In the latest episode of Barstool Sports Pardon my Take podcast, Joey Chestnut announces that his MLE contract will expire at the end of this year and he is open to the possibility of a matchup with Takeru Kobayashi in 2023. (video clip)

The end of this year is going to be a weird year for me because my contract with Major League Eating and Nathan’s is going to be over. So it’ll be my first year in a long, long time that I can actually eat against Kobayashi. So me and him could find a way to compete because he’ll never compete with Major League Eating again because they have just a childish contract dispute, but there’s a chance that I might be able to eat against him.

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It is interesting that even after declining a MLE contract extension, Joey Chestnut still calls Takeru Kobayshi’s schism with the organization a “childish contract dispute”.

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Official results

Joey Chestnut was rushed by a stage crasher, but still managed to defend his title.

For people who lack ESPNews, DutchMazz is running a live video from the top of the Coney Island subway station. Tim “Eater X” Janus was on the bus of champions, perhaps he will compete.

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Official results

Miki Sudo will look to become the first parent with the top male or female total in the Nathan’s Famous finals in the 21st century. All of the other previous top finishers since 2001: Takeru Kobayashi, Joey Chestnut, Matt Stonie, Sonya Thomas have been childless. There do not appear to be any surprises with the field. w

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The Nathan’s weigh in was held today. Joey Chestnut was in crutches. He made a instagram post on December 29 about a leg injury requiring surgery. Tim “Eater X” Janus was present; it was not clear if he will be a competitor. His last eating contest was in October 2015.

update The official field is now out. There are no major surprises. Beard Meats Food will compete and Tim Janus will not make a comeback. Instead of doing a blog entry for each article about the competitors. I will have links to all the coverage of the confirmed entrants below

Geoff Esper
Nick Wehry
Gideo Oji
Pat Bertoletti
Ronnie Hartman
Brett Healey intends to retire from competitive eating after Nathan’s
Juan Rodriguez
Steve Hammond
Bartley Weaver, IV
James Webb
Adam “Beard Meats Food” Moran
George Chiger
Derek Hendrickson
Pablo Martinez
Derek Jacobs

Miki Sudo
Michelle Lesco
Katie Prettyman
Sarah Reinecke Rodriguez
Sophia DeVita
Larell Marie Mele
Jules Golberg
Holly Titus
Jocelyn Walker
Rene Rovtar
Prudence DiBenedetto
Catie Livermore

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update WTOP has an article

Results from live video
1 Molly Schuyler 37 burgers, 8th victory in row
2 Dan Kennedy 36
3 Joel Hansen 26
4 Andrew Puhl 23
5 Sean Yeager 19
6 Dave Brunelli 17
7 Andy Krawczyk 16
8 Dan Rock 10
9 Hallie Weinstein 6

The contest is currently underway and can be viewed on youtube.

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The official field for the 2022 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest has yet to be released. Last year, the entrant list was not announced until July 4. Here is how the roster could shape up:

Previous Champions bye: Joey Chestnut, Matt Stonie (might not compete)
Miki Sudo, Michelle Lesco

Qualfied: James Webb, Pablo Martinez, Derek Hendrickson, Pat Bertoletti, Ronnie Hartman, Derek Jacobs
Prudence DiBenedetto, Rene Rovtar, Catie Livermore

Probable Byes: Geoff Esper, Nick Wehry, Gideon Oji, Darron Breeden (will probably miss due to birth of son)
Sarah Rodriguez, Larell Marie Mele, Katie Prettyman, Sophia DeVita-Gutierrez

Possible Byes: Max Suzuki, Ricardo Corbucci, Steve Hammond, Adrian Morgan, Adam “Beard Meats Food” Moran, Bartley Weaver, George Chiger, Brett Healey, Juan Rodriguez
Holly Titus, Jocelyn Walker, Kelly Wong, Kathryn Tesch, Mary Bowers

When the contest was originally fannounced, the field sizes were given as 16 men and 12 women.

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The MLE top 50 has been updated for the first time in about a year. The new top 12:

1. Joey Chestnut
2. Geoff Esper
3. Miki Sudo
4. Nick Wehry
5. Matt Stonie
6. Darron Breeden
7. Gideon Oji
8. Max Suzuki
9. Michelle Lesco
10. James Webb
11. Pat Bertoletti
12. Ricardo Corbucci

James Webb, Pat Bertoletti and Ricardo Corbucci are the only new entrants, replacing Juan Neave, Gordon Hazzard and Rich LeFevre. I think Australian James Webb is the first non-American or Japanese to make the top 10. Katina DeJarnett and Ryan “Max Carnage” Rodacker are surprising omissions.

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The top 3 men and women from today’s Nathan’s qualifier at Giant National Capital BBQ Battle in Washington, DC. The top 3 men and women advance to the finals.

1 Pat Bertoletti 40, 1st Nathan’s qualifier since April 21, 2012
2 Ronnie Hartman 29.5
3 Derek Jacobs 27

1 Rene Rovtar 6.5
2 Prudence DiBenedetto 5
3 Catie Livermore 2.8

update
Mac Stoddard has a video. Crazy Legs Conti and Buffalo Jim Reeves also competed. Mike Whities had to miss the contest for work. George Chiger and Jules Goldberg might have received byes.

Catie Livermore’s 2.8 hot dogs is a record low qualifying total, breaking a tie for 3 by:
Lauren Gallagher, Foxborough, MA 2011
Meghan Drake, Valdosta, GA 2017

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