Krystal is offering big bucks to whoever wins its Krystal Square Off V World Hamburger Eating Championship on Sept. 28, the company announced today.
Top-ranked eaters such as Joey “Jaws” Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi will battle for a combined $50,000 in cash prizes, the largest cash purse in competitive eating history, according to a company news release.
“As elite, world-class athletes, these competitors are focused on the title first and foremost, but winning some cold, hard cash will make victory taste even sweeter,” said Brad Wahl, Krystal’s vice president of marketing.
The winner this year will receive $20,000 in cash, twice the amount Mr. Chestnut took home from the contest in 2007 when he ate 103 Krystal hamburgers in eight minutes. Mr. Chestnut’s mark last year shattered Mr. Kobayashi’s previous world record of 97 hamburgers in eight minutes.
By comparison, Nathan's International July Fourth Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island, N.Y., awards $10,000 for first-place.
The runner-up at Krystal Square Off V will take home a paycheck of $10,000, while third place will leave Chattanooga $5,000 richer. On the line for the remaining finalists are the following payouts: $3,000 fourth place; $2,500 fifth; $2,000 sixth; $1,850 seventh; $1,500 eighth; $1,400 ninth; $1,250 10th; $1,000 11th; $500 12th.
A seven-city qualifying circuit for Krystal Square Off V kicks off in Chattanooga with an opening ceremony on Aug. 22, followed by an eight-minute contest on Aug. 23. From there, the circuit journeys through six more cities with the winner of each regional qualifier given a seat to the World Championship in Chattanooga. Three wild-card spots in the final also will be awarded based on performances in the regional qualifiers.
Mr. Chestnut receives an automatic seat to this year’s championship as the defending champion.
For more information on the Krystal Square Off V, visit krystalsquareoff.com
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