Zelda player awarded with $10,000 gold trophy for completing KFC-sponsored speedrun

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Fast food restaurant chain KFC has awarded a speedrunner a gold trophy valued at over $10,000.

Inspired by the secret “11 herbs and spices” that constitute the recipe for KFC's original flavor chicken, the competition required players to complete a bizarre challenge within The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Rather than asking gamers to do battle with any of the game's bosses or to collect one of the title's best weapons, the challenge was instead based on gathering a KFC-inspired list of items (via VGC).

Concocted by KFC's Spanish marketing arm in collaboration with a speedrunning community known as Speedrun Espanol, The Recipe Run required players to arrive at the Bedrock Bistro with an empty inventory. They then had to speak to a Goron called Gomo, affectionately nicknamed "The Goronel" by KFC due to his striking resemblance to the company's own mascot: the Colonel.

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After talking to Gomo, players then had to gather one raw bird drumstick and 11 different herbs and spices as quickly as possible. Once they'd done this, they then had to cook a fried chicken drumstick to complete the run.

The contest was won by Keuss, a French player who finished the run in just over an hour. You can see the run below if you're curious.

For his troubles, Keuss was awarded with the promised gold chicken leg trophy with that five-figure value, earning himself one heck of a conversation piece.

Even when played more conventionally, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is known for demanding high levels of creativity from gamers with its emphasis on construction puzzles and lateral thinking.

That said, creative speedrunning is nothing new, with players regularly finding new and interesting ways to enjoy their favorite games. For instance, Larian Studios' critically acclaimed RPG, Baldur's Gate 3 has spawned a speedrunning subculture based around romancing one of the game's companions as quickly as possible.

Looking for more great Nintendo games? Check out our lists of the best Nintendo Switch games and the best Pokémon games.

An editor and freelance journalist, Cat Bussell has been writing about video games for more than four years and, frankly, she’s developed a taste for it. As seen on TechRadar, Technopedia, The Gamer, Wargamer, and SUPERJUMP, Cat’s reviews, features, and guides are lovingly curated for your reading pleasure.

A Cambridge graduate, recovering bartender, and Cloud Strife enjoyer, Cat’s foremost mission is to bring you the best coverage she can, whether that’s through helpful guides, even-handed reviews, or thought-provoking features. She’s interviewed indie darlings, triple-A greats, and legendary voice actors, all to help you get closer to the action. When she’s not writing, Cat can be found sticking her neck into a fresh RPG or running yet another Dungeons & Dragons game.