Matt eats up competition to win hot-dog world title

Matt Stonie shocked competitive eating by upsetting Joey ‘Jaws’ Chestnut at the fourth-of-July hot-dog-eating contest at Nathan’s Famous, in Coney Island, thwarting Chestnut’s bid for a ninth straight victory.

Stonie, 23, who was second last year, ate 62 hot dogs and buns, beating Chestnut by two. Both are from San Jose, California. Thousands of spectators watched the eaters, who were on an elevated stage, and the next-closest competitor ate 35 hot dogs.

Today I claimed a belt that hasn't changed hands in 8 years.
62 Hot Dogs in ten minutes.#Happy4thJuly pic.twitter.com/0Ao0cXh60R

— Matt Stonie (@MattStonie) July 4, 2015

“I trained hard for this. This is actually amazing,” Stonie told ESPN, which broadcast the competition live. Stonie won the $10,000 prize and the coveted mustard-yellow winner’s championship belt. “We don’t just go up there and eat hot dogs. We practice for this. We prepare our bodies,” Stonie said. “It was a tough contest. Joey brings it all. I had to push really hard to beat him. But I feel great.”

Thx to all the competitors who gave their best today! A big congrats to our 2015 Champs, @MattStonie & @OMGitsMIKI! pic.twitter.com/uhZit3bsS8

— Nathan's Famous (@originalnathans) July 4, 2015

Chestnut, smiling in defeat, said he couldn’t catch Stonie, who entered the match weighing 125 pounds to Chestnut’s 230 pounds.

“I’ve been looking for competition for a long time and I finally have it,” he said, vowing to return next year. “He made me hungry.”

Wow! What a contest... @MattStonie did great and earned the title. I hate losing but I appreciate the motivation that follows.

— Joey Chestnut (@joeyjaws) July 4, 2015

After his victory last year, Chestnut dropped to one knee and proposed to his long-time girlfriend. They have since broken up.

Congratulations to @joeyjaws on his engagement! #FamousLoveStory #NathansFamous pic.twitter.com/rCB6vRn5bO

— Nathan's Famous (@originalnathans) July 4, 2014

Early in the contest, Chestnut had a slight edge, but Stonie moved ahead by half a hot dog after three minutes and never looked back.

This is 69 Hot Dogs, the current World Record.
Photo from today at the weigh-in. https://t.co/xiD1AJueWk pic.twitter.com/ovVI7L8XS5

— Matt Stonie (@MattStonie) July 4, 2015

The men’s contest was an hour after the women’s, with defending champion, Miki Sudo, winning with a flourish that emphasised strategy rather than condiments. The Las Vegas woman ate 38 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes.