Thursday, July 3, 2025 RESULTS
First Place, Molly Schuyler 40 Burgers - $2,000
Second Place, Dan Killer Kennedy 39 Burgers - $1,250
Third Place, Sean Yeager 27 Burgers - $1,000
Fourth Place, David Brunelli 21 Burgers - $750
Fifth Place, Robert McGee 18 Burgers - $500
Molly Schuyler Captures 11th Title, Breaks Record, Downing 40 Burgers In 10 Minutes at 16th Annual Z-Burger Independence Burger Eating Championship
WASHINGTON, DC (July 3, 2025) – Cheered on by an enthusiastic crowd clearly showing their support, Molly Schuyler came from behind, eating 40 burgers in 10 minutes to claim her 11th trophy – eclipsing Dan “Killer” Kennedy with whom she shared last year’s title (each of them eating 34 burgers). She broke the event record (held by her!) to win the 16th Annual Z-Burger Independence Burger Eating Championship this afternoon (Thu., July 3) at the Tenleytown Z-Burger in Northwest Washington, DC.
Kennedy (West Decatur, Pa.), now a six-time runner-up here, took a quick early lead over all competitors, holding the lead through 33 burgers. Schuyler maintained a consistent pace just behind Kennedy throughout but pulled ahead at 34. The 45-year-old mother of four from Harwood, MD earned the $2,000 top prize and Kennedy claimed second place prize money of $1,250.
Sean “The Mouth Eats” Yeager (Phoenixville, PA) finished third, with 27 burgers, surpassing his 2023 total of 25 and taking home $1,000 prize money.
The other top finishers for the afternoon were David “Tiger Wings and Things” Brunelli (Philadelphia) in fourth place with 21 burgers, and Robert McGee (New York) in fifth with 18 burgers. Brunelli earned $750 and McGee , $500.
“I’m proud that in our 16 years, the Z-Burger Independence Burger Eating Contest has earned its place as a major event on the competitive food eating landscape, each year adding exciting new elements for the crowds and the competitors,” said founder Peter Tabibian, proprietor of Z-Burger retail locations in DC, Maryland and Virginia. “We are always thrilled to welcome a full field of competitors and a boisterous crowd of spectators. Today we celebrated on a beautiful DC afternoon, kicking off a great holiday weekend.”
About Z-Burger
Z-Burger is a quick-casual American restaurant known for its burgers, fries, onion rings and 75 milkshake flavors. Z-Burger operates locations in the greater Washington, DC metropolitan area. https://www.zburger.com/
