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

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.

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Competitive Eating Pros To Face Off First At Press Conference Friday

The Krystal Square Off press conference has been the site of weigh-ins, stare downs and the official unveiling of the three-digit Krystal counter.

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

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 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's win in Nashville over Juris Shibayama (on left, above) and Badlands Booker (on right) was far from "lovely" as her excessive debris had some crying foul.

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.