The 2022 World Pumpkin Pie Eating Championship was held at Destination Outlets in Jeffersonville on Sunday. A total of 12 participants from all over the world competed in this event, with the winner receiving $2,000 and a trophy for their efforts.
A large crowd gathered in the parking lot as they watched the festivities take place. Last year, No. 1 ranked competitive eater in the world, Joey Chestnut consumed 16.75lbs of pumpkin pie, taking home the crown. The record for the eight-minute all-you-can-eat pumpkin pie-eating event is held by Matt Stonie, who consumed 20 pounds, 13 ounces in 2014.
Geoff Esper, a 47-year-old from Oxford, MA, and No. 2 competitive eater in the world, was this year’s winner. He currently holds 14 world records when it comes to competitive eating.
Esper consumed 13.75lbs of pumpkin pie in eight minutes, narrowly defeating the No. 1 ranked female competitive eater in the world, Miki Sudo, who consumed 13.3lbs of pumpkin pie. Sudo is also the No. 3 ranked competitive eater in the world, overall.
In third place, consuming 12.4lbs of pie was Nick Wehry. Wehry is the No. 4 ranked competitive eater in the world, and also the husband of Sudo.
Bodybuilder and No. 16 ranked competitive eater in the world, Bartley Weaver, finished in fourth after consuming 10.75lbs of pie.
No. 13 ranked competitive eater Steven Hammond came in fifth with 9.5lbs eaten, followed by No. 17 ranked George Chiger who ate 8.75lbs, and Radim Dvoraceck who ate 8.25lbs.
Ohio-native and No. 23 ranked Derek Jacobs ate 6.5lbs, good enough for eighth place.
No. 27 ranked Eric “Badlands” Booker came in ninth after consuming 5.75lbs of pie.
No. 39 John Gebhard was 10th, consuming 5lbs, followed by No. 40 Matthew Raible in 11th with 4.25lbs and rookie competitive eater Katie Delzoppo in 12th with 2.75lbs consumed.
Destination Outlets General Manager Jennifer Snyder spoke about the event on Sunday.
“We were so excited to bring back the World Pumpkin Pie Eating Championship in 2022. Our goal was to make this event even bigger and better compared to 2021 and we did just that! We want to thank the community, our customers, the contestants, and Major League Eating for making this event a huge success. We’re looking forward to bringing back what will be the third annual World Pumpkin Pie Eating Championship in 2023! And we can’t wait to see everyone during the 2022 holiday shopping season!”
