Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, one of the world’s top-ranked competitive eaters, will return to Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2 p.m. at the Braxton Fass Bar at the corner of 3rd Street & Walnut Street in downtown Cincinnati.

Competitors will have ten minutes to consume as many bratwurst as they can, hoping to earn the title of Oktoberfest Zinzinnati World Bratwurst-Eating Champion.

"Bratwurst is among the most demanding disciplines on the competitive eating calendar, requiring a combination of jaw strength, hand speed and stomach capacity," said George Shea, Chair of Major League Eating. "The finest eaters in the world will gather in Cincinnati to prove their skill in pursuit of the World Brat-Eating Championship title.”



“To be the best, you have to eat the wurst,” said Cynthia Oxley, director of Oktoberfest Zinzinnati. “America’s Oktoberfest is ready to welcome returning champ Joey Chestnut and Major League Eating to Zinzinnati.”

At last year's Championship, Chestnut again proved that he is the greatest bratwurst-eater in the history of the world. Chestnut ate 49 brats in 10 minutes for the win—his eighth straight Cincinnati bratwurst-eating title. He remains undefeated at the event and is expected to defend his title again in 2018.

Chestnut will face fierce competition from a number of top-ranked Major League eaters. Scheduled to compete in the event are #5-ranked Darron Breeden from Orange, Va., #18-ranked George Chiger, #19-ranked Derek Jacobs from Vandalia, #21-ranked Matt Hazzard from Normal, Ill., #36-ranked Darrien Thomas from Orillia, Ontario and #38-ranked Matthew Raible from Peoria, Ill.

More than 80,000 bratwursts are consumed at Oktoberfest Zinzinnati each year. If placed end-to-end, they would equal the length of 29 Empire State Buildings. For more information and a schedule of events, visit www.OktoberfestZinzinnati.com.

About Oktoberfest Zinzinnati
America’s Oktoberfest, Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, is produced by the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber and presented by Amazon and Sam Adams. The 2018 event is Sept. 21-23 on Second and Third Streets, between Walnut and Elm Streets in downtown. Zinzinnati. The celebration showcases the Zinzinnati region’s rich German heritage, as well as German-style music, food and beer. First held in 1976, the event has grown to be America's largest Oktoberfest with more than 650,000 people attending each year.

About Major League Eating
Major League Eating (MLE), the world governing body of all stomach-centric sports, conducts more than 80 events annually, including the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest in Coney Island, N.Y. The competitive eating community is made up of more than 8,000 veteran and rookie gurgitators who travel the nation in search of top titles and the glory that they provide. For more information, visit www.IFOCE.com, www.facebook.com/eatfast or Twitter @eatingcontest.

About the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber
The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber grows the vibrancy and economic prosperity of the Cincinnati region. It does this by serving as a bold voice for the interests of its 4,000-member businesses and their more than 300,000 employees. The Chamber is committed to expanding the region's talent base by attracting new residents and finding new ways to connect employers to skilled workers. And, by harnessing the power of Cincinnati USA’s unique offerings, implementing regional vision, and through intentional inclusion in everything we do, the Chamber is on a path to help transform this region into the hottest city in America. For more information, visit www.cincinnatichamber.com.