San Jose Eating Champ Chestnut Bested By Hometown Foe
SAN JOSE (CBS SF) - San Jose eating champion Joey Chestnut, who gained fame by dominating the annual Coney Island hot dog competition, was upset over the weekend at the Gyoza Eating Championship in Los Angeles.
Chestnut ate 251 of the chicken and vegetable dumplings, but was well off the 268 pace set by Matt Stonie, according to USA Today's For The Win Blog. According to his Major League Eating bio, Stonie - nicknamed Megatoad- is a 19 year old who also comes from San Jose. He finished 2nd in his first two eating competitions immediately after turning pro, and quickly gained fame on the circuit.
Chestnut blamed a lack of training during a busy schedule for the Gyoza loss, but told USA Today Stonie "deserved it."
This is the third time this year that Chestnut – the 7-time defending hot dog champ - has lost to the Megatoad. Stonie won an asparagus competition in April and a "slugburger" contest in July.
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