Location: Orlando, FL
CHESTNUT OPENS 2017 SEASON WITH VICTORY!
Major League Eating opened its 2017 season of sanctioned eating championships in Orlando, FL, with the fifth annual installment of the World Chili Eating Championship. This year's result was the same as it has been in each and every one of the years preceding it: Chestnut, J: Winner. The greatest eater in the history of the world opened his 2017 account with a powerful showing of his trademark simple, disciplined eating. It was good enough for victory.
The win, however, was the closest one yet at the event for Chestnut. He edged second-place finisher Carmen Cincotti by just eight ounces. Chestnut put it best in a post-match tweet, when he said: "First contest of 2017 was close. I won by only 8 ounces." He then permitted himself a quick glimpse of the coming months when he continued on the popular social media platform, "@carmencincotti and @mattstonie are going to push me to new limits." The mind can only boggle as to what those limits may look like. They will be beautiful and terrifying all at once, one imagines. More hot dog and buns? More chicken wings? More of everything? Yes. More. More, more, more. More will be required from all to ascend the heights of competitive eating greatness in 2017.
Geoffrey Esper ate well for third; Gideon Oji finished fourth; Miki Sudo's brief pause to compose herself at the four-minute mark relegated her to fifth; Badlands owned sixth; brave local college student Carlos Gonzalez disappointed himself and his family for a distant last place.
And that's that. The 2017 World Chili Eating Challenge is in the books/The Internet. Chestnut is 1-0 and no one else is. That's how he likes it. Gauntlet thrown, people.
Here's to a prosperous, fun and history-making season ahead. Do join us.
FULL RESULTS! 1st - Joey Chestnut, 8.5 32oz bowls of chili in 6 min 2nd - Carmen Cincotti, 8.25 3rd - Geoffrey Esper, 7.25 4th - Gideon Oji, 6.25 5th - Miki Sudo, 6 6th - Badlands Booker, 3.25 7th - Carlos Gonzalez, 0.75
This contest took place at 4.30pm on Saturday, February 18, 2017 at the Northwestern Mutual Orlando Chili Cook-off, Orlando Festival Park, 2911 East Robinson St., Orlando, FL 32803
ABOUT THE WORLD CHILI EATING CHALLENGE AT THE ORLANDO CHILI COOK-OFF! Mark your calendars and prep your taste buds for February 18th, 2017 when Orlando will host the 9th Annual Northwestern Mutual Orlando Chili Cook-off featuring the 5th Annual World Chili Eating Challenge at Festival Park in Orlando. The event has grown from a neighborhood cook-off started by Orlando locals to Orlando's premier chili event. With over 100,000 samples of chili served and 13,000 attendees, each year the event exceeds expectations and has raised over $255,000 for deserving charities like Special Olympics Florida, Kiwanis Clubs of Greater Orlando and several other local charities. Everyone from foodies, to beer connoisseurs and music fans enjoy this fun, family-friendly event centered around tasty chili, great live music, and good times. Loyal attendees have come to expect the cook-off to offer a good time, for a great cause, and the ninth annual event will be sure to offer nothing less.
This event would not be possible without the help of its sponsors, especially the presenting sponsor Northwestern Mutual, or the nearly 250 volunteers that come out to lend a hand. The event is produced by Events for Change, a non-profit 501(3)(c) organization that operates under a “good times for a great cause” philosophy.
“We’re excited to continue to bring this event to the Central Florida community and even happier that it benefits local deserving charities,” says President Kenneth Roberts.
CLICK HERE for more information on The World Chili Eating Challenge and the Orlando Chili Cook-off.
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**All applicants must be 18 years of age or older and fully acknowledge and understand the inherent dangers and risks associated with participating in an eating contest. The applicant further acknowledges and understands that the MLE/IFOCE coordinates with event sponsor(s) to select and approve eligible participants, and that the MLE/IFOCE shall decide, at its sole discretion, whether an applicant is eligible to participate in any eating event, and/or related activities. The MLE/IFOCE may revoke an applicant's eligibility to participate in the eating contest, or related activities, at any time, for any reason, at its sole discretion. The MLE/IFOCE and the event sponsors reserve the right, at any time, to change any and all details concerning the event, including, e.g., time, duration, location and prize structure.