Dubai diner smashes pizza scoffing world record

A contest at Dubai pizzeria Pompeii resulted in a resident of the emirate, Anoop Soma Varma, gobbling down a 12-inch margarita pizza in just 64 seconds – lopping five seconds off the previous world record.

The competition on June 2 at the restaurant at Jumeirah Lake Towers welcomed participants to try and beat the record, which was held by Japanese eating pro Takeru Kobiyashi.

The 25-year-old Varma said: “It feels awesome to win this competition and claim a new world record.”

He won the prize of two return flights to Rome at the contest.

Cheryl Vaughn, director, Pompeii, said: “It was great to host so many of Dubai’s pizza lovers at our restaurant, and claiming a new world record along the way was a very exciting moment!

“Anoop is clearly a worthy winner – anyone that can eat a pizza that quickly deserves to visit the home of the pizza, where he will be able to enjoy fine Italian cuisine without the additional pressure of a stopwatch!”

Video footage of the event has been sent to Guinness World Records for authorisation, after which, Varma will be named as a Guinness record holder.