Japan's Kobayashi chews up rivals to win burger battle

0 Comments | AFP, November, 2005

CHATTANOOGA, United States (AFP) — Japan's Takeru Kobayashi, best known as the world champion speed hot dog eater, devoured 67 mini hamburgers in eight minutes to win the World Hamburger Eating Championship.

Kobayashi won 10,000 dollars by defeating 14 US rivals at the 22,500-dollar event, the richest on a US competitive eating series that includes an event Kobayashi dominates - the International Hot Dog Eating Contest in New York.

"Kobayashi is, without a doubt, the greatest eater ever to live upon planet earth," said David Baer of the International Federation of Competitive Eating, sanctioners of more than 80 culinary consumption championship contests.

Joey Chestnut, 21, led much of the way but settled for second place in the burger battle, eating 62 to...