Kobayashi eats record 337 chicken wings

PHILADELPHIA - Competitive-eating champ Takeru Kobayashi conquered Philadelphia's annual gustatory gorge-fest by eating 337 chicken wings in a half-hour before a crowd of nearly 20,000 at Wing Bowl XX.

The Japanese phenom demolished the record of 255 set last year by Jonathan "Super" Squibb.

The Friday morning extravaganza drew thousands to the Wells Fargo Center before sunrise to watch competitors stuff themselves with chicken wings. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the competition featured two 14-minute rounds, followed by a 2-minute round of sprint eating.

Kobayashi claimed a $20,000 cash prize for his victory. It was the six-time Nathan's Hot Dog eating contest champ's first time competing at Wing Bowl, though he consumed a cheesesteak in 24 seconds as part of an eating exhibition last year.

Kobayashi boasted through an interpreter, "I could probably eat another 100 wings or so. "Not really fast, I'd have to take my time. But if you brought me 100 more I could eat them."

Squibb had been trying to win his fourth consecutive Wing Bowl crown, but the Berlin, N.J., man finished a distant second with 271 wings.