A razor-thin finish
1.1428
points between champion and reserve
Closer than 81% of the 4,713 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 1.1428 points — closer than 81% of every championship in the data.
- Blue Smoke Q
- ZIPS BBQ
Smoke on the Falls BBQ Competition
Apr 11–12, 2025 · Gadsden, AL · 📍 1600 Noccalula Rd · State championship
Reps: Carol Bigler, Janet Appleton, Randy G Bigler, Sam Appleton · Prize money: $11,220
Blue Smoke Q won Grand Champion at the Smoke on the Falls BBQ Competition on April 11, 2025 in Gadsden, AL at 1600 Noccalula Rd, scoring 706.2284 in a field of 31 teams. ZIPS BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 705.0856. Category winners: Chicken — Organizer Portal (179.4400); Pork Ribs — Kings BBQ Team (180.0000); Pork — ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN (180.0000); Brisket — Blue Smoke Q (180.0000). The Backyard Series standings were won by Fire Pig with 354.2744.
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.
510.77
median 690.77
706.23 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Master Series — Chicken 179.44
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 180 🔥
- Master Series — Pork 180 🔥
- Master Series — Brisket 180 🔥
- Backyard Series — Chicken 178.86
- Backyard Series — Pork Ribs 177.71
146.18
180
Entries
35
6 judged meats · 3 ancillary
Top score
706.2284
Winning margin
1.1428
GC over RC
Field average
679.02
510.77706.23
median 690.77 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Pork
1.1428 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
694.7884
510.77706.23
10th place overall
Field spread
195.4628
winner to last place
Prize money
$11,220
on the line
Double threats
7
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 11%
beats 89% of 4714 Master Series wins in the data
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.6 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,587
avg power rating going in · stronger than 68% of contests
Storylines (6 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.
An upset on the books
12-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 88 times in 100
Blue Smoke Q came in rated below the field's top team, Organizer Portal, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 12-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1541
- top seed 1893
A first Grand Championship
26
tracked contests to get there
This was Blue Smoke Q's first Grand Championship in the data — it arrived at their 26th tracked contest.
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.
- Blue Smoke Q · Brisket
- ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN · Pork
- Kings BBQ Team · Pork Ribs
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 28 calls decided inside half a point
Master Series — Chicken places 2–3: BAD ROOSTER BBQ and MUDVILLE BBQ tied on 178.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 4–5: The BBQ Asylum and ZIPS BBQ tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 8–9: Poppa Pig and LC BBQ tied on 175.4056 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Master Series — Chicken 2–3 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 4–5 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 8–9 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 9–10 · tie
How the title was won
2 of 4
meats called to the stage
Blue Smoke Q took the title on 2 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was pork ribs at 17th.
- Chicken 13th
- Pork Ribs 17th
- Pork 4th
- Brisket 1st
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)
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 179.4400 | 177.7028 | 175.4056 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 180 | 177.1544 | 174.8572 |
| Master Series — Pork | 180 | 178.8572 | 176.5600 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 180 | 175.4172 | 173.1084 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 178.8572 | 176.5600 | 174.2628 |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 177.7144 | 176.5600 | 173.1084 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
31 entries · top 706.2284 · median 690.7656
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue Smoke Q | |
| 2 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 3 | Poppa Pig | |
| 4 | Kings BBQ Team | |
| 5 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 6 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 7 | Organizer Portal | |
| 8 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 9 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 10 | The BBQ Asylum | |
| 11 | MUDVILLE BBQ | |
| 12 | TENNESSEE SMOKE SHOWIN | |
| 13 | LC BBQ | |
| 14 | COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 15 | DANG GOOD BBQ | |
| 16 | Off the Chain BBQ | |
| 17 | Bee's Knees | |
| 18 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 19 | Purdom's BBQ | |
| 20 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 21 | PeachCoast BBQ | |
| 22 | Jurassic Bark | |
| 23 | Kick Em In The Butt BBQ | |
| 24 | RANCH HOUSE KITCHEN | |
| 25 | Fat Bear | |
| 26 | Barking Pig BBQ | |
| 27 | THE FAT GUYZ | |
| 28 | Wine Me, Dine Me and Swine Me | |
| 29 | Big Stanky's BBQ | |
| 30 | Blair Brothers | |
| 31 | TEXAS WARPIG BBQ |
Chicken
31 entries · top 179.4400 · median 173.7028
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Organizer Portal | |
| 2 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 3 | MUDVILLE BBQ | |
| 4 | The BBQ Asylum | |
| 5 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 6 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 7 | TENNESSEE SMOKE SHOWIN | |
| 8 | Poppa Pig | |
| 9 | LC BBQ | |
| 10 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 11 | COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 12 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 13 | Blue Smoke Q | |
| 14 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 15 | Wine Me, Dine Me and Swine Me | |
| 16 | Off the Chain BBQ | |
| 17 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 18 | DANG GOOD BBQ | |
| 19 | Bee's Knees | |
| 20 | Kings BBQ Team | |
| 21 | Barking Pig BBQ | |
| 22 | PeachCoast BBQ | |
| 23 | Big Stanky's BBQ | |
| 24 | Jurassic Bark | |
| 25 | THE FAT GUYZ | |
| 26 | TEXAS WARPIG BBQ | |
| 27 | Fat Bear | |
| 28 | RANCH HOUSE KITCHEN | |
| 29 | Kick Em In The Butt BBQ | |
| 30 | Purdom's BBQ | |
| 31 | Blair Brothers |
Pork Ribs
30 entries · top 180 · median 173.1200 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kings BBQ Team | |
| 2 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 3 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 4 | Purdom's BBQ | |
| 5 | Wine Me, Dine Me and Swine Me | |
| 6 | Poppa Pig | |
| 7 | Off the Chain BBQ | |
| 8 | The BBQ Asylum | |
| 9 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 10 | LC BBQ | |
| 11 | TENNESSEE SMOKE SHOWIN | |
| 12 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 13 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 14 | Jurassic Bark | |
| 15 | MUDVILLE BBQ | |
| 16 | Organizer Portal | |
| 17 | Blue Smoke Q | |
| 18 | Kick Em In The Butt BBQ | |
| 19 | Bee's Knees | |
| 20 | PeachCoast BBQ | |
| 21 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 22 | RANCH HOUSE KITCHEN | |
| 23 | DANG GOOD BBQ | |
| 24 | Fat Bear | |
| 25 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 26 | Blair Brothers | |
| 27 | COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 28 | THE FAT GUYZ | |
| 29 | Barking Pig BBQ | |
| 30 | Big Stanky's BBQ |
Pork
31 entries · top 180 · median 173.7028 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 2 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 3 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 4 | Blue Smoke Q | |
| 5 | Poppa Pig | |
| 6 | COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 7 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 8 | DANG GOOD BBQ | |
| 9 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 10 | Jurassic Bark | |
| 11 | Off the Chain BBQ | |
| 12 | Barking Pig BBQ | |
| 13 | TEXAS WARPIG BBQ | |
| 14 | Fat Bear | |
| 15 | Organizer Portal | |
| 16 | LC BBQ | |
| 17 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 18 | Purdom's BBQ | |
| 19 | Kings BBQ Team | |
| 20 | Bee's Knees | |
| 21 | The BBQ Asylum | |
| 22 | MUDVILLE BBQ | |
| 23 | TENNESSEE SMOKE SHOWIN | |
| 24 | Kick Em In The Butt BBQ | |
| 25 | PeachCoast BBQ | |
| 26 | RANCH HOUSE KITCHEN | |
| 27 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 28 | Big Stanky's BBQ | |
| 29 | THE FAT GUYZ | |
| 30 | Blair Brothers | |
| 31 | Wine Me, Dine Me and Swine Me |
Brisket
31 entries · top 180 · median 171.9772 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue Smoke Q | |
| 2 | Kings BBQ Team | |
| 3 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 4 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 6 | COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 7 | TENNESSEE SMOKE SHOWIN | |
| 8 | Poppa Pig | |
| 9 | PeachCoast BBQ | |
| 10 | MUDVILLE BBQ | |
| 11 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 12 | Purdom's BBQ | |
| 13 | The BBQ Asylum | |
| 14 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 15 | RANCH HOUSE KITCHEN | |
| 16 | Organizer Portal | |
| 17 | Bee's Knees | |
| 18 | DANG GOOD BBQ | |
| 19 | Kick Em In The Butt BBQ | |
| 20 | LC BBQ | |
| 21 | TEXAS WARPIG BBQ | |
| 22 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 23 | Off the Chain BBQ | |
| 24 | Jurassic Bark | |
| 25 | THE FAT GUYZ | |
| 26 | Barking Pig BBQ | |
| 27 | Blair Brothers | |
| 28 | Fat Bear | |
| 29 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 30 | Big Stanky's BBQ | |
| 31 | Wine Me, Dine Me and Swine Me |
Backyard Series
Overall
35 entries · top 354.2744 · median 338.2172
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fire Pig | |
| 2 | Cook Shak BBQ MS | |
| 3 | Wee Daddy's BBQ | |
| 4 | Electro-Que-ted | |
| 5 | PUDDLEDUCK BBQ | |
| 6 | Bentley Que | |
| 7 | Smokey Bees BBQ - MS | |
| 8 | Thin Blue Swine | |
| 9 | 931 BBQ | |
| 10 | Southern Life BBQ | |
| 11 | The Real Squeal BBQ | |
| 12 | LEE LA Q | |
| 13 | RIBLIFE | |
| 14 | Pork Life | |
| 15 | Circle W Meats | |
| 16 | Say My Name BBQ | |
| 17 | Deviant Smoke | |
| 18 | HICKORY HANGOVER | |
| 19 | Slingin Pig Meat | |
| 20 | Big Fluff BBQ | |
| 21 | Cluckin’ Crazy BBQ | |
| 22 | Modest Meats | |
| 23 | Pigg'n Out BBQ Team | |
| 24 | Rollin Smoke BBQ | |
| 25 | Swine & Brine | |
| 26 | Foster BBQ | |
| 27 | JT'S SMOKE SHACK | |
| 28 | Que N Cue | |
| 29 | OsBorntoBBQ | |
| 30 | Our Meat Your Treat | |
| 31 | LENOX & SON BBQ COMPANY | |
| 32 | M&H BBQ | |
| 33 | Eastside Grillin & Chillin | |
| 34 | Jacket-Que | |
| 35 | Smoke-a-Billy's |
Chicken
35 entries · top 178.8572 · median 170.8344
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bentley Que | |
| 2 | HICKORY HANGOVER | |
| 3 | 931 BBQ | |
| 4 | Fire Pig | |
| 5 | Wee Daddy's BBQ | |
| 6 | Cook Shak BBQ MS | |
| 7 | PUDDLEDUCK BBQ | |
| 8 | LEE LA Q | |
| 9 | Thin Blue Swine | |
| 10 | Electro-Que-ted | |
| 11 | Southern Life BBQ | |
| 12 | Foster BBQ | |
| 13 | Circle W Meats | |
| 14 | Pork Life | |
| 15 | Say My Name BBQ | |
| 16 | Deviant Smoke | |
| 17 | Smokey Bees BBQ - MS | |
| 18 | Modest Meats | |
| 19 | The Real Squeal BBQ | |
| 20 | Swine & Brine | |
| 21 | Big Fluff BBQ | |
| 22 | Slingin Pig Meat | |
| 23 | JT'S SMOKE SHACK | |
| 24 | Pigg'n Out BBQ Team | |
| 25 | RIBLIFE | |
| 26 | Cluckin’ Crazy BBQ | |
| 27 | Que N Cue | |
| 28 | OsBorntoBBQ | |
| 29 | LENOX & SON BBQ COMPANY | |
| 30 | M&H BBQ | |
| 31 | Rollin Smoke BBQ | |
| 32 | Our Meat Your Treat | |
| 33 | Eastside Grillin & Chillin | |
| 34 | Jacket-Que | |
| 35 | Smoke-a-Billy's |
Pork Ribs
34 entries · top 177.7144 · median 168.2572
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electro-Que-ted | |
| 2 | Cook Shak BBQ MS | |
| 3 | RIBLIFE | |
| 4 | Smokey Bees BBQ - MS | |
| 5 | Fire Pig | |
| 6 | Wee Daddy's BBQ | |
| 7 | The Real Squeal BBQ | |
| 8 | PUDDLEDUCK BBQ | |
| 9 | Thin Blue Swine | |
| 10 | Rollin Smoke BBQ | |
| 11 | Southern Life BBQ | |
| 12 | Bentley Que | |
| 13 | Cluckin’ Crazy BBQ | |
| 14 | Pork Life | |
| 15 | 931 BBQ | |
| 16 | Slingin Pig Meat | |
| 17 | LEE LA Q | |
| 18 | Circle W Meats | |
| 19 | Say My Name BBQ | |
| 20 | Big Fluff BBQ | |
| 21 | Deviant Smoke | |
| 22 | Pigg'n Out BBQ Team | |
| 23 | Modest Meats | |
| 24 | JT'S SMOKE SHACK | |
| 25 | Swine & Brine | |
| 26 | Our Meat Your Treat | |
| 27 | Que N Cue | |
| 28 | HICKORY HANGOVER | |
| 29 | OsBorntoBBQ | |
| 30 | Foster BBQ | |
| 31 | M&H BBQ | |
| 32 | Jacket-Que | |
| 33 | LENOX & SON BBQ COMPANY | |
| 34 | Eastside Grillin & Chillin |
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 · median 175.7028 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 2 | Swine & Brine | |
| 3 | RIBLIFE | |
| 4 | Eastside Grillin & Chillin | |
| 5 | Smokey Bees BBQ - MS | |
| 6 | Deviant Smoke | |
| 7 | Cluckin’ Crazy BBQ | |
| 8 | Barking Pig BBQ | |
| 9 | DANG GOOD BBQ | |
| 10 | LC BBQ |
Kids-Q — Kids-Q 10+
7 entries · top 172.5484 · median 168.0228
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grills Just Want To Have Fun | |
| 2 | Rollin Smoke Jr | |
| 3 | Tastebud Tango | |
| 4 | Battles BBQ | |
| 5 | Griffin Grillz | |
| 6 | Shake your Ashes | |
| 7 | The Charcoal Farmer |
Kids-Q — Kids-Q 5-9
6 entries · top 178.3200 · median 172.5542
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pop And Squeeze | |
| 2 | The Gummy Bears | |
| 3 | RyleePurdoms | |
| 4 | COOK SHAK BBQ 1 | |
| 5 | The Real Little Squeal | |
| 6 | COOK SHAK BBQ A |