Carson's Piercznski is champion of the Red Chili competition in Reno

Carson City's Mary Pierczynski is the champion in the International Chili Society's Nevada State Red Chili Competition at Harrah's Reno.

"I'm shocked and surprised and happy. I thought I had good chili but I wasn't sure it was good enough to win," Pierczynski said.

This win automatically qualifies Pierczynski to cook in the ICS World Championship the second weekend in October in downtown Las Vegas.

Her husband Ed, or Dr. Chili, won the World Championship Cookoff in 1992. He didn't cook in the state cookoff this year.

The second place winner was Shirley Kudson, of Red Bluff, Calif. Third place went to Dave Hipskind, of Sacramento.

In the green chili competition, Adrian Furman, a Northern California cook, took first place.