"I've been trying to hit 80 hot dogs for years. Without Kobayashi, I was never able to do it. He drives me. We weren't always nice to each other, but I love what he can do. We push each other to be our best," Chestnut said on stage after the win.
"I feel like I did everything I could," Kobayashi responded via an interpreter. The Japan native had previously announced his retirement from competitive eating earlier this year, and in doing so also revealed that he can no longer feel hunger.
Before Chestnut burst onto the scene in 2007, Kobayashi held the Nathans Hot Dog Eating Contest championship from 2001-2006. Chestnut would go onto win 16 titles in 17 years before being banned from this year's most recent competition due to a brand deal he made with Impossible Food.
The competition followed the same format as the Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating contest held in Coney Island, New York. Contestants were not permitted to dunk or pour water on their hot dogs, or separate them from the buns.
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