Patrick Bertoletti, Geoffrey Esper and other contestants compete in the 2024 Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island in New York City, U.S., July 4, 2024. Patrick Bertoletti won Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, the annual competition held on July 4, marking the end of an era after 16-time winner Joey Chestnut's falling out with the event's organizer, Major League Eating. MLE announced last month that it was parting ways with Chestnut, citing a rule that participants cannot strike endorsement deals with rivals of hot dog maker Nathan's. "For nearly two decades we have worked under the same basic hot dog exclusivity provisions," the MLE said in a statement in June. "However, it seems that Joey and his managers have prioritized a new partnership with a different hot dog brand over our long-time relationship."

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Persons: Patrick Bertoletti, Geoffrey Esper, There's, frankfurter, Joey Chestnut's, Miki Sudo, MLE, Chestnut, Joey Locations: Coney, New York City, U.S, Illinois