Pacific Park presented pounds of pistachios as the competitors of Major League Eating cracked open over 1,600 nuts, including a new world record for consumption of the tiny snack. James Webb, the fifth-ranked eater in the world from Sydney, Australia, shattered the previous record of 188 pistachios in an eight-minute time frame with an astonishing 338 pistachios, taking home the Wonderful Pistachios Get Crackin’ Eating Championship title and a $5,000 check.
Webb took the title from previous record holder and champion Nick Wehry, who ate alongside Webb and six other hungry competitors. Joining in the event were Major League Eating’s Webb, Wehry, Bartley Weaver IV, Darrien Thomas, Gideon Oji and Steven Hammond. The two biggest names, synonymous with the “Joey vs. Joey” tagline of the event, were the top-ranked eater in the world, Joey Chestnut, and Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Joey Bosa.
The new record holder joked that he had “no skin and half a nail” left over in his hands from the constant cracking, but was grateful for the chance to compete in Santa Monica.
“This [win] is definitely one to remember,” Webb said after the victory. “Santa Monica Pier, it’s famous, I’m from Australia [so] this is cool.”
Webb added that he enjoys the rapid pace of pistachio eating because he didn’t have to waste any time drinking water to down his food. He said that he began practicing with Australian pistachios, which are smaller than the Wonderful brand, and that Wonderful eventually sent him a kit to hone his craft with.
“I received it as I was leaving for the airport, so I packed it in my suitcase,” Webb stated. “I’ve been practicing for three days straight in my hotel with the Wonderful Pistachios, I don’t know if it was a blessing or a curse [at first], but obviously it’s a blessing.”
After the eight minutes were up, judges compared the ending weight of the competitors’ pistachio bowls to where they began at, converting the weight into the number of the nut to determine a victor. The consumption was up across the board from last year’s inaugural event, with four of the eight contestants besting the previous world-best mark.
A tie occurred for second-place behind Webb, with both Wehry and Thomas wolfing down 221 pistachios. Hammond finished in fourth with 191, followed by a tie for fifth between Chestnut and Weaver IV (167).
Chestnut, regarded as one of the most accomplished athletes in not just eating but all of sport, turned his training into results with a 46-pistachio jump from his 2023 performance. Though it didn’t end with a top finish, the eating mainstay called the Pacific Park crowd “awesome” and said he was “ready to eat more” after the hectic eight minutes.
Bosa, a four-time National Football League Pro Bowl selection with the Chargers, more than held his own with a 152-pistachio performance, coming in seventh place out of eight eaters.
“It was great, it was fun, there was great support,” Bosa told the Pacific Park crowd. “Thanks for the cheers, [though] I’m not sure which Joey it was for.”