Tim “Eater X” Janus Takes Trophy at KSO VI Knoxville Qualifier

Knoxville's "Fairest of the Fair" pageant winner Tori Martin congratulates Tim "Eater X" Janus on his Krystal Square Off Qualifying win.

The rain stopped and clouds began to part just as eaters took the stage yesterday afternoon at the Tennessee Valley Fair in Knoxville for the last eight-minute eating contest of the Krystal Square Off VI Qualifying Tour. The man behind the mask, Tim “Eater X” Janus, took home the trophy with 30 Krystals and 5 Big Angus Burgers for a total of 55 Krystal Burger Points.

After receiving a deduction of 2 Krystal Burgers, Juliet “The Lovely” Lee finished in second place with a controversial 49 Krystal Burger Points. Eaters were required to swallow all food in their mouths within 30 seconds after the time stopped, but Lee was not able to get the last few Krystals down. Therefore, judges decided that the 2 burger deduction was fair. However, Lee was not in agreement, especially since her original 51 Krystal Burger count would have put her in second for a Wild Card spot, which has now been secured by Jim “Buffalo” Reeves.

Janus’ win earns him a seat at the Krystal Square Off VI World Hamburger Eating Championship in Chattanooga this Sunday, Sept. 27, where he will compete against the great Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi and more for a piece of the $50,000 cash purse. Stay tuned for more updates about the KSO VI finals and the 11 finalists who will make their way down for the main event.

Knoxville Qualifier results below:

• Tim “Eater X” Janus – 30 Krystals, 5 Big Angus = 55 Krystal Burger Points
• Juliet “The Lovely” Lee – 26-2 Krystals, 5 Big Angus = 49 Krystal Burger Points
• Micah Collins – 17 Krystals, 5 Big Angus = 42 Krystal Burger Points
• “Nasty” Nate Biller – 17 Krystals, 5 Big Angus = 42 Krystal Burger Points
• Russell Keeler – 16 Krystals, 5 Big Angus = 41 Krystal Burger Points
• Erik Unger – 15 Krystals, 5 Big Angus = 40 Krystal Burger Points
• “Crazy Legs” Conti – 15 Krystals, 5 Big Angus = 40 Krystal Burger Points
• Anthony Reganato – 13 Krystals, 5 Big Angus = 38 Krystal Burger Points
• David Solomon – 10 Krystals, 5 Big Angus = 35 Krystal Burger Points
• “Wild” Bill Myers – 6 Krystals, 5 Big Angus = 31 Krystal Burger Points
• Tony Canada – 11 Krystals, 4 Big Angus = 31 Krystal Burger Points
• Larry Elkins – 4 Krystals, 4 Big Angus = 24 Krystal Burger Points
• Thomas Liplin – 11 Krystals, 2 Big Angus = 21 Krystal Burger Points

Tim “Gravy” Brown Pulls Out The Win At KSO VI Nashville Qualifier

Tim "Gravy" Brown took first place at the KSO VI Nashville Qualifier with 54 Krystal Burger Points. Maybe it was the gold jacket that gave him the extra edge over the competition.

Folks watching the Krystal Square Off VI Nashville Qualifier this past Saturday experienced the closest qualifying competition for the World Hamburger Eating Championship yet. While Erik “The Red” Denmark, “Crazy Legs” Conti and plenty of other top-rate competitors showed up to chow down, in the end Tim “Gravy” Brown ate his way to the top with 54 Krystal Burger Points to advance on as a finalist in the Krystal Square Off Championship taking place in downtown Chattanooga on Sept. 27.

Having also competed at San Antonio in late August, Nashville was the second Qualifier for Erik “The Red” Denmark. Unsure if his first Krystal Burger Point total of 55 would keep him in the lead for a Wild Card spot, Denmark felt the trip down South was necessary. And although finishing at the Nashville Qualifier with a lower tally of 52 Krystal Burger Points was disappointing, it stands as the second highest total for the Wild Card race (although he can only hold one spot); thus confirming that Denmark will be a major contender at the finals.

Coming in at third place was 15th-ranked eater in the world, Jim Reeves, who was very satisfied with his 50 Krystal Burger Points, as the score put him in second for the Wild Card race behind Denmark. Finishing in the 5th and 6th place spots, “Nasty” Nate Biller, “Crazy Legs” Conti (who both tied) and Russell Keeler all plan to compete in the Knoxville Qualifier as well with hopes to knock Reeves out and put themselves in the running for a Wild Card seat.

For a full list of eater totals, see below:

• Tim “Gravy” Brown – 54 Krystal Burger Points
• Erik “The Red” Denmark – 52 Krystal Burger Points
• Jim “Buffalo” Reeves – 50 Krystal Burger Points
• Ben Taylor – 47 Krystal Burger Points
• “Nasty” Nate Biller – 45 Krystal Burger Points
• “Crazy Legs” Conti – 45 Krystal Burger Points
• Russell Keeler – 39 Krystal Burger Points
• Bryan Beard – 36 Krystal Burger Points
• “Wild” Bill Myers – 33 Krystal Burger Points
• David Solomon – 32 Krystal Burger Points
• Pete Klasky – 19 Krystal Burger Points
• Randall Lance – 13 Krystal Burger Points

Video and Photos of Atlanta Krystal Square Off V Qualifier

It was a thrilling contest in Atlanta this past Saturday as a huge crowd came out to Lenox Square Mall to witness the latest Krystal Square Off V Qualifier. In action were some of the biggest names from the sport of competitive eating including Pat Bertoletti, Tim “Gravy” Brown, “Buffalo” Jim Reeves, Eric “Steakbellie” Livingston, Allen “Shredder” Goldstein, Micah “Wing Kong” Collins, Beautiful Brian and Super Paul Barlow.  

If you missed the contest, we now have the full video of the eight minute contest, which you can view below or on YouTube here. Watch as Bertoletti cruises to victory and Brown and Reeves struggle to put down big enough numbers to earn them a wild card birth in the finals on Sept. 28. 

Also we have just posted more than 100 photos from the contest. Check those out here.

Krystal Square Off V – Atlanta Qualifier

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.