Video Of Memphis Krystal Square Off V Qualifier

Rich LeFevre (center, above) came up big in Memphis against Erick "The Red" Denmark and Crazy Legs Conti.

The video of Rich LeFevre’s history-making win on Sunday at the Memphis Krystal Square Off V Qualifier is now up on our video page. Watch LeFevre take on young guns Juris Shibayama, Erik Denmark and Crazy Legs Conti as he becomes one of only two competitive eaters to make it to the finals of the Krystal Square Off five years in a row.

View the entire eight-minute hamburger eating contest below.

Rich LeFevre Wins Nail Biter In Memphis To Earn Krystal Square Off V Seat

Wherever competitive eating pro Rich LeFevre goes, the ladies are sure to follow, and they did in Memphis after he won the Krystal Square Off qualifier with 52 Krystals.

The Mid-South Fair in Memphis has been a familiar site on the Krystal Square Off circuit the past five years, and yesterday it drew many familiar names from the world of competitive eating as Krystal hosted the final qualifier of the year.

As expected, the event drew a tough field featuring some of eating’s finest including Rich LeFevre, Crazy Legs Conti, Juris Shibayama and Erik Denmark. All were looking to win a seat at the Krystal Square Off V World Hamburger Eating Championship this Sunday in Chattanooga, whether by victory or by grabbing one of the three wild card spots.

The sixty-four year old LeFevre, who has qualified for all four previous Krystal Square Off finals, was considered the slim favorite going into Sunday’s competition, and while he struggled to maintain the lead for most of the contest, in the end his experience triumphed over the youth and bravado of his competitors, earning him the win with 52 Krystal burgers. Shibayama, aka “Dr. Bigtime,” took second with 51 burgers, the same number he was credited with in Nashville a week ago.

Denmark, who promised a victory this week via his Twitter feed, improved upon his performance from a week ago when he ate just 43 Krystals, but he was penalized in Memphis for cramming two Krystals in his mouth after time was called. After deductions the Seattle-based eater was deemed the third place finisher with 50 Krystals. Crazy Legs, who last week downed half a century in Knoxville, finished two behind that mark in Memphis to finish fourth with 48 Krystals.

Click here for photos from the Krystal Square Off V Qualifier in Memphis.

Memphis Krystal Square Off V Qualifier: Where The Wild Cards Are

Being a competitive eating pro like Rich LeFevre has its advantages.

The Krystal Square Off V qualifying tour makes its final stop this Sunday, Sept. 21 in Memphis at the Mid South Fair, and if we used words like “doozie” (and we don’t) we’d say it looks to be a doozie with some big name competitive eating pros taking one last stab at winning a seat, or at least putting up a big enough number to earn one of the three coveted wild card spots at the finals in Chattanooga on Sept. 28.

Among the headliners confirmed for the contest include Rich LeFevre, Crazy Legs Conti, Juris Shibayama, Erik Denmark, Chris Abatsas, Damon Serignet and Steve Larson. LeFevre comes into the contest as the favorite with a previous best of 53 Krystals, but “Dr. Bigtime” Shibayama and Crazy Legs Conti will push the seasoned  pro to his limits as both just put up their biggest career numbers last week (51 and 50, respectively). Shibayama, who currently sits in the top three of the wild card race, was penalized with  debris deductions in Nashville, and if he cleans up his act he could easily hit 55 Krystals or more.

While Shibayama may not have to improve to make the finals, it’s do or die for Crazy Legs if he hopes to make a return trip back to Chattanooga. Of course he always has his competitive movie watching career to fall back on.

This will be the fifth year the Mid South Fair has hosted a Krystal qualifier. In 2004, Sam “Big Country” Vise made his eating career debut by beating Don “Moses” Lerman. A year later, Vise took the local title again by out-eating “Super” Dave Connolly 33 Krystals to 23. In 2006 and 2007, Tim “Eater X” Janus was king of the Krystal in Memphis, winning a close contest in 2006 against LeFevre and last year putting away an impressive 73 Krystals.

Keep following the action at all the qualifiers and finals this year on Twitter.