Ribfest Chicago's RibMania IV: Clash of the Titan Appetites

#7-Ranked Miki Sudo Takes Trophy

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Jun 08, 2013, 02:00 ET

CHICAGO, June 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Ribfest Chicago's RibMania, the Midwest's largest professional eating competition, and one of only three sanctioned rib-eating events in the country, took the Chicago Reader Stage (Lincoln and Berteau Avenues) at 6 p.m. on June 7 in front of a record crowd.

In an impressive showing, #7-ranked Miki Sudo narrowly edged out a victory by devouring 2.9 pounds of St. Louis style spare ribs in six minutes to capture the coveted 2013 trophy and $2,000 cash prize. The crowd cheered on their favorites, but it was Sudo who put away the most pork as determined by judges Sam Barclay and Matthew Raible of Major League Eating.

The #1-ranked professional eater in the world, Joey Chestnut, led the field of the nation's top competitors, such as #5 Bob "Notorious B.O.B" Shoudt and #11 Erik Denmark, on a quest to conquer RibMania and pocket the top prize of the $4,000 purse.

Chestnut, who has attained his fame with 5 straight hot dog-eating championships and dozens of eating records, has experience on his side when it comes to debris competitions such as rib battles. Nonetheless, this is a specialized and technical event where speedy eaters tend to lose their capacity advantage to finesse, strategy and endurance. Indeed this proved to be the case as Sudo won the title of champion.

This year's rib-eating competition was sponsored by Rub's Backcountry Smokehouse, who won Ribfest Chicago's "Best Ribs" competition in 2012 as decided by a panel of celebrity judges. The restaurant provided one hundred pounds of smoked ribs for the ten eaters to consume in the eight-minute competition, and hopes for another opportunity by winning "Best Ribs" 2013 www.backcountryq.com

RibMania is sanctioned by Major League Eating & International Federation of Competitive Eating. www.ifoce.com

HD Video for broadcast: http://bit.ly/198b1Fr

WHAT:	Ribfest Chicago is on the map as one of the greatest food and music combos in the city. What ignited in 1999 as a community block party has exploded into one of Chicago's most anticipated street festivals. Averaging 50,000 pounds of ribs and BBQ from dozens of restaurants, more than 50,000 people are expected to kick off summer at the THREE-day event.
WHEN:	RibMania Professional Rib-Eating Competition is Friday at 6pm on the Chicago Reader Stage (4165 N. Lincoln Ave.). Ribfest Chicago is Friday, June 7, from 5 to 10 pm; Saturday, June 8 and Sunday, June 9 from noon to 10 pm.
WHERE:	Ribfest takes place in the Northcenter neighborhood on Lincoln Avenue between Irving Park Road and Berteau Avenue. CTA Bus 11, 50, 80 stop at Damen/Irving Park Road El: Brown Line to Irving Park.
WHY:	Proceeds benefit Northcenter Chamber initiatives, annual community programming, local charities, neighborhood greening and beautification efforts, the School Grant Program and approved charitable funding by the Chamber Philanthropy Committee. For more information, visit www.Ribfest-Chicago.com. Sponsored by Bud Light, Chicago Reader, WXRT and Gnarly Head Wines. Founded in 1946, the Northcenter Chamber of Commerce is a community and business development organization on Chicago's North Side. By promoting and supporting commercial, professional, financial and non-profit enterprises, its members are dedicated to making Northcenter a great place to live, shop and grow. The Northcenter Chamber's highly anticipated and attended community events, such as Ribfest Chicago, make it one of Chicago's premier neighborhood organizations. For more information about the Northcenter Chamber of Commerce, visit www.northcenterchamber.com.