Decided by a tiebreaker
Tie
identical totals at the top
The top two teams finished on identical totals — the Grand Championship came down to the KCBS tiebreaker rules.
Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship
2023-12-01 – 2023-12-02 · Demopolis, AL · 📍 Childers and Main · State championship
Reps: CAROL BIGLER, RANDY G BIGLER
Grand Champion: Heavy Smoke BBQ (698.1940) · 17 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 CONTAGIOUS Q
The contest at a glance (read off the scored boards)
How the field scored
Overall totals, every team on the board — tall stacks are where the pack sat.
440.49
median 685.58
698.19 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Master Series — Chicken 177.70
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 180.00 🔥
- Master Series — Pork 177.70
- Master Series — Brisket 180.00 🔥
- Backyard Series — Chicken 175.41
- Backyard Series — Pork Ribs 177.70
20.00
180.00
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2021 to 2025 — this edition picked out.
Entries
18
6 judged meats · 2 ancillary
Top score
698.1940
Winning margin
Tie
identical totals — KCBS tiebreaker
Field average
659.29
440.49698.19
median 685.58 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Chicken
2.2972 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
685.0856
440.49698.19
10th place overall
Field spread
257.7024
winner to last place
Double threats
10
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 41%
beats 59% of 4707 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
53%
18 of 34 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.48 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1607
avg power rating going in · stronger than 82% of contests
Storylines (9 found in this contest's numbers)
Everything below is read straight out of the results — the number on each card is the one that made it a story.
A day of perfect scores
3
perfect 180s
3 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- MEMPHIS ORIGINAL BBQ · Brisket
- Heavy Smoke BBQ · Pork Ribs
- Kith n' Kin · Pork Ribs
A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 5 tracked editions
Heavy Smoke BBQ has won this contest 2 times across its 5 tracked editions.
- 2021
- 2023
A knife fight at the top
4.0232
points across the top five
First to fifth in the overall standings covered just 4.0232 points — 4 teams sat within a single point of the lead.
- 1st Heavy Smoke BBQ
- 2nd CONTAGIOUS Q
- 3rd Poppa Pig
- 4th MEMPHIS ORIGINAL BBQ
- 5th Kith n' Kin
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 16 calls decided inside half a point
Master Series — Chicken places 1–2: COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ and Kith n' Kin tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 2–3: Kith n' Kin and CONTAGIOUS Q tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 7–8: Poppa Pig and OFF THE RACK BBQ tied on 170.8344 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Master Series — Chicken 1–2 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 2–3 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 7–8 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 9–10 · tie
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
MEMPHIS ORIGINAL BBQ won Pork, Brisket — a double.
- Pork 1st
- Brisket 1st
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
Heavy Smoke BBQ took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was pork at 9th.
- Chicken 4th
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 9th
- Brisket 8th
A contest record in pork ribs
180.0000
best pork ribs ever cooked here
Heavy Smoke BBQ turned in 180.0000 in pork ribs — past the 178.8572 that had stood across 2 earlier editions.
- old best 178.8572
- across 2 past editions
Back to defend
1
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: Heavy Smoke BBQ (won 2021).
- Heavy Smoke BBQ · 2021
Score curves (score by finishing position — steep cliffs mean a spread field, flat lines a knife fight)
Category showdown (top / average / median score per meat)
Score distribution
Biggest rating movers (power-rating points won and lost at this contest)
Did form hold? (pre-contest rating vs overall finish — ratings called it if the dots climb to the right)
This contest over the years full contest page →
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-12-02 | Demopolis, AL | Demopolis, AL 36732 | 19 | 698.2172 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | Poppa Pig |
| 2022-12-01 | Demopolis, AL | Childers and Main | 13 | 697.0628 | Rooters-N-Tooters | CONTAGIOUS Q |
| 2023-12-01 ← this one | Demopolis, AL | Childers and Main | 17 | 698.1940 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | CONTAGIOUS Q |
| 2024-12-06 | Demopolis, AL | Childers and Main | 11 | 698.8228 | Smoke Me Silly | COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ |
| 2025-12-05 | Demopolis, AL | Childers and Main | 21 | 709.6800 | Bad Rooster | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN |
| 2026-12-04 | Demopolis, AL | — | — | — | — | — |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 177.7028 | 175.4056 | 170.8112 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 180.0000 | 176.5600 | 170.2972 |
| Master Series — Pork | 177.7028 | 171.9772 | 167.3944 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 180.0000 | 174.2628 | 170.8228 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 175.4056 | 167.3828 | 165.0856 |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 177.7028 | 170.2628 | 162.8000 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
17 entries · top 698.1940 · median 685.5768
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 2 | CONTAGIOUS Q | |
| 3 | Poppa Pig | |
| 4 | MEMPHIS ORIGINAL BBQ | |
| 5 | Kith n' Kin | |
| 6 | OFF THE RACK BBQ | |
| 7 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 8 | Willingham's | |
| 9 | Organizer Portal | |
| 10 | COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 11 | The BBQ Asylum | |
| 12 | Shiggin aint easy | |
| 13 | Smokin' Butt Crew | |
| 14 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 15 | Big Stanky's BBQ | |
| 16 | McAbee Pigfitters | |
| 17 | M and M Finger Lickin' BBQ |
Chicken
17 entries · top 177.7028 · median 170.8112
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 2 | Kith n' Kin | |
| 3 | CONTAGIOUS Q | |
| 4 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 5 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 6 | The BBQ Asylum | |
| 7 | Poppa Pig | |
| 8 | OFF THE RACK BBQ | |
| 9 | Organizer Portal | |
| 10 | Willingham's | |
| 11 | Shiggin aint easy | |
| 12 | MEMPHIS ORIGINAL BBQ | |
| 13 | Smokin' Butt Crew | |
| 14 | McAbee Pigfitters | |
| 15 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 16 | Big Stanky's BBQ | |
| 17 | M and M Finger Lickin' BBQ |
Pork Ribs
17 entries · top 180.0000 · median 170.8228 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 2 | Kith n' Kin | |
| 3 | Organizer Portal | |
| 4 | CONTAGIOUS Q | |
| 5 | Shiggin aint easy | |
| 6 | Poppa Pig | |
| 7 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 8 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 9 | MEMPHIS ORIGINAL BBQ | |
| 10 | COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 11 | The BBQ Asylum | |
| 12 | OFF THE RACK BBQ | |
| 13 | Willingham's | |
| 14 | McAbee Pigfitters | |
| 15 | Smokin' Butt Crew | |
| 16 | Big Stanky's BBQ | |
| 17 | M and M Finger Lickin' BBQ |
Pork
17 entries · top 177.7028 · median 168.5256
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MEMPHIS ORIGINAL BBQ | |
| 2 | OFF THE RACK BBQ | |
| 3 | Poppa Pig | |
| 4 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 5 | Willingham's | |
| 6 | Smokin' Butt Crew | |
| 7 | CONTAGIOUS Q | |
| 8 | Organizer Portal | |
| 9 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 10 | The BBQ Asylum | |
| 11 | COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 12 | McAbee Pigfitters | |
| 13 | Kith n' Kin | |
| 14 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 15 | Big Stanky's BBQ | |
| 16 | Shiggin aint easy | |
| 17 | M and M Finger Lickin' BBQ |
Brisket
16 entries · top 180.0000 · median 173.1084 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MEMPHIS ORIGINAL BBQ | |
| 2 | Poppa Pig | |
| 3 | Willingham's | |
| 4 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 5 | CONTAGIOUS Q | |
| 6 | OFF THE RACK BBQ | |
| 7 | The BBQ Asylum | |
| 8 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 9 | Shiggin aint easy | |
| 10 | Smokin' Butt Crew | |
| 11 | Kith n' Kin | |
| 12 | COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 13 | Organizer Portal | |
| 14 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 15 | Big Stanky's BBQ | |
| 16 | M and M Finger Lickin' BBQ |
Backyard Series
Overall
18 entries · top 347.3712 · median 326.7886
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Modest Meats | |
| 2 | Deviant Smoke | |
| 3 | NORALA BBQ TEAM | |
| 4 | Colonel Rusty's | |
| 5 | Smokey Bees BBQ - MS | |
| 6 | RibLife | |
| 7 | SLATER HOUSE BBQ | |
| 8 | Batwing BBQ | |
| 9 | Captain Morgans Barbeque Team | |
| 10 | Mass Kaoss | |
| 11 | Struttin Smokers | |
| 12 | Naheola Pride | |
| 13 | PB &J BBQ | |
| 14 | Kick N' Butt BBQ | |
| 15 | Cemex-Demopolis | |
| 16 | Pork-A-Holics | |
| 17 | Little Stankys BBQ | |
| 18 | Elect Rob Lee |
Chicken
18 entries · top 175.4056 · median 165.0856
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | NORALA BBQ TEAM | |
| 2 | Deviant Smoke | |
| 3 | Colonel Rusty's | |
| 4 | Modest Meats | |
| 5 | RibLife | |
| 6 | Struttin Smokers | |
| 7 | PB &J BBQ | |
| 8 | Smokey Bees BBQ - MS | |
| 9 | Batwing BBQ | |
| 10 | Pork-A-Holics | |
| 11 | Captain Morgans Barbeque Team | |
| 12 | SLATER HOUSE BBQ | |
| 13 | Elect Rob Lee | |
| 14 | Naheola Pride | |
| 15 | Kick N' Butt BBQ | |
| 16 | Little Stankys BBQ | |
| 17 | Mass Kaoss | |
| 18 | Cemex-Demopolis |
Pork Ribs
18 entries · top 177.7028 · median 162.8058
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Modest Meats | |
| 2 | Smokey Bees BBQ - MS | |
| 3 | Deviant Smoke | |
| 4 | Colonel Rusty's | |
| 5 | Mass Kaoss | |
| 6 | NORALA BBQ TEAM | |
| 7 | RibLife | |
| 8 | SLATER HOUSE BBQ | |
| 9 | Captain Morgans Barbeque Team | |
| 10 | Batwing BBQ | |
| 11 | Cemex-Demopolis | |
| 12 | Naheola Pride | |
| 13 | Kick N' Butt BBQ | |
| 14 | Struttin Smokers | |
| 15 | Little Stankys BBQ | |
| 16 | PB &J BBQ | |
| 17 | Pork-A-Holics | |
| 18 | Elect Rob Lee |
Ancillary categories
Run by the organizers alongside the sanctioned contest. These are judged on their own terms and do not count toward the overall score, so they're kept out of the meat stats above.
Ancillary — Dessert
10 entries · top 180.0000 · median 173.1372 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | RibLife | |
| 2 | Deviant Smoke | |
| 3 | SLATER HOUSE BBQ | |
| 4 | Colonel Rusty's | |
| 5 | Kick N' Butt BBQ | |
| 6 | OFF THE RACK BBQ | |
| 7 | Elect Rob Lee | |
| 8 | M and M Finger Lickin' BBQ | |
| 9 | Big Stanky's BBQ | |
| 10 | Little Stankys BBQ |
Ancillary — Sauce
17 entries · top 175.4056 · median 168.5256
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Struttin Smokers | |
| 2 | Pork-A-Holics | |
| 3 | Deviant Smoke | |
| 4 | Batwing BBQ | |
| 5 | Captain Morgans Barbeque Team | |
| 6 | Colonel Rusty's | |
| 7 | OFF THE RACK BBQ | |
| 8 | The BBQ Asylum | |
| 9 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 10 | Naheola Pride | |
| 11 | McAbee Pigfitters | |
| 12 | Kick N' Butt BBQ | |
| 13 | M and M Finger Lickin' BBQ | |
| 14 | PB &J BBQ | |
| 15 | Smokin' Butt Crew | |
| 16 | Mass Kaoss | |
| 17 | Elect Rob Lee |