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World Tamale-Eating Championship

Location: Lewisville, TX
Date: 06-04-2005
Winner: Levi Oliver

Some of the world’s finest eaters converged in Lewisville, TX, on June 4 for the World Tamale-Eating Championship. This title, respected for its elusiveness as much as the impending fame due its possessor, was accompanied by a $1,000 first place prize.

Levi Oliver of Austin, TX, beat out Donovan Busta in a heated overtime to take the championship. Oliver downed 36 tamales in 12 min., 30 sec.

"The ability to eat tamales in mass quantity fell out of favor in the late 20th Century, and those with skill in this area found that they were not celebrated by the public," said George Shea, chairman of the International Federation of Competitive Eating. "However, in the first five years of the new century, tamale-eating has experienced a resurgence in popularity. This rebirth culminated in Lewisville, TX."

The contest was part of the Bassmaster Elite 50 Fishing Tournament on Lake Lewisville outside of Dallas, TX. Dallas Tortilla and Tamale Factory in Lewisville donated the delicious tamales to the contest.

Lewisville Lake is located 15 min. north of downtown Dallas along Interstate 35E. Created in 1954 on the Elm Fork of the Trinity River, the lake covers nearly 30,000 acres of surface area and reaches depths of up to 67 feet. Lewisville Lake is rated as “excellent” by Texas Parks & Wildlife for catfish, crappie and white bass, and “good” for largemouth bass and striped/hybrid bass.

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