Shrimp surprise: Joey Chestnut loses shrimp-eating contest in Indianapolis

When it comes to eating, few people can compare to Joey Chestnut. But on Saturday, he was upstaged by a shrimp.

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A shrimp eater, that is.

Chestnut, a 15-time winner of the annual Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, saw his eight-year winning streak snapped at the St. Elmo Shrimp Cocktail Eating Championship in Indianapolis on Saturday, WXIN-TV reported.

Geoff Esper, who was the runner-up in last year’s event, won this year’s $3,000 top prize, after devouring 16 pounds, 6.4 ounces of shrimp in eight minutes, WTHR-TV reported.

Chestnut, who had won the competition in every year of its existence, fell to fourth place on Saturday, according to WXIN.

At 195 pounds, Esper, 47, of Oxford, Massachusetts, is no shrimp when it comes to winning eating competitions.

According to the Major League Eating website, Esper holds 14 world eating records. He won the Hooters wing-eating competitions in 2017 and 2019 and has also taken titles in the Fortune Bay Indian Taco and Jack’s Donuts Donut Holes competitions.

In finishing fourth, Chestnut ate 10 pounds, 9.6 ounces of shrimp, WTHR reported.

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