Joey Chestnut (center) distanced himself from his rival Takeru Kobayashi (left) and Pat Bertoletti (right) in the first minute of the 8-minute hamburger eating championship.
Joey Chestnut proved once again why he is competitive eating’s biggest star on Sunday by besting a field of the finest gurgitators in the world at the Krystal Square Off V World Hamburger Eating Championship. As the video below shows, Chestnut jumped out to a three Krystal-lead in the first minute and never looked back as a massive crowd of 10,000 plus cheered him on.
It was also in the first minute that the race for second was defined as Pat Bertolettilet it be known that this wasn’t just a two-eater race between Takeru Kobayashi and Chestnut, as most had expected. The young Chicagoan with the trademark mohawk drew even with the Japanese eating star during that first 60 seconds and the two went virtually bite-for-bite the rest of the way. In the end, it seemed Kobayashi had come out on top but a two burger deduction by officials put him one behind Bertoletti and into third place overall.
Watch the action unfold in the video below or on YouTube here.
It pays to be the Krystal Square Off V champ, with Joey Chestnut earning $20,000 for his victory on Sunday.
Hailed as the Super Bowl of competitive eating, the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship annually fields the finest eaters in the world who all have one thing on their minds: winning the title. And while it is the championship belt and trophy they’re after, the prize money always makes a victory taste sweeter, and at Krystal Square Off V yesterday, even a defeat tasted pretty darn good.
A total of $50,000 in prize money was awarded to the 12 gurgitators, making it the largest cash purse in competitive eating history. Joey Chestnut was of course the biggest winner of the bunch, pocketing his largest cash payday ever, $20,000. Pat Bertoletti also earned the biggest prize of his career, taking away $10,000 for his runner-up finish. And even the last place finisher, Kyle Brogdon, who joined the finalist on stage at the very last minute thanks to winning The 12th Eater contest, earned a cool $500.
Below are the official payouts for the 12 finalists:
Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, San Jose, Calif. (93 Krystals) - $20,000
Pat “Deep Dish” Bertoletti, Chicago, Ill., (85 Krystals) - $10,000
Takeru Kobayashi, Tokyo, Japan, (84 Krystals) - $5,000
“Humble” Bob Shoudt, Philadelphia, Pa. (76 Krystals) - $3,000
Tim “Eater X” Janus, New York, N.Y. (64 Krystals) - $2,500
Hall “Hoover” Hunt, Jacksonville, Fla. (63 Krystals) - $2,000
Juliet “The Lovely” Lee, Germantown, Md. (55 Krystals) - $1,850
Crazy Legs Conti, New York, N.Y. (49 Krystals) - $1,500
Rich “The Locust” LeFevre, Henderson, Nev. (47 Krystals) - $1,400
Juris “Dr. Bigtime” Shibayama, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (43 Krystals) - $1,250
Eric “Badlands” Booker, Long Island, N.Y. (41 Krystals) - $1,000
Chestnut is king of the Krystal as he defends his reign today against Takeru Kobayashi and all of the world's best gurgitators at the Krystal Square Off V World Hamburger Eating Championship.
American eating sensation Joey Chestnut retained his hamburger eating title today at the Krystal Square Off V World Hamburger Eating Championship in Chattanooga, Tenn. The 24-year-old from San Jose, Calif. downed 93 Krystal hamburgers in eight minutes, ten shy of his world record mark set at last year’s championship.
Billed as the highly anticipated rematch between Chestnut, the No.1-ranked eater in the world, and Japan’s speed-eating legend Takeru Kobayashi, the contest quickly became a one-man show as Chestnut jumped out to an early lead and never looked back as a crowd of 10,000 cheered him on in downtown Chattanooga.
Kobayashi, a three-time Krystal Square Off winner who missed last year’s championship due to a jaw injury, finished in a disappointing third place, eating just 84 Krystals, 13 less than he ate when he won Krystal Square Off III in 2006. Twenty-three-year-old rising star Patrick “Deep Dish” Bertoletti was the second-place spoiler, out-eating Kobayashi by just one Krystal.
Competitive eater Humble Bob Shoudt finds time to give a quick interview while waiting for his shuttle to the Krystal Square Off.
The lobby of the Sheraton Read House hotel in Chattanooga, TN, is a hive of activity at the moment as competitive eaters start working their way down to catch a shuttle to Ross’s Landing for the Krystal Square Off V. While hanging around, the eaters have found some time to get in some last minute preparations and media opportunities.
We spotted Humble Bob Shoudt out in the lobby giving a quick interview. Juris Shibayama was mingling with friends and family, and Pat Bertoletti was seen in Starbucks filling up his cooler with boiling water, which he hopes will be the perfect dipping temperature by the time he gets up on stage in about three hours.
All the eaters had to have their stage needs in their bins by 11:45, so what is done is done at this moment. The shuttle leaves at 12:15 to ferry the eaters down to the where they will meet up with the grand entrance cavalcade, the details of which still remain secret.
The competitive eater's bins are packed and ready for the trip down to the Riverfront, awaiting their opening on stage.
The KSO blog crew will be on hand to reveal the secret of the eater’s grand entrance and to provide posts and instant Twitter updates throughout this afternoon as we get closer to the big event. So, stay tuned and make sure to bookmark us and come back often.
Takeru Kobayashi was looking relaxed and confident during a TV interview yesterday at the Krystal restaurant on Broad Street in Chattanooga.
Wearing a Krystal Square Off V “staff” shirt and a Gringo Bandito Hot Sauce trucker cap given to him by The Offspring’s Dexter Holland, a relaxed and confidentTakeru Kobayashistopped by the Krystal restaurant on Broad Street in Chattanooga yesterday to sign autographs and get a behind-the-scenes look at how Krystals are prepared.
The three-time hamburger world champ also sat down for an interview with local CBS affiliate, WDEF-TV, and had a terse message for last year’s champ Joey Chestnut.
Chestnut, who flew into Atlanta from San Jose, Calif. last night and drove the 115-plus miles to Chattanooga, was up and at ‘em this morning, doing two interviews with WDEF starting at 6:00 a.m. (that’s 3:00 a.m. for the west coast eater). The speed-eating sensation is now off to a lunchtime interview with Don Welch on WTVC, the local ABC affiliate, and then the two eaters will meet up for the first time in Chattanooga since 2006 at today’s press conference at 2:30 p.m.
Follow today’s events on Twitter. Sign-up to “follow” us by clicking here.
By the way, here’s a little known Krystal Square Off fact that we learned yesterday. One grill is capable of steaming a maximum of 24 Krystal hamburgers (aka a “Steamer Pack), and it takes a total of eight minutes to fully prepare and cook all 24 Krystals. So, when you do the math, Chestnut and Kobayashi can consume more than four times as many Krystal hamburgers as Krystal can cook in the same amount of time. They could also devour one Steamer Pack in about 1/8th the time it would take to prepare them.
Want a shot at Chestnut and Kobayashi? Sign-up to be The 12th Eater at Sunday’s Krystal Square Off V and win at least $500.
UPDATE: WDEF-TV has posted a video of today’s news story on the match-up between Chestnut and Kobayashi at Krystal Square Off V. Noon anchor Joe Legge, who won this year’s kick-off media contest, presents the piece which includes interviews with both eaters, footage of Kobayashi at a local Krystal and footage from Krystal Square Off III and IV. Watch it here.
Autograph Alley at the Krystal Square Off gives competitive eating fans a chance to meet their favorite pro eaters.
We’re still around 50 hours from the start of the Krystal Square Off V World Hamburger Eating Championship, but the fun and festivities officially get underway today with the eaters’ press conference at 2:30 p.m. and activities will be held throughout the weekend to get you ready for Sunday’s big event. To make sure you have all the details on this weekend’s happenings, we’ve put together the guide below. All events are free and open to the public.
Also, be sure to follow the action on the Krystal Square Off Twitter feed. Sign up and “follow” us to get messages delivered directly to your cell phone or email.
Friday, September 26 -
2:30 p.m. - Press Conference @ Ross’s Landing - The top ranked eaters in the world, including Joey Chestnutand Takeru Kobayashi, will meet face-to-face for the official pre-contest press conference. This is Kobayashi’s first time in Chattanooga since he won Krystal Square Off III in 2006 and the first face-to-face meeting between Chestnut and Kobayashi on American soil since July 4’s hot dog eating championship in Coney Island.
Saturday, September 27 -
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. - Autograph Signing @ Krystal in Hixson, Tenn. - The world’s greatest eaters will be at the Krystal in Hixson signing autographs and taking photos with fans including, Takeru Kobayashi, Joey Chestnut, Pat Bertoletti, Humble Bob Shoudt and others. Plus, in addition to meeting these eating superstars, you can fill-up for free as the restaurant will be giving away free samples of various menu items as a part of it’s “Sample Saturday” series.
Sunday, September 28 -
9:00 a.m. - Krystal Square Off V Bicycle Poker Run begins. For more information, click here.
Noon - Krystal Square Off V Tailgating Party and Fan Fest begins at Ross’s Landing at the Chattanooga Riverfront. This year’s Fan Fest includes: Carnival Games, Free Krystal Burgers, Parade of Eaters, Autograph Alley with the eaters and The Marshall Tucker Band will take the stage.
* Also, don’t forget - registration for the Sackful Challenge and the spot of the 12th Eater will take place between noon and 1:00 p.m. This is your shot to take the stage and show your stuff - oh, and you’ll do it on live television!
2:00 p.m. - FSN South televised coverage begins and kicks off with the Sackful Challenge. Immediately following, the official 2008 Krystal Square Off V World Hamburger Eating Championship will take place.
Joey Chestnut on his way to winning Krystal Square Off IV in 2007. His victory earned him an automatic seat at this year's championship.
Being the defending Krystal Square Off champ has it disadvantages.
In an interview with The University Echo, the 2007 Krystal Square Off winner Joey Chestnut said that by not having to qualify for this year’s final he doesn’t know exactly what to expect this Sunday in Chattanooga when he defends his title against three-time KSO champion Takeru Kobayashi and nine other eaters, including the No. 2-ranked gurgitator in the world Pat Bertoletti and last year’s runner-up Humble Bob Shoudt.
When asked if he will break his record of 103 Krystals in eight minutes, Chestnut said:
“It’s possible. Quite possible. I don’t know because I didn’t have to qualify, so I haven’t eaten real Krystals in a while. It’s tough when you don’t have to qualify for a contest as big as the Krystal Square Off Finals, because there’s a lingering doubt that you’re not fully prepared.”
A confident Kobayashi told the same reporter, “I definitely can break the record, and I could have done it two years ago.” In 2006, Kobayashi defeated Chestnut by downing 97 Krystals. It was the Japanese eater’s third consecutive win in Chattanooga.
While Chestnut has not had his legendary jaws chomp down on a Krystal since 2007, Kobayashi has had the advantage of being in Krystal country for a full week now and rumor is he’s been ordering 100 Krystals at a time in Atlanta-area Krystal restaurants. Last week, just 24 hours before eating 89 Krystals at the Birmingham qualifier, Kobayashi had consumed 100 Krystals in under eight minutes in his hotel room.
So tell us what you think: Will Chestnut’s year-long hiatus from the small, square hamburger hurt his chances this Sunday or will the defending champ rise to the occasion and extend his reign over Kobayashi?
Finally there's a game that level's the playing field between you and Japan's Takeru Kobayashi.
Want to know how you can beat three-time world hamburger-eating championTakeru Kobayashi in a competitive eating contest? Challenge him to a game of Major League Eating: The Game on Wii.
The 30-year-old legendary gurgitator from Japan has been in Atlanta all week ahead of this Sunday’s Krystal Square Off V World Hamburger Eating Championship in Chattanooga, and while he has spent most of his time doing 100-Krystal burger training runs in preparation for his rematch against Joey Chestnut, he stopped by the Wicked PR office in Atlanta yesterday and took a stab at some virtual speed eating.
So how did he do? Let’s just say he’s much, much better at the real thing. Of course it was the first time he’s tried the popular new Wii game, and it probably would have helped if someone could explain to him in Japanese how to play rather than blurt out instructions in English as he played. Come to think of it, give Kobayashi some time and he’ll probably master it. He did in fact invent half the maneuvers you simulate during the game.
Check out the video below of Kobayashi virtually chewing, cramming and belching his way in match-up between Crazy Legs Conti and Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas. He’s playing Crazy Legs. And be sure to catch Kobayashi, Chestnut and all of competitive eating’s best as they face off at Krystal Square Off V on FSN South at 2:00 p.m. this Sunday.
Sonya Thomas seen above competing at Krystal Square Off III. For the first time ever, she will not be competing in the Krystal Square Off finals.
While Sonya Thomas has sadly been sidelined from competing at the Krystal Square V World Hamburger Eating Championship, that hasn’t stopped her from chiming in with a prediction on Sunday’s big event, where the top competitive eaters from around the world will battle it out in Chattanooga for the top hamburger title and a $50,000 cash purse.
Just yesterday on her popular website, the Black Widow commented:
“I expect both Koby and Joey to eat over 100 Krystals in the Finals, and a new World Record to be established. It will truly be something to witness, almost to the point that some of the other participants will almost be inclined to put down their Krystals and stop eating, just to witness the drama between these two best eaters in the world. (Of course, given the money at stake, everyone will keep eating to the end, I’m sure.)”
Thomas has never shied away from prognosticating on eating competitions, especially the Krystal Square Off. During our podcast interview with her earlier this month, the world’s No. 1 female eater predicted that the top number this year at Krystal Square Off V would be in the 105-110 range. Considering Joey Chestnut did 103 last year and Takeru Kobayashi is reportedly putting away 100 in under eight minutes during his practices this week, she may be spot on.
Takeru Kobayashi barely broke a sweat in Birmingham as he gobbled up 89 Krystals in eight minutes.
Takeru Kobayashi put on a competitive eating clinic this past Saturday as he effortlessly downed 89 Krystal hamburgers in eight minutes at the Birmingham Krystal Square Off V Qualifier. This, by the way, was a day after he casually devoured 100 Krystals in less than eight minutes in his Birmingham hotel room.
Watch his performance from start to finish below, and if you’re one of the eaters going up against him this Sunday in Chattanooga at the Krystal Square Off V World Hamburger Eating Championship, you may want to take some notes.
