Krystal Square Off VI World Hamburger Eating Championship Weekend Guide

Among the "KrystalFest" activities includes the Boat Parade of Competitive Eaters. Seen here at the KSO V, Chestnut, Eater X, Humble Bob and more showed their excitement as they pulled into shore.

With only three days left until the main event, the countdown is officially on to see who will take home the honor, the eminence and all the glory of what it is to be the Krystal Square Off VI Champion. And while the showdown between Joey Chestnut, Takeru Kobayashi, Patrick Bertoletti and all the best eaters is what you’ve all been waiting for, there is much more to come leading up to the main event to help satiate your appetite until Sunday, Sept. 27 at 2 p.m.

The Krystal Square Off VI list of weekend events will also include the World Hamburger Eating Championship Official Press Conference, the “KrystalFest” Tailgating Party, an amateur eating contest and much more. All events will take place at Chattanooga’s 21st Century Waterfront (Ross’s Landing) and are free and open to the public.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 25

2:30 p.m. – Press Conference at Ross’s Landing: For those that need a refresher course from the pros on the biggest competitive eating competition this side of the Mason-Dixon line, head on down to the Krystal Square Off VI World Hamburger Eating Championship Official Press Conference. There, the top three ranked eaters in the world, Joey Chestnut, Patrick Bertoletti and Takeru Kobayashi, will meet face-to-face for the official pre-contest press conference and photo opportunity. These top gurgitators will make predictions, talk about the new rules and discuss their strategies for winning competitive eating’s most coveted title, its $20,000 cash prize and bragging rights for establishing a new world-record in front of a live audience of 10,000 people.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 27

9:00 a.m. - Krystal Square Off VI Bicycle Poker Run begins.

Noon – 2 p.m. – “KrystalFest” Tailgating Party: Come get your grub, game, and groove on with Krystal as they close in on one of the biggest sports competitions in the world. Activities include:

- Free Krystal Burgers and Krystal Blitz Energy Drink to first 1,000 people
- Carnival games for kids, balloons, Krystal prize giveaways and more
- Live music from 38 Special’s Jeff Carlisi and The Hold On Bruce Lees
- Boat Parade of Competitive Eaters and a stop by Autograph Alley to sign autographs for spectators.
- Registration and Drawing for 12th Man Contest. Must be 18+ and have valid photo ID.
- Registration and Drawing for Sackful Challenge Teams. Must be 18+ and have valid photo ID.

2 – 3:00 p.m. – Krystal Square Off VI World Hamburger Eating Championship

- SportSouth Live broadcast begins
- 2-minute Sackful Challenge with four teams of two eaters competing to win $100 each.
- Introduction of eaters by George Shea, Chairman of the IFOCE
- 8-minute Krystal Square Off VI World Championship Final
- Award Presentations

Crazy Legs Conti Talks Krystal Before The KSO VI Nashville Qualifier

Crazy Legs Conti shares his strategy for the KSO VI Qualifiers and hopes he has what it takes to make it back to the Final Table this year.

If we learned anything from the Q&A below with “Crazy Legs” Conti, it’s that he’s got a passion for two things: Krystal Burgers and everything Southern. Conti also talked about the new Krystal Square Off rules, preparations for the Nashville and Knoxville Qualifiers, the power of KSO’s yellow “Future Champion” t-shirt and much more. Check out the details below…

How has your training been for this year’s Krystal Square Off? Trying out any new techniques?

Training? What training? I’m a foolish Northerner that chooses to live outside Krystal country. My love of the Southern slider and Southern women is well documented. If I had any sense at all, I’d move to New Orleans to be in Krystal country. Harold and Kumar must have been high…if they had been thinking straight; they would have gone to a Krystal. I didn’t even compete in Krystal Square Off I because all the big talking Northern eaters headed South and lost to Southerners weaned on Krystal. I was scared. I admit it. I’m not anymore. I’ve learned to embrace the Krystal as a pro-eater and as a casual diner. I know you’ll have plenty of Krystal Blitzes standing by, but can I get a Milkquake for dessert?

Who do you think the new rules give an advantage to?

Super Paul Bonebreaker Barlow. He has been trying for years to get past his personal best of 24. This year he ate five Big Angus burgers in eight minutes and got to 25 points. The man shattered his personal best. I wish I could have been there.

What is your goal for this year’s KSO VI?

Same as every year – simply make the final table. Last year, I only made it to the finals due to the generosity of Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas. This year for me is going to be even tougher. I have been watching “Breaking Away” every night in preparation.

You’ve seen the Krystal Square Off grow from taking place in a mall parking lot in front of a few hundred people to drawing more than 10,000 spectators to downtown Chattanooga and a live TV audience. What do you attribute the KSO’s success to?

I am fortunate to have eight years of pro-eating perspective. I’ve seen sponsors come and go. A sponsor that is in it for the long game is always going to come out ahead. Longevity, increased prize money, and endearing oneself to the eaters always lead to success. Krystal does too much for the eaters…the rock star treatment we get whether we are eating in just one qualifier or the final is wonderful. The gear is cool. The Hall of Fame is cool. I’m wearing a Krystal hat and Krystal watch right now because year round I am thankful for the opportunity to compete in the hamburger circuit. The most fun is interacting with fans, signing stuff, and talking Krystal. But if I had to attribute the Square Off success to just one thing it would be the yellow shirt that reads “Future Champion”. A generation of Krystal Champions is coming…

You’re set to compete in two qualifiers this weekend. What’s your thinking behind that other than getting to eat more Krystals?

This is the Krystal Square Off Blog so I figure this where Krystal lovers and true MLE insiders come for the truth. I’ll give you my thought process as I am prepping for Nashville on Saturday and Knoxville on Sunday.  My best shot at making the finals is Saturday in Nashville. Gravy Brown, Buffalo Jim Reeves and I are pretty evenly matched. If Krystal ever goes Pay-for-View, I’d lay down $33 bucks to see that match-up. If I lose Saturday, I’ll be crying in Wild Bill’s back seat the whole ride from Nashville to Knoxville. My road to the finals on Sunday is a lot tougher. Look at the Sunday table in Knoxville. Eater X is winning with a high number, leaving one wild card spot (assuming Eric The Red’s 55 holds up). Wing Kong is trying to avenge his cheesesteak injustice against Juliet Lee. Juliet Lee is trying to silence the debris critics and put up a personal best. Denmark might fly redeye and show up if Nashville numbers are not to his liking. Nasty Nate could be a wild card spoiler. Wild Bill will get a PB, but be exhausted from driving a million miles. That’s a stacked table. Eight minutes of agony leading to a winner and two wild card spots. Everyone eating for the glory of making the finals! Think of the Knoxville fans trying to do the math in their heads. Think of poor Kenny Hammontree trying to make sure every bite, chew, and swallow is legal. Think of the MLE MC urging the crowd on. Think of me, channeling Dennis Christopher’s Dave in “Breaking Away”. The closing seconds of the Knoxville qualifier is going to a moment that every athlete strives to be a part of. I guarantee a bun buzzer beater. No matter what happens it’s going to be an awesome moment in Krystal history.

How would you handicap this year’s championship?

I can tell you right now exactly what is going to happen. It’s not going to matter who wins. It’s not going to matter who splits the $50,000 in prize money. What is going to matter is that the banks of the Chattanooga River will be overflowing with joy…and Krystal Blitz.

Erik “The Red” Denmark Leads Krystal Square Off VI Wild Card Race

Erik "The Red" Denmark downed a total of 5 Big Angus Burgers and 30 Krystals at the San Antonio Qualifier to grab the current first place spot in the KSO VI Wild Card Race.

With the Chattanooga, San Antonio and Jacksonville Qualifiers already completed, the Krystal Square Off VI wild card race is in full force and getting even more intense with the two upcoming competitions this Saturday and Sunday in Birmingham and Atlanta.

Currently, Erik “The Red” Denmark, who won second place at the San Antonio Qualifier with a total of 55 Krystal Burger Points, leads the Wild Card contenders. The unranked amateur Jon Bello, who finished second at the Jacksonville Qualifier with 36 Krystal Burger Points, is second.

The professional eaters that are tentatively scheduled for this weekend include 5th-ranked Humble Bob Shoudt, 11th-ranked Eric “Badlands” Booker, 17th-ranked Micah Collins, 22nd-ranked Eric Livingston, 31st-ranked Kevin Ross and 38th-ranked Super Paul Barlow. These competitors will all be throwing back as many Krystal Burgers and Big Angus Burgers as possible in hopes of guaranteeing themselves a seat with a win or at least putting up a big enough score to grab one of the two Wild Card spots.

The Krystal Square Off VI World Hamburger Eating Championship will feature 12 finalists on Sept. 27 in Chattanooga. Seven of the 12 spots will consist of winners from the Qualifying tour. Joey Chestnut, as defending champ, earns an automatic seat to the final in Chattanooga. As three-time world champ of the Krystal Square Off, Takeru Kobayashi has earned a Krystal Blitz sponsor’s exemption giving him an automatic seat at the final table. Two “Wild Card” spots will go to the two best scores posted by eaters who did not win a Qualifier. Finally, the 12th spot will go to a competitive eating fan picked from the crowd on Sept. 27.

For a list of remaining Krystal Square Off VI Qualifiers, go here. Don’t forget to follow @ksquareoff on Twitter for the most up-to-date KSO news.

Video Spotlight: Patrick Bertoletti Wins Chattanooga Qualifier

Bertoletti stands proud after the Chattanooga Qualifier with his new trophy and impressive 67 Krystal Burger Point Total.

The August heat always makes for a challenging competition, but Patrick Bertoletti managed to fight through the sweat and come out ahead with a total of 67 Krystal Burger Points (42 Krystals and 5 Big Angus Burgers in 8 minutes). Who knows, maybe it was Bertoletti’s combination of water and the Krystal Blitz Energy Drink that gave him that fighting edge to put him on top. Do we see a new permanent “red drink” in his future?

Based on his final words in the video below, we think this performance was just the confidence boost he needed to give Joey Chestnut a run for his money at the championship. After all, no one knows how the new rules will affect the other eaters, but for now, Bertoletti can breath easy knowing his Qualifying score was enough to secure a seat at the final table. And although being first to compete in the Qualifying rounds has its drawbacks, it also has a few perks. One of those being that Bertoletti will have the opportunity to examine each of the pros’ eating strategies as they try to match or beat his five Big Angus Burgers and 42 Krystals in eight minutes. It will definitely be the most compelling and exciting KSO seasons yet.

To see Bertoletti in action, check out the video below.

For more coverage on the Chattanooga Qualifier this past Saturday, click to read the following links:

• Krystal Square Off VI Opening Ceremony Is Friday – The Chattanoogan
• Krystal Square Off Season Returns – WDEF News 12
• Seth Baxter Wins Media Krystal Square Off – WRCB TV
• Photos of The Krystal Square Off – The Chattanoogan
• Eaters Digest New Rules at Krystal Square Off – Times Free Press

Remember, for the most current Krystal Square Off news and live event coverage, follow us on Twitter @ksquareoff.