Charts & Graphs

Quest for Glory

Sometimes it ends in a cash prize.

Competition Years Held Moderator Objective Champion in 2010 Prizes
Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest 1916–present (except 1941 & 1971), Coney Island, NY IFOCE (International Federation of Competitive Eating) Eat as many hot dogs as possible in 10 minutes (until 2008, 12 minutes) Joey Chestnut, 68 hot dogs (world record), 2009 Trophy, Nathan’s championship mustard belt, $20,000
World Beard and Moustache Championships 1990, 1995–present (biennially), locations various Past hosts include Swedish Moustache Club and Handlebar Club of London Win in categories such as Dalí Moustache or Full-beard Freestyle David Traver, Beard Team USA, for his snowshoe-shaped full beard, 2009 Engraved commemorative gold pan, $1,000
American Crossword Puzzle Tournament 1978–2007, Stamford, CT; 2008–15, Brooklyn, NY; 2015–present, Stamford, CT Will Shortz, New York Times crossword-puzzle editor Be fastest of three finalists in sudden-death match Dan Feyer, 2010 $5,000
Donkey Kong Record Ongoing contest, no official tournament (game created 1981) Twin Galaxies website, the Official Electronic Scoreboard High score in classic arcade game Hank S. Chien, plastic surgeon, 1,061,700 points, 2010 Internet glory
Air Guitar World Championships 1996–present, Oulu, Finland Oulu Music and Video Festival Astound judges with two 60-second performances Sylvain “Günther Love” Quimene, 2009 Handmade Flying Finn electric guitar, Golla backpack
Rock Paper Scissors World Championship 2002–9, Toronto World RPS Society, formally known as Paper Scissors Stone Club (founded 1842) Win the “dance of hands” by throwing the most winning hand signals Tim Conrad, 4 throws Rock, 4 throws Paper in final bout, 2009 $7,000, first; $1,500, second; $500, third