With Joey Chestnut out, Patrick Bertoletti wins Nathan’s hot dog eating contest

Miki Sudo celebrates after winning the women’s division of Nathan’s hot dog eating contest Thursday at Coney Island in Brooklyn. Sudo ate 51 hot dogs, a record for the division.

(Julia Nikhinson / Associated Press)

With the controversial absence of its king, Joey Chestnut, the competitive eating world turned its eyes to Coney Island, where an open field of competitors aimed to usurp the crown at Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest.

After 10 minutes of scarfing hot dogs, a new men’s champion emerged — Patrick Bertoletti. With mouth agape and stomach expanded, Bertoletti devoured 58 hot dogs to capture the Yellow Mustard Belt, outlasting 13 competitors.

For the first time in eight years, a new men’s champion was crowned.

Bertoletti, a Chicago native, returned to the event as the No. 9 ranked eater in the world. In his sixth appearance, he surpassed his personal best total of 55.

On the women’s side, the new potential face of competitive eating emerged as Miki Sudo, the reigning queen of the event, set a new women’s world record by downing 51 hot dogs in 10 minutes. She clinched her 10th Pink Belt in historic fashion, beating her previous world record of 48.5 hot dogs and buns and surpassing the 50-dog threshold.