The littler guy wins Everett eating contest

EVERETT — Joey Chestnut stood, hands poised and eyes focused on his meal: two 3-pound trays of chicken wings.

Ten minutes later, the 21-year-old relative newcomer to the world of competitive eating was $1,500 richer, having won a qualifying round in the Verizon VoiceWing Battle chicken-wing-eating contest in Everett.

Yesterday's speedy repast — 4.51 pounds of wing meat in 10 minutes — won the San Jose, Calif., college student the title of 10-minute chicken-wing world champion.

In an upset, he beat the current 12-minute buffalo-wing-eating champion, 420-pound Eric "Badlands" Booker of Long Island, N.Y., who sat to his right at the competition at Sporty's Beef & Brew. Booker managed to ingest 3.62 pounds of wings and won $750.

Third place and a $250 check went to "Hungry" Bob Shoudt of Royersford, Penn.

Chestnut, Booker and Shoudt sat among eight other contestants, some world-ranked, others selected by a local radio station.

Bargoers and members of the news media crowded toward the eaters during the competition. As contestants tore through the wings, smearing their shirts and faces, the aroma of buffalo sauce from 130 pounds of cooked wings filled the room.

Ryan Nerz, an official with International Federation of Competitive Eating, was the master of ceremonies.

"For me, when I see this, I think physical poetry," he said.

The top eaters from yesterday's contest and two more qualifying rounds will go on to the final chicken-wing-eating contest in Boston in November.

Brian Alexander: 425-745-7845 or balexander@seattletimes.com