Japan’s Takeru “The Tsunami” Kobayashi set a new world hamburger-eating record Saturday by consuming 69 Krystal hamburgers in eight minutes to win the inaugural Krystal Square Off World Hamburger-Eating Championship in Chattanooga.
“69 Krystals in eight minutes is astounding. Kobayashi is, without a doubt, the greatest eater ever to live upon planet earth,” said David Baer of the International Federation of Competitive Eating.
Hosted by fast food icon The Krystal Co. and billed as the Krystal Square Off, 14 of the world’s greatest competitive eaters gathered at the 8-minute championship event to vie for the largest cash purse offered on the U.S. circuit, a whopping $17,500. Kobayashi took home the top prize of $10,000 cash, the Krystal World Champion’s Belt, the champion’s crystal trophy and the first-ever title of Krystal Square Off World Hamburger-Eating Champion.
Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas, the 102-pound phenom from Alexandria, VA, took second place and $5,000 by eating 46 Krystal hamburgers and rounding out third for $2,500 was Richard “The Locust” LeFevre of Henderson, NV, with 41 Krystal hamburgers.
The Krystal Square Off Final was the culmination of 11 regional qualifying events throughout the southeast this fall. Other competitors included Eric “Badlands” Booker of Copiague, NY, Ed “Cookie” Jarvis of Nesconset, NY, Jeff “The Big Hungry” Hicks of Knoxville, TN, Sam “Big Country” Vise of Union City, TN, “Hungry” Charles Hardy of Brooklyn, NY, Carlene LeFevre of Henderson, NV, Jim “Buffalo” Reeves of Boston, NY, “Jammin’” Joe LaRue of Hollywood, FL, Bill “The Bottomless Pit” Pendleton of Santa Rosa Beach, FL, Matt “Psycho” Ward of Murfreesboro, TN, and Lynn “Moose” Curley.
Founded in 1932, The Krystal Company is the oldest quick service restaurant chain in the Southeast and the second oldest in the United States. Famous for its small, square burgers, which have become synonymous with Southern fast food, Krystal has emerged as one of the most successful quick service restaurants in the industry.
The International Federation of Competitive Eating (IFOCE), the governing body of all stomach-centric sports, sanctioned the Krystal Square Off®? Hamburger-Eating Championship. The IFOCE conducts more than 70 events annually, including the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, NY.