Chestnut Beats Kobayashi 68-64

Chestnut won his third straight championship as he chomped down 68 hot dogs to keep the Mustard Belt title on US soil. The 25-year-old Chestnut led most of the way.

A record crowd of 40,000 assembled at the corner of Surf and Stillwell avenues in Coney Island under clear blue skies for the event, which was aired live on ESPN.

Chestnut and Kobayashi are considered the game’s finest competitors. While the two lived up to their ravenous hot dog reputations, each one has a different technique to eating.

Before the competition, Kobayashi, the six-time titleholder, said he had figured out a way to inhale the buns. Kobayashi has a smooth, effortless approach. Chestnut muscles them down and then later in the competition Chestnut’s face turns red and contorts as he drools.

On Their Marks
Kobayashi had a slight lead at the eight-dog mark after the first minute, but Chestnut pulled ahead seconds later. The lead changed hands several more times before Chestnut went in front for good with about seven minutes left.

Chestnut had a two-dog lead with three minutes remaining eating 52 to Kobayashi’s 50 dogs. Chestnut maintained his two-dog lead in the last minute with 63 dogs.

With a minute to go, Chestnut led 63 dogs to 61 dogs and was ahead 66 to 64 with 10 seconds left. In those last seconds he took down another 2 dogs to take the top prize.

Chestnut and Kobayashi made quick work of the rest of the field and far outpaced their closest competitor, third-place finisher Patrick Bertoletti, who piled down 55 franks.

This is great. After the second minute, I knew that my body was cooperating and it was going to be hard to beat me.

I knew I had the capacity for 70-plus hot dogs. Once I realized I had cushion, it helped me keep my pace and keep it safely.

Joey Chestnut San Jose, CA

Other World Records
Chestnut’s other world records include eating 5kg of macaroni and cheese in seven minutes; and 188 jalapeno peppers in 10 minutes.

Final Results

Saturday’s Short Facts

• More than 800 Nathan’s Famous dogs were consumed.
• 19 contestants were introduced individually with great fanfare. Contestants took in 19,000 calories.
• Kobayashi was wearing a T-shirt that included autographs from Japanese Olympic athletes.
• Nathan Handwerker opened Nathan’s in Coney Island in 1916.
• Since 1916 the contest has been held every year except in 1941 and 1971.
• The first winner, Jim Mullen, ate 13 dogs in 10 minutes.
• In 2000, the winning number of dogs was 25 in 12 minutes.
• Kobayashi’s first win in 2001 saw the number double to 50.
• Kobayashi won for the next five years.
• Joey Chestnut won in 2007.
• In 2008, the format changed back to the original 10 minutes. Last year’s event saw the first ever “dog off” overtime session. Kobayashi and Chestnut tied at 59. Chestnut won the dog off by finishing his five-dog plate before Kobayashi who reportedly had a jaw injury.

New Rules This Year
A yellow card for bun dunking too long. The water helps the eaters eat the dry buns faster, but if the bun is dunked too long, there is bun disintegration.

No mouth hand-cupping at the end. Sometimes contestants cup their mouths with their hands to keep the pile of dog mush in their mouths.