Photo by Martin Locraft.

Half-smoke aficionados take heed: Just as Taylor Charles Steak & Ice is having a five-minute Italian water ice eating contest this weekend, Ben’s Chili Bowl will be hosting their own competition. The first annual half-smoke eating contest will take place on Saturday during the H Street Festival festivities. As Ben’s will open its second location on H St. next year, I guess this is their way of breaking into the neighborhood.

If you think you can down half-smokes like water in record time, register fast, as there’s only eight spots available. To register, send your contact info to: info@benschilibowl.com. There’s no word on what the top prize is for eating the most half-smokes. DCist reached out to Ben’s for more info on that and we’ll update when we hear back. One can imagine though. Ben’s Chili Bowl’s Vida Ali tells DCist that the winner will be “whoever can eat six half-smokes with chili the fastest, or whoever can eat the most [plain half-smokes] in six minutes.” Dear God.

The winner will receive $200 cash and a $50 Ben’s Chili Bowl gift card, and the runner-up will receive a $50 Ben’s Chili Bowl gift card.

The showdown takes place at 2 p.m. at the stage at 10th and H Streets NE. Here’s more details about it:

Photo via Ben’s Chili Bowl.

Enter now for your chance to be crowned as the the Sausage King of D.C., just like Abe Froman of Chicago: