Consider yourself a food sport connoisseur? Do the names Takeru “Tsunami” Kobayashi, Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, or Crazy Legs Conti conjure up images of hot dog-stuffed mouths? Does it only feel like Fourth of July if you're watching the Nathan's Hot Dog Contest? Do you know what dunking and chipmunking mean? If so, then you know that competitive eating is hard work.
But did you know that competitive eating is such a big deal? Major League Eating (yes, that’s right, there's a "league") hosts over 100 events a year worldwide in which the top eaters compete. Most events are under 15 minutes and, like any other professional sport, they come equipped with adoring fans and amusing commentators. Not to mention bizarre stuff-your-mouth contest beyond the usual hot dog throw-down (or should that be throw-up?).
01. Krystal Square Off Hamburger contest
Unfortunately for hamburger guzzlers, Krystal Square Off ended its annual competition in 2009. But because of its iconic standing in the world of competitive eating, we felt it still belonged on this list. To take home the title of official world hamburger eating champion, contestants had to eat as many hamburgers as possible in 8 minutes. The winner of the final last year was none other than Takeru “Tsunami” Kobayashi.
- Where: Chattanooga, TN
- Last Competition: 2009
- Latest Champion: Takeru “Tsunami” Kobayashi
- Eating Stats: 73 hamburgers in 8 minutes
- First Place Prize: $20,000
02. Philadelphia Wing Bowl
The Philadelphia Wing Bowl combines notoriously riotous Philadelphia sports fans with chicken wings, one of the messiest, most delicious sports snacks, to create this spectacular event. Held the Friday before the Super Bowl, the Wing Bowl was founded in 1993 by two Philadelphia radio hosts. With its festive atmosphere, call it the Mardi Gras of competitive eating.
- Where: Philadelphia, PA
- Latest Competition: February 4, 2011
- Latest Champion: Jonathan “Super” Squibb
- Eating Stats: 255 wings
- First Place Prize: $20,000 and a Dodge Ram truck
03. National Sweet Corn-Eating Championship
The National Sweet Corn-Eating championship may demand the most jaw strength from any of the eating competitions. The record for this event is an astonishing 46 ears of corn in 12 minutes. Think about that the next time you bite into that summer side.
- Where: West Palm Beach, FL
- Latest Competition: April 17, 2011
- Latest Champion: Crazy Legs Conti
- Eating Stats: 33.5 ears of corn in 12 minutes
- First Place Prize: $1,500
04. La Costeña “Feel the Heat” Jalapeño Eating Challenge
This competition takes place in San Antonio, Texas where eaters come to ingest fiery, fiery jalapeños. For the first time in the contest’s history, this year the stems were removed from the jalapeños, allowing the contestants to inhale them even quicker. The past competition was especially tense, as reigning champ Pat “Deep Dish” Bertoletti went up against his long-time rival Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas. Other than Bertoletti, Thomas is the only competitive eater who has won this competition.
- Where: San Antonio, TX
- Latest Competition: May 1, 2011
- Latest Champion: Patrick “Deep Dish” Bertoletti
- Eating Stats: 275 whole jalapenos in 8 minutes
- First Place Prize: $3,000
05. World Cheesesteak Eating Championship
Philadelphia is known for its cheesesteaks covered in that oh-so-heavenly concoction called Cheez Whiz. Every year at Dorney Park — in Allentown, which is kinda near Philly — the most ambitious eaters take on the Philly classic in mass quantity. This past year, Joey "Jaws" Chestnut, number-one ranked eater in the world, took the title again by putting back a record 23 cheesteaks in 10 minutes.
- Where: Dorney Park, Allentown, PA
- Latest Competition: May 21, 2011
- Latest Champion: Joey “Jaws” Chestnut
- Eating Stats: 23 six-inch cheesesteaks in 10 minutes
- First Place Prize: $1,500
06. Pierpont Pepperoni-Roll Eating Championship
Anyone who has eaten a calzone knows the joy and allure of having your meat wrapped in hot dough. West Virginia happens to specialize in pepperoni rolls, and in honor of their pocket-sized snack of choice they hosted the first-annual pepperoni-roll eating championship this year, drawing the usual competitive eaters to a new and tasty challenge.
- Where: Fairmont, WV
- Latest Competition: May 28, 2011
- Latest Champion: Patrick “Deep Dish” Bertoletti
- Eating Stats: 30.5 pepperoni rolls in 10 minutes
- First Place Prize: $2,000
07. Best in the West Nugget World Rib Eating Championships
Every Labor Day weekend since 1989 competitive eaters and rib enthusiasts have gathered in Sparks, Nevada to consume as many St. Louis-style pork ribs as possible. The event combines one of America’s favorite BBQ foods with a good dose of competition, making it popular year after year.
- Where: Sparks, NV
- Latest Competition: August, 31 2011
- Latest Champion: Joey “Jaws” Chestnut
- Eating Stats: 8 lbs
- First Place Prize: $2,500
08. Acme Oyster Eating World Championship
Oysters may seem comparatively easy to get down compared to the other foods on this list, but let us assure you that gulping down over 20 dozen of them in under 10 minutes is something that requires a great feat of endurance. But before you gross yourself out picturing a line of people furiously slurping oysters, remember that contestants are required to use a fork.
- Where: New Orleans, LA
- Latest Competition: June 5, 2011
- Latest Champion: Sonya “Black Widow” Thomas
- Eating Stats: 29 dozen in 8 minutes
- Total Prizes: $1,750
09. Ribfest Chicago’s Rib-Mania Eating Championship
Chicago’s annual Rib-Mania draws huge crowds to watch contestants chow down on baby back ribs. This year, Pat “Deep Dish” Bertoletti added some flare to the competition by first kissing a pig’s head that he brought on stage with him, and then out-eating the second-place finisher by a pound and a half of ribs.
- Where: Chicago, IL
- Latest Competition: June 10-12, 2011
- Latest Champion: Patrick “Deep Dish” Bertoletti
- Eating Stats: 5 lbs of ribs
- First Place Prize: $1,200
10. Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest
The mother of all eating competitions, Nathan’s hot dog eating contest is attended by 40,000 people and viewed by over 1 million annually on ESPN. Joey "Jaws" Chestnut won his fourth competition in a row at last year’s 95th anniversary of the contest with a total of 54 hot dogs. Eater Takeru “Tsunami” Kobayashi, who was arrested at last year’s competition for storming the stage after a skirmish over his contract, will be competing unofficially this year in a bar in Manhattan.
- Where: Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY
- When: July 4, 2010
- Latest Champion: Joey “Jaws” Chestnut
- Eating Stats: 54 hot dogs in 10 minutes
- First Place Prize: $10,000
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