The Siegel’s Bagelmania World Eating Championship, held on Saturday, delivered a spectacle worthy of the hype, with Joey Chestnut emerging as the victor. Chestnut managed to consume 15 plain bagels with two teaspoons of cream cheese in eight minutes, matching his performance from the previous year. Although his total fell short of the event record of 17 ¾ set by Geoffrey Esper in 2023, it was enough to secure the win.
Esper, who hails from Oxford, Massachusetts, finished third with 13 1/8 bagels, while Patrick Bertoletti from Chicago took second place with 14 1/2 bagels. Chestnut’s victory earned him a $5,000 share of the $10,000 prize pool, a custom WWE-style championship belt, and bagel-themed bragging rights.
The event, hosted by Siegel’s Bagelmania owners Steven and Judi Siegel, attracted around 500 attendees. The competition serves as a marketing tool for the deli, with Chief Business Officer Michael Crandall aiming to grow the event into a large-scale, televised spectacle. The event showcased the unique blend of competitive eating and entertainment, drawing attention to Siegel’s Bagelmania and its ambitions.
