Takeru Kobayashi celebrates after winning his fourth Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating title.

Japanese speed-eating legend Takeru Kobayashi defeated his arch-rival and reigning champ Joey Chestnut to reclaim the world hamburger eating title Sunday at the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship in Chattanooga, Tenn.

The 31-year-old from Tokyo earned a score of 93 Krystal hamburgers in eight minutes, setting a world record under a new no-dunking rule established this year. Chestnut, of San Jose, Calif., finished second with 81.

Presented by The Krystal Company, the Krystal Square Off is the only world hamburger eating championship sanctioned by Major League Eating.

Kobayashi’s victory over Chestnut today before a live televised audience and a crowd of more than 10,000 puts him back on top of the sport he brought into the American mainstream more than eight years ago, only to see his star fall the past three years following several high-profile losses, including a loss to Chestnut at last year’s championship in Chattanooga.

“We knew today’s Krystal Square Off championship was going to be a battle for the ages with Kobayashi hoping to reclaim his glory and Chestnut defending his two-year reign as champ, and both eaters did not disappoint,” said Brad Wahl, vice president of marketing, The Krystal Company. “Kobayashi’s commanding win over Chestnut proved once again why he is the sport’s biggest star.”

Read more about Kobayashi’s stunning victory on the Krystal Square Off blog.

Take the family down to Chattanooga Waterfront to join all the fun for the Krystal Square Off VI!

Courtesy of KrystalSquareOff.com:

With only two days left until the main event, the countdown is officially on to see who will take home the honor, the eminence and all the glory of what it is to be the Krystal Square Off VI Champion. And while the showdown between Joey Chestnut, Takeru Kobayashi, Patrick Bertoletti and all the best eaters is what you’ve all been waiting for, there is much more to come leading up to the main event to help satiate your appetite until Sunday, Sept. 27 at 2 p.m.

The Krystal Square Off VI list of weekend events will also include the World Hamburger Eating Championship Official Press Conference, the “KrystalFest” Tailgating Party, an amateur eating contest and much more. All events will take place at Chattanooga’s 21st Century Waterfront (Ross’ Landing) and are free and open to the public.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 25

2:30 p.m. – Press Conference at Ross’s Landing: For those that need a refresher course from the pros on the biggest competitive eating competition this side of the Mason-Dixon line, head on down to the Krystal Square Off VI World Hamburger Eating Championship Official Press Conference. There, the top three ranked eaters in the world, Joey Chestnut, Patrick Bertoletti and Takeru Kobayashi, will meet face-to-face for the official pre-contest press conference and photo opportunity. These top gurgitators will make predictions, talk about the new rules and discuss their strategies for winning competitive eating’s most coveted title, its $20,000 cash prize and bragging rights for establishing a new world-record in front of a live audience of 10,000 people.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 27

9:00 a.m. - Krystal Square Off VI Bicycle Poker Run begins.

Noon – 2 p.m. – “KrystalFest” Tailgating Party: Come get your grub, game, and groove on with Krystal as they close in on one of the biggest sports competitions in the world. Activities include:

- Free Krystal Burgers and Krystal Blitz Energy Drink to first 1,000 people
- Carnival games for kids, balloons, Krystal prize giveaways and more
- Live music from 38 Special’s Jeff Carlisi and The Hold On Bruce Lees
- Boat Parade of Competitive Eaters and a stop by Autograph Alley to sign autographs for spectators.
- Registration and Drawing for 12th Man Contest. Must be 18+ and have valid photo ID.
- Registration and Drawing for Sackful Challenge Teams. Must be 18+ and have valid photo ID.

2 – 3:00 p.m. – Krystal Square Off VI World Hamburger Eating Championship

- SportSouth Live broadcast begins
- 2-minute Sackful Challenge with four teams of two eaters competing to win $100 each.
- Introduction of eaters by George Shea, Chairman of the IFOCE
- 8-minute Krystal Square Off VI World Championship Final
- Award Presentations

Courtesy of KrystalSquareOff.com:

The biggest names in the sport of competitive eating will go head-to-head and bite-for-bite live on SportSouth starting at 2 p.m. this Sunday, Sept. 27, at the Krystal Square Off VI World Hamburger Eating Championship in Chattanooga, Tenn. And, for the first time since it’s inception, Krystal Lovers will also be able to watch this same great coverage LIVE ONLINE at KrystalSquareOff.com

Among the eaters set to battle for the $50,000 cash prize purse include defending Krystal Square Off champion Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, three-time Krystal Square Off winner Takeru Kobayashi, the second-ranked eater in the world Patrick “Deep Dish” Bertoletti and nine other masters of mastication.

The live-televised and live online streaming 60-minute special event coverage will include behind-the-scenes footage with the eaters, exclusive interviews and the main event featuring top gustatory athletes tackling the famous Krystal Burger, and for the first time ever, the Krystal Big Angus Burger, a two-handed, all-Angus beef burger. Also new this year is a “No Dunking” rule, making this year’s event the most thrilling event in Major League Eating.

And just in case you miss it the first go ’round, the contest will also re-air on television immediately after the Atlanta Braves game on Sunday, Sept. 27 on FOX Sports South.

For more Krystal Square Off VI live coverage, follow @KSquareOff on Twitter.

Headed to the Krystal Square Off VI World Championship in Chattanooga on September 27? The fun doesn’t have to stop after the last burger is scarfed down. Here are some other exciting things to check out while you’re in town:

Outdoor Activities
Known for its breathtaking natural beauty, Chattanooga is the perfect town to best experience the great outdoors. Take a bike ride or go whitewater on the Ocoee River. Stop and smell the roses at the Reflecting Riding Arboretum or simply head out on a picnic at the 353-acre Booker T. Washington State Park overlooking the Chickamauga River. A couple of Krystal Chiks make the perfect picnic snack.

Family Fun
Bringing the kids? Chattanooga’s happy to have them! The city has hundreds of activities that are sure to please any member of the family, starting with the legendary roller coaster at Lake Winnepesaukah amusement park. Your son will have hours of fun at Insane Paintball (the biggest paintball facility in the country) while your nature-lover daughter will get a kick out of the zoo. Be sure to grab a couple Krystal Blitzes before you head out: trust us, you’ll need the energy.

History Lessons
Just because you’re on a vacay doesn’t mean learning has to take a backseat. Brush up on your trivia while visiting famous battlefields of Chattanooga.

Natural Wonders
Chattanooga is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and no trip would be complete without exploring its beautiful nooks and crannies. The Lost Sea, Chattanooga’s gorgeous underground lake, and Tennessee’s largest show cave, the Cumberland Cavern,  are but a couple of places to see Chatt’s natural wonders.

Classic Chattanooga
Of course there are some sites you just have to see while you’re in Chattanooga. A trip to the Tennessee Aquarium and the mother of all caves, Ruby Falls should always be first on any Chattanooga visitor’s itinerary. Explore the classics with a classic: Keep a sackful of Krystals handy while you zip around town.

On Sept. 27, the city of Chattanooga, Tenn. will play host to the most thrilling Major League Eating event in history as Joey Chestnut, Takeru Kobayashi and all of the world’s best eaters face off for the title of Krystal Square Off VI World Hamburger Eating Championship. And thanks to the Chattanooga Convention and Visitors Bureau, one lucky family will get to experience this monumental event and a full weekend of fun-filled activities “VIP” style.

Beginning today, competitive eating fans hungry for the ultimate Chattanooga Family Vacation and Krystal Square Off VI Getaway can register for a chance to win by visiting Chattanoogafun.com/krystal. The package includes:

• Two-night luxury accommodations at the fabulous Sheraton Read House
• One Chattanooga area attraction VIP Pass good for two people at over 40 attractions, including the Tennessee Aquarium, the IMAX 3D Theater, Ruby Falls and Rock City Gardens
• Krystal Square Off VI VIP Access that includes your very own luxury suite “sky box” at the live televised championship, complete with catered food and beverages and the best view of the contest.

It’s definitely a weekend you won’t want to miss, so be sure and register today. The drawing will take place on September 21.

About The Krystal Square Off
The Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship is one of the majors in the sport of competitive eating and the only world hamburger-eating championship sanctioned by Major League Eating, the world governing body of all stomach-centric sports.  SportSouth, the nation’s largest regional sports network, will televise the finals of Krystal Square Off VI live from Chattanooga, Tenn. during a one-hour program.

Drum roll please… The Krystal Square Off VI World Hamburger Eating Championship is finally here and will kick off in grand fashion this afternoon with the annual “Running of the Krystal Square Off Grill,” a Media Square Off featuring Chattanooga’s most recognizable news personalities and a new-rules eating exhibition by the number two-ranked eater in the world Patrick “Deep Dish” Bertoletti.

And that’s not all! The weekend festivities will continue tomorrow with the KSO VI Open Registration, where amateur hopefuls can sign up to get the chance to be one of the five people selected “on-the-spot” to compete against Bertoletti at the Chattanooga Qualifier.

Bertoletti will be joined by the following eaters in the eight-minute qualifying contest:

• Bill Myers of Breinigsville, PA
• Paul Barlow of Kennesaw, GA
• Mike Nafziger of Chattanooga, TN
• Rick Petralia of Ooltewah, TN
• Tom Knopp of Signal Mountain, TN
• Brian Smith of Chattanooga, TN
• Kevin Lewis of Chattanooga, TN

It’s a match up you won’t want to miss. To view the full KSO weekend schedule, see below. And remember, all Krystal Square Off Events are open to the public and free for anyone to attend, so there’s no excuse not to join in the celebration and cheer on your favorite eater.

As always, for the most up-to-date Krystal Square Off news, follow @ksquareoff on Twitter and check out the KrystalSquareOff.com. We’ll see you at the Square Off!

OPENING CEREMONY ACTIVITIES – Friday, Aug. 21

1:00 p.m. – Lighting and Running of the Krystal Square Off Grill
Krystal Headquarters at 1 Union Square

2:00 p.m. – Media Square Off
Chattanooga Riverfront

2:20 p.m. – Eating Exhibition by Pat Bertoletti
Chattanooga Riverfront

KRYSTAL SQUARE OFF QUALIFIER – Saturday, Aug. 22

2:00 p.m. – Open Registration for Five Amateurs Spots
Chattanooga Riverfront – Main Stage at Southern Brewers Festival

3:00 p.m. – Chattanooga Qualifier
Chattanooga Riverfront – Main Stage at Southern Brewers Festival

Get excited! Krystal has released all the juicy details for this year’s Krystal Square Off VI World Hamburger Eating Championship. But not so fast. You know the drill. We just give teasers here on Krystalist.com. To get full KSO updates and news, you must visit KrystalSquareOff.com/blog.

Here’s a preview of what you can expect to see:

• A video featuring Krystal’s VP of Marketing, Brad Wahl, giving you the inside scoop on what’s in store for Krystal Square Off VI
• Krystal’s two new major rule changes for Krystal Square Off VI
• Schedule of Krystal Square Off VI qualifying dates and cities
• Information on how to compete in and qualify for Krystal Square Off
• Krystal’s total cash purse prize and list of top twelve cash payouts

Don’t forget, the Krystal Square Off VI World Hamburger Eating Championship will take place on Sept. 27, 2009, on the banks of the Tennessee River in Chattanooga. So mark your calendars now for the big day. It’s an event you won’t want to miss.

Last week we announced that Krystal Square Off season is officially here. What we didn’t tell you is how to help gear up for the big day. Our first suggestion? Watch the premiere of the new docudrama “I’m a Major League Eater” tomorrow night at 10 p.m. EST on the BIO Channel.

Not only will you get a behind-the-scenes look into what it takes to prepare for a major league eating contest, but you will also see the eaters’ true personalities be revealed and learn more about their individual strengths and weaknesses. It will definitely help fuel your excitement for Krystal Square Off VI World Hamburger Eating Championship scheduled for September 27 in downtown Chattanooga, Tenn.

Check out the “I’m a Major League Eater” trailer below featuring some of the sport’s biggest names including: Juliet Lee of Maryland, Gravy Brown of Chicago, Eater X Janus of NYC and his roommate Crazy Legs Conti. And as always, stay tuned here, on Twitter and on the Krystal Square Off Blog for all your Square Off news.

It’s that time again – Krystal Square Off Season. Ah, it’s music to our ears. Or is that still the sound of last year’s cheers for Joey Chestnut’s win that we’re hearing? Either way, the Square Off is back, it’s breaking the rules of tradition and it’s bigger than ever.

How so? We’re not leaking all the details here. You’ll have to head over to KrystalSquareOff.com to learn about the official date, talks of two new rule changes in the competition and much more. And, be sure to bookmark the KrystalSquareOff blog to hear about all of the upcoming KSO news, see photos, watch videos and get a behind-the-scenes scoop from interviews with the eaters.

KSO updates will also be available for fans on Twitter. Sign up to follow @ksquareoff and you’ll receive the most recent KSO details in real time as they unfold.

As always, stay tuned to learn more. It’s just the beginning!

As host of the annual Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship, Krystal has become an avid fan of the famed competitive eating greats and loves to give a shout out when possible. Luckily, we’re not the only ones!

Eat Feats recently posted the following poll: Top Male & Female Competitive Eaters of 2008 and the votes are in. However, after much debate the top spot is still undecided. Nominees include:

Male
•    “Furious” Pete Czerwinski
•    Joey “Jaws” Chestnut
•    Bruce “The Hangman” Pobanz
•    Takeru Kobayashi “The Tsunami”
•    “Beautiful” Brian Seiken
•    Don “Moses” Lerman
•    “Crazy Legs” Conti
•    Tim Janus “Eater X”
•    Arnie “Chowhound” Chapman
•    “Gentleman” Joe Menchetti
•    “Pretty Boy” Pete Davekos
•    Brad “Old School” Sciullo
•    Rich LeFevre “The Locust”
•    Patrick “Deep Dish” Bertoletti

Female
•    Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas
•    Natsuko “Gal” Sone
•    “Little” Tomoko Miyake

We can already think of a few food major-leaguers that aren’t on the list. And, is it just us, or do we need some more women in the game? Tell us who you think deserves the title of best competitive eater.