in Chattanooga starting at 2 p.m.

See photos below from the Knoxville Qualifier. Full photo gallery here.

Five Questions With Tim “Eater X” Janus

Tim Janus has become a familiar face at the KSO Finals. Will he do a repeat performance at the Knoxville Qualifier this year to earn a seat at the championship table in Chattanooga?

We caught up with Tim “Eater X” Janus to find out his strategy going into the Knoxville Qualifier and hear about his predictions on this year’s Krystal Square Off winner. Unlike many of the other eaters we’ve spoken with thus far, sounds like Eater X still believes Joey Chestnut will come out on top again, even though Chestnut hasn’t had the opportunity to contend with the new rules. Check out more about what Janus had to say…

How has your training been for this year’s Krystal Square Off?

Nonexistent. I’ve haven’t had any time this year. It’s really too bad.

Care to reveal your strategy for the Big Angus Burgers? Will you start off with them or wait until the end?

I don’t know what I’ll do. Truly, I don’t think it matters as long as you eat them eventually. If you eat them first, you’ll eat them faster, but your Krystals pace at the end will suffer. If you eat them last, you’ll eat them slower, but you’ll have eaten your Krystals faster.

You’re the favorite going into this weekend’s Qualifier in Knoxville. How hard are you going to push yourself? Will you do just enough to win?

I need to figure out what I’m doing, what it’s like eating them dry. So I think my mind will be more on figuring out what feels best — how to move, how to hold things, the kinds of bites to take, etc. And then hopefully in the Finals, I can put it all together.

Going into this year’s KSO what are your goals?

I’m never comfortable talking about them.

Do you think Joey Chestnut will repeat as champion this year? Who do you think has the best shot at upsetting him?

Anybody who doesn’t pick Joey to win is either trying desperately to be interesting or is just plain stupid. Joey is the champion. He is the favorite. He’s not a lock to win it. But clearly he’s the most likely winner.

Photo and Video: Eric Booker Wins KSO VI Birmingham Qualifier

All fingers were pointed to Eric "Badlands" Booker as he took the trophy in Birmingham with 51 Krystal Burger Points for the win.

Eric “Badlands” Booker competed in the Krystal Square Off VI Birmingham Qualifier this past Saturday, where he ate just enough Big Angus Burgers and Krystals to put him in the running for the Championship in Chattanooga on Sept. 27 – a total of 51 Krystal Burger Points to be exact. Almost stealing the spotlight was unranked up-and-comer Erik Unger who came in a close second with 42 Krystal Burger Points, a score that has earned him a tie for second in the Wild Card race.

Check out the photo gallery and video below of Booker, Unger and the ten additional eaters who ate their way through eight-minutes of Krystal Burger bliss. It’s kind of like seven minutes in heaven, except it’s eight minutes and more like Krystal heaven on earth. You get the picture…

Check out a few photos below and more here.

Eric “Badlands” Booker Prevails At KSO VI Birmingham Qualifier

Eric "Badlands" Booker battled through the Alabama heat to eat 26 Krystals and 5 Big Angus Burgers for the win. And he still wanted more!

Prior to the Univ. of Alabama-Birmingham football game this past Saturday, a group of well-conditioned, if not well-fed, gustatory athletes took to the competitive eating field for the Krystal Square Off VI Birmingham Qualifier. With a hyped crowd gathered in Blazer Village, Eric “Badlands” Booker opened the event with a Krystal favorite – The Krystal Square Off Rap. The excitement continued as Badlands led the competition and finished strong with 26 Krystals and 5 Big Angus Burgers for a total of 51 Krystal Burger Points to secure the win.

Badlands’ victory earns him a seat at the Krystal Square Off VI World Hamburger Eating Championship table on Sept. 27. The 11th-ranked eater in the world will go up against last year’s winner, Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, three-time Krystal Square Off Champion Takeru Kobayashi, and nine other top eaters to take home a piece of the $50,000 cash purse prize.

Second and Third place winners, Erik Unger and Anthony Reganato, also finished with respectable totals, coming in with 42 points (17 Krystals and 5 Big Angus Burgers) and 37 points (12 Krystals and 5 Big Angus Burgers), respectively. See full list of eaters and their scores below.

• Eric “Badlands” Booker: 26 Krystals, 5 Big Angus Burgers = 51 Krystal Burger Points
• Erik Unger: 17 Krystals, 5 Big Angus Burgers = 42 Krystal Burger Points
• Anthony Reganato: 12 Krystals, 5 Big Angus Burgers = 37 Krystal Burger Points
• Will Davis: 10 Krystals, 5 Big Angus Burgers = 35 Krystal Burger Points
• Damien Boynkin: 4 Krystals, 5 Big Angus Burgers = 29 Krystal Burger Points
• Steve Ramirez: 4 Krystals, 5 Big Angus Burgers = 29 Krystal Burger Points
• “Super” Paul Barlow: 2 Krystals, 5 Big Angus Burgers = 27 Krystal Burger Points
• Steve-o Anderson: 6 Krystals, 3 Big Angus Burgers = 21 Krystal Burger Points
• Wayne Ray: 13 Krystals, 1 Big Angus Burger = 18 Krystal Burger Points
• Joe Lynch: 11 Krystals, 0 Big Angus Burgers = 11 Krystal Burger Points
• Natasha Williams: 3 Krystals, 1 Big Angus Burger = 8 Krystal Burger Points
• David Walker: 5 Krystals, 0 Big Angus Burgers = 5 Krystal Burger Points

Patrick Bertoletti Eats Big Angus Burger In Eight Seconds

Patrick "Deep Dish" Bertoletti was all smiles during today's Opening Ceremony for Krystal Square Off VI.

The Opening Ceremony for the Krystal Square Off VI World Hamburger Eating Championship was held today in downtown Chattanooga, and one of the many highlights was Patrick Bertoletti’s eating exhibition with the star of this year’s event, the Big Angus Burger.

Using a circular eating technique and looking somewhat nonchalant, the Chicago-based speed eater set the benchmark for putting away the all-Angus beef Big Angus Burger, doing so in just eight seconds. The mark was one full second faster than he did this morning in a little friendly competition on WDEF TV’s morning show.

Watch Bertoletti put away the Big Angus Burger in the video below: