Big Changes Announced For Krystal Square Off VI World Hamburger Eating Championship

With the introduction of Big Angus Burgers and a "No Dunking Rule," two-time defending champ Joey Chestnut will have to rethink his strategy at this year's World Hamburger Eating Championship.

The Krystal Company is shaking up the sport of competitive eating with two new rule changes that will drastically alter the face of the competition at this year’s Krystal Square Off VI World Hamburger Eating Championship and make this year’s event the most thrilling and talked about contest in Major League Eating history.

Click here to watch the video of Brad Wahl, The Krystal Company’s vice president of marketing, announcing the major changes.

Click “More” below to read about the two new rule changes.

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Date Announced for the 2009 World Hamburger Eating Championship

Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi at the 2008 Krystal Square Off

Krystal Square Off VI World Hamburger Eating Championship Slated for September 27, 2009

Two New Rule Changes to Come

The world’s top competitive eaters now know when they’ll square off for the title of World Hamburger Eating Champion, but what they may not know is that some major changes are in the works.

Announced today, the Krystal Square Off VI World Hamburger Eating Championship will be held on September 27, 2009. The championship event, which last year featured the largest cash purse in competitive eating history and saw Joey Chestnut repeat as champion while Takeru Kobayashi finished in a disappointing third, will once again be held along the banks of the Tennessee River in downtown Chattanooga, Tenn.

It has been speculated by many on the circuit that Krystal has been scrutinizing the Krystal Square Off rules during the off-season, and Krystal can confirm today that two new major rule changes will be introduced prior to the start of this year’s competition. One of the changes, which is still being fully deliberated with officials at Major League Eating, will be designed to limit “detritus” during contests, a major concern after several controversial finishes last season.

As for the other change, Brad Wahl, the vice president of marketing at The Krystal Company, shared, “Let’s just say it’s a really big change; one that will make this year’s competition the most exciting in the six-year history of the Krystal Square Off. Much like the way the three-point shot revolutionized the game of basketball, this new rule will drastically alter the way eaters approach our contest from a strategic level.”

“I recognize that fans begin to focus on the Krystal Square Off at this time of year, but it would be inappropriate to comment on any future changes since none have been formally discussed or approved at the sponsor or league level,” said Richard Shea, president of Major League Eating.  “Having hosted a controversial event last year, I do understand the desire to limit confusion in judging, especially considering how coveted the Krystal Square Off title is.”

Krystal will once again host a qualifying circuit for Krystal Square Off VI throughout the southern United States. Details for the 2009 Krystal Square Off VI Qualifying Tour and World Hamburger-Eating Championship will be announced shortly, along with what is sure to be another impressive cash purse for Krystal Square Off VI.  Info at KrystalSquareOff.com.

Joey Chestnut Downs 93 Krystals To Repeat As World Hamburger Eating Champion

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.

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Competitive Eating Pros To Face Off First At Press Conference Friday

Before this Sunday’s Krystal Square Off V World Hamburger Eating Championship, the top three ranked eaters in the world–Joey Chestnut, Pat Bertoletti and Takeru Kobayashi–will meet face-to-face for the official pre-contest press conference. The media event will take place at 2:30 p.m. on Friday at Ross’s Landing in downtown Chattanooga.

This will be Kobayashi’s first time in Chattanooga since he won Krystal Square Off III in 2006 by eating 97 Krystals in eight minutes. This is also the first face-to-face meeting between Chestnut and Kobayashi on American soil since July 4’s hot dog eating championship in Coney Island.

During the press conference the eaters are expected to make predictions and discuss their strategies for winning the top burger title and its $20,000 cash prize. A total of $50,000 in prize money will be awarded with second place winning $10,000 and third earning $5,000.

Chestnut and Kobayashi will also discuss their rivalry, going back to when Chestnut first challenged Kobayashi at Krystal Square Off II in 2005.  Chestnut, who surged to his No. 1 ranking by beating Kobayashi at hot dogs, has never beaten Kobayashi in a Krystal hamburger match-up. Chestnut does own the current world record of 103 Krystals in eight minutes, which he did at last year’s Krystal Square Off with Kobayashi absent due to a jaw injury.

Bertoletti, the No. 2 eater in the world, finished third at last year’s championship with 94 Krystals. He has beaten both Chestnut and Kobayashi in the past.

George Shea of Major League Eating will host the press conference, providing an expert’s perspective on what is being hailed the biggest event in the history of Major League Eating.

Takeru Kobayashi Playing Major League Eating: The Game On Wii

Want to know how you can beat three-time world hamburger-eating champion Takeru 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.

Juliet Lee Finishes On Top After 3-Way OT ‘Eat Off’ In Nashville – UPDATE

Juliet Lee, the No. 2-ranked female eater in the world, will return for the second year in a row to the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship after a dramatic overtime win at yesterday’s Nashville Qualifier.

In a contest marked by controversy and the hottest and most humid conditions seen on the tour so far, Lee’s victory had some calling foul due to excessive debris during the eight-minute regulation period. After a lengthy conference with judges, Major League Eating made the decision to hold a three person eat-off, the first ever in Krystal Square Off history, between “The Lovely” Lee, Eric “Badlands” Booker and Juris “Dr. Bigtime” Shibayama. Each was presented with 10 Krystals, and Lee was first to consume hers, earning her the win.

Explaining its decision, IFOCE.com reports:

Juliet Lee maintained a five second dunk throughout regulation but pre-chewed so aggressively the judges had difficulty determining her final count. Many fans and eaters alike questioned the outcome. Judges determined that the eat off should occur.

Major League Eating has announced it will hold an an impromptu conference call this evening to consider the adoption of a new rule to eliminate confusion in future contests. While the Sheas are expected to be on the call, the league is still trying to confirm the participation of Commissioner Hungry Charles Hardy.

Credited with 51 Krystals each, Badlands and Dr. Bigtime now join Sonya Thomas as the top three non-winning numbers so far. If their numbers hold one more week, the three will compete at the finals in Chattanooga on Sept. 28, as the three wild card winners.

Among other competing in Nashville include Erik “the Red” Denmark, Dave “US Male” Goldstein, “Wild” Bill Myers, “Nasty” Nate Miller, “Pretty Boy” Pete Davekos, Andrew Wong and Steve Larson.

Check back here for photos and video from yesterday’s Nashville Qualifier.

UPDATE: Click here for photos from Saturday’s qualifier and OT eat-off in Nashville.