National Harbor, Maryland – October 17, 2026 -- Five Guys will award $100,000 to the winner of its Five Guys Games final on May 13 at The Theater at MGM National Harbor in Maryland, closing a six-month internal contest open to the chain's 50,000 employees.
Three timed events decide the $100,000 grand prize
Finalists compete in a potato race, a cheese stack race and a QC wrapping race. The Five Guys Training Team judges the events, watching and timing each competitor for speed and accuracy.
The Olympic-style contest began as an idea from the Murrell family to reward store crew members. Crew members, managers and general managers have competed through store, regional and semifinal rounds.
New York-area crew members dominate the eight-person field
Jackson Chimbay of Wallkill, NY, won the 2022 Games and finished runner-up in 2024. He has reached more finals than anyone in the field. Jonathan Martinez of Kingston, NY, regularly trains with him. Jose Once of New York, NY, a 14-year veteran and Chimbay's older brother, makes his third finals appearance.
Peter Le of Derry, NH, takes days off to drive to New York and New Jersey and train with Chimbay, Once and Martinez.
Defending champion Joshua Harvey carries a 2021 penalty memory
Joshua Harvey of Albuquerque, NM, holds the title. In the 2021 finals he beat his opponent in the QC race but was eliminated by a penalty for failing to return a fork to the container.
Carson Tate of Kingsport, TN, a general manager who joined at 16, has lost in the first round in both of his finals appearances.
International qualifiers include a late replacement from Paris
Enock Akuwure of Liverpool, UK, won the London semifinals despite breaking his back a month earlier. He could not work for two weeks and recovered through stretching routines.
Aurelien Favreau of Paris, France, finished third in London. He entered the final only days ago, after the second-place finisher could not attend.