FSN South To Televise Krystal Square Off V Finals Live on September 28

The Krystal Company and FSN South have inked a broadcast partnership for the Krystal Square Off V.

Details of the deal include the sports network broadcasting live from the final championship event in Chattanooga on September 28. The special, one-hour broadcast will air beginning at 2:00 p.m.

In addition to the live event broadcast, FSN South will also air weekly updates covering the seven-city qualifying tour beginning Aug. 23.

For more information about the partnership, check out the press release here.

KSOV Podcast: Interview with Humble Bob Shoudt

Competitive eater Humble Bob Shoudt is looking to cruise to victory this Saturday in Chattanooga.

When it comes to the Krystal Square Off V World Hamburger Eating Championship, talk is cheap. The only thing that matters is who puts away the most Krystals by the time the clock strikes 8 minutes.

With that said, what competitive eaters have to say along the tour is often priceless, and for this reason alone, krystalsquareoff.com is introducing a regular series of audio podcasts featuring your favorite eaters talking trash, squashing (or starting) rumors and sharing their perspectives on anything and everything in the world of competitive eating.

Today, we’re getting things started with “Humble” Bob Shoudt, who will seek to earn a birth to this year’s final at the kick off qualifier this Saturday. During our interview, Shoudt proves less-than-humble about his chances to win it all this year and shares why he considers the Krystal Square Off “better than the Olympics.” He also let’s us know what we can expect from him Saturday (may not be the century mark, as we mentioned), whether he’s in it for the money and who he thinks will be joining him in the top three at this year’s championship.

Click below to listen to the audio interview.

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Sonya Thomas Absence Has Competitive Eating Fans Guessing

After dominating the Chattanooga Qualifer the past 4 years, Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas will be a surprising no show this Saturday.

The notable absence of Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas from the list of competitors confirmed for this weekend’s qualifier in Chattanooga has had competitive eating fans wondering whether the number-one ranked female eater in the world is done with the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship.

Thomas has dominated the lead off qualifier for the past four years, even out-chowing Joey Chestnut in 2005, and has become a fan favorite on Krystal’s home turf of Chattanooga. But the Black Widow hasn’t been able to improve upon her personal record of 62 Krystals, which she did at the Chatty qualifier in 2006, and with the best of the bunch now at or near the century mark, some are thinking she’s given up on battling the boys for the top burger title.

Well, don’t count Thomas out so fast.

We’re getting word today that she may be heading to the Jacksonville Qualifier this Labor Day. And if she did, Thomas, who feels she’s at the top of her game now, would be giving J-ville’s hometown hero Hall “Hoover” Hunt a serious run for his money. Last year Hall cruised to victory down on the Landing by eating 49 Krystals, and he went on to eat 52 at last year’s finals for his personal best. But if Thomas shows, even his best may not be enough to earn one of the coveted seats at the final table in Chattanooga on September 28.

KrystalSquareOff.com will have a confirmed list of Jacksonville competitors by early-to-mid next week so stay tuned here for the latest.

Humble Bob Eyes Century Mark at Chatty Krystal Square Off Qualifier

Humble Bob looks to improve upon his previous mark of 95 Krystals at the kick off qualifer this Saturday.

We can confirm that “Humble” Bob Shoudt, the number-five ranked competitive eater in the world, will compete in the kick-off Krystal Square Off V qualifier this Saturday in Chattanooga.

And rumor is he’s planning to throw down the gauntlet with at least 100 Krystals in eight minutes.

Shoudt’s personal best is 95 Krystals in 8 minutes, which won him the bittersweet title of runner-up at last year’s World Hamburger Eating Championship after losing to Joey Chestnut’s world-record breaking 103 Krystals.

Shoudt is the clear favorite to win this first of seven regional qualifiers. He’ll go head-to-head against a total of 12 eaters, including SuperPaul Barlow (ranked 37th), Larry McNeil (ranked 38th) and five amateur hopefuls who will be selected on the spot.

While we know Shoudt is focused on winning Krystal Square Off V, which he recently proclaimed the “Super Bowl of competitive eating” and an event “bigger than the Olympics”, we’ll have to see if his eyes are bigger than his stomach when it comes to eating 100 Krystals or more.

We’re also a bit curious as to whether the ribs he devoured this past weekend in the Ash Creek Saloon contest to claim his first-ever victory over Chestnut will still be sticking to his bones, affecting his gurgitating greatness. Shoudt ate 6.8 lbs of ribs in 12 minutes to Chestnut’s 6.6 lbs.

Shoudt’s quest for the century mark and a coveted seat at the Krystal Square Off V World Hamburger Eating Championship final table will kick off at 3:00 p.m. on the Main Stage of the Southern Brewer’s Festival at the Chattanooga Riverfront.

We recommend arriving early to claim your ground in the front row if you want to witness this possible history in the making, or you can stay tuned here at krystalsquareoff.com, as we’ll post all the results.

Below is a complete list of eater’s set to compete in the Chattanooga Qualifier on Saturday:

“Humble” Bob Shoudt
Larry McNeil
Steve Spinosa
Rick Schumacher
Rick Petralia
SuperPaul Barlow
Mike Nafziger
Brian Smith
+ 5 amateurs chosen on the spot

Krystal Square Off V Announces Largest Cash Purse In Competitive Eating History

Top competitive eaters will battle for some serious cash at this year's final.

When the very best from the sport of eating descend upon Chattanooga for the Krystal Square Off V World Hamburger Eating Championship on Sept. 28, 2008, it will be more than just the title on the line. Top-ranked eaters such as Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi will also battle for some serious money as The Krystal Company announced today that it will award an unprecedented $50,000 in cash prizes, making it the largest cash purse in competitive eating history.

The winner this year will receive $20,000 in cash, twice the amount Chestnut took home in 2007 when he shocked a live audience of 10,000 by eating an unfathomable 103 Krystal Hamburgers in eight minutes. Chestnut’s mark last year shattered Takeru Kobayashi’s previous world record of 97.

The runner-up at Krystal Square Off V will take home a paycheck of $10,000, while third place will leave Chattanooga $5,000 richer. On the line for the remaining finalists are the following payouts: 4th - $3,000; 5th - $2,500; 6th - $2,000; 7th - $1,850; 8th - $1,500; 9th - $1,400; 10th - $1,250; 11th - $1,000; 12th - $500.

A seven-city qualifying circuit for Krystal Square Off V kicks off in Chattanooga with an opening ceremony on Aug. 22 followed by an eight-minute contest on Aug. 23. From there, the circuit journeys through six more cities with the winner of each regional qualifier awarded a seat to the World Championship in Chattanooga. Three wild card spots to the final will also be awarded based on performances in the regional qualifiers.

For complete details click here for press release.

Joey Chestnut talks Krystal Square Off V with Times Free Press

Competitive eating champ Joey Chestnut says he is in it to win it.

Joey Chestnut, the reigning Krystal Square Off champion and world record holder, recently spoke with the Times Free Press about the upcoming KSO V. In the interview, Chestnut says he competes purely for the “thrill of the competition”. He also has some pretty stinging words about his competitor Takeru Kobayashi, the 2004, 2005 and 2006 Krystal Square Off champion, saying, “I guess, if his pride is located in his jaw, it was hurting pretty bad,” referring to Kobayashi’s withdrawal from the 2007 KSO due to a jaw injury.

Joey Chestnut also discusses his strict training regimen, which you can hear him discuss by clicking here.

The Times Free Press also spoke with “Humble” Bob Shoudt about his predicitions for this year’s KSO and how he thinks ameatuers will fair in the compeition. Click here to listen to the “Humble” Bob audio.

And don’t forget to check back for the latest Krystal Square Off news and information.

Krystal Square Off V Qualifying Tour Announced

Competitive eaters will battle in 7 cities for a spot at the championship table on Sept. 28.

The road to the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship will journey through seven cities this August and September, giving amateur hopefuls the chance to put their money where their mouth is against the world’s best as they compete for a spot at the World Championship in Chattanooga on Sept. 28.

The regional qualifying gets underway August 23 in Chattanooga with an opening ceremony and eight minute eating contest. From there, the tour heads to six more cities across the South, including Jacksonville, Atlanta, Nashville, Knoxville, Birmingham, and Memphis.

For the complete KSO V schedule, including dates and cities, click here

For the press release announcing the KSO V tour schedule, click here