CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- Bob Plager of Littleton, Colo., has been crowned the top maker of traditional red chili at the International Chili Society's world championship cook-off.

 

Plager was presented a $25,000 check after beating out dozens of others Sunday at the ICS signature event in Charleston.

 

Carrie Lentz Parker of Leesburg, Va., finished second and Plager's wife, Kathy, was third. Last year's world champion, John Jepson of Merced, Calif., finished fourth.

 

World champions crowned in other events earlier included Bob Hall of Taylorville, Ill., in green chili; Jerry Buma of Northbridge, Mass., in salsa, and Tom Pardikes of Plymouth, Mich., in homestyle chili. Buma also won the red chili world event in 2007.

 

The world championships also were held in Charleston in 2009. The contest heads to Palm Springs, Calif., next year.