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.
Pigs & Peaches
2025-08-15 – 2025-08-16 · Kennesaw, GA · 📍 2753 Watts Dr · State championship
Reps: ALAN ROTHROCK, DOUG REID · Prize money: $10,000.00
Grand Champion: ZIPS BBQ (708.5372) · 27 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 BAD ROOSTER BBQ
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.
330.21
median 685.61
708.54 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Master Series — Chicken 180.00 🔥
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 177.71
- Master Series — Pork 180.00 🔥
- Master Series — Brisket 180.00 🔥
- Backyard Series — Chicken 175.42
- Backyard Series — Pork Ribs 180.00 🔥
- Ancillary — Pork 176.57
144.46
180.00
Entries
27
7 judged meats · 2 ancillary
Top score
708.5372
Winning margin
Tie
identical totals — KCBS tiebreaker
Field average
665.38
330.21708.54
median 685.61 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
1.1544 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
690.1828
330.21708.54
10th place overall
Field spread
378.3316
winner to last place
Prize money
$10,000.00
on the line
Double threats
10
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 6%
beats 94% of 4707 Master Series wins in the data
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.73 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1576
avg power rating going in · stronger than 60% of contests
Storylines (5 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
31-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 69 times in 100
ZIPS BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, NORALA BBQ TEAM, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 31-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1688
- top seed 1826
A day of perfect scores
6
perfect 180s
6 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- Dogpatch Q · Pork Ribs
- Glamping Grillers · Brisket
- ZIPS BBQ · Chicken
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 22 calls decided inside half a point
Master Series — Chicken places 1–2: ZIPS BBQ and BAD ROOSTER BBQ tied on 180.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 3–4: MAYA JANE BBQ CO. and Free Smokes BBQ tied on 177.7144 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 6–7: BARREL FEVER BBQ and The BBQ Asylum tied on 175.4056 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Master Series — Chicken 1–2 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 3–4 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 6–7 · tie
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 3–4 · tie
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
ZIPS BBQ took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was pork ribs at 10th.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork Ribs 10th
- Pork 3rd
- Brisket 4th
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 | 180.0000 | 175.4172 | 173.1084 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 177.7144 | 176.5600 | 173.1200 |
| Master Series — Pork | 180.0000 | 177.7028 | 174.2744 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 180.0000 | 176.0000 | 174.2628 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 175.4172 | 169.6800 | 162.2284 |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 180.0000 | 168.5256 | 162.8344 |
| Ancillary — Pork | 176.5716 | 168.5372 | 163.9428 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
27 entries · top 708.5372 · median 685.6116
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 2 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 3 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 4 | Glamping Grillers | |
| 5 | PIGLITICALLY INCORRECT BBQ | |
| 6 | The BBQ Asylum | |
| 7 | STEWBABYS BBQ | |
| 8 | Blue Smoke Q | |
| 9 | Kings BBQ Team | |
| 10 | BARREL FEVER BBQ | |
| 11 | OFF THE CHAIN | |
| 12 | MAYA JANE BBQ CO. | |
| 13 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 14 | YES, DEAR BBQ | |
| 15 | Free Smokes BBQ | |
| 16 | Willingham's | |
| 17 | Quenut BBQ | |
| 18 | CLAUDE'S Q | |
| 19 | IT'S GOOD ENOUGH | |
| 20 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 21 | HICKORY FLAT BBQ CO. | |
| 22 | Smokin J's | |
| 23 | MES Partners | |
| 24 | PapaBearDawg BBQ | |
| 25 | Can't Quit Smokin' | |
| 26 | Social Swine | |
| 27 | K & E's Little Smokers |
Chicken
27 entries · top 180.0000 · median 170.8228 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 2 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 3 | MAYA JANE BBQ CO. | |
| 4 | Free Smokes BBQ | |
| 5 | Kings BBQ Team | |
| 6 | BARREL FEVER BBQ | |
| 7 | The BBQ Asylum | |
| 8 | YES, DEAR BBQ | |
| 9 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 10 | PIGLITICALLY INCORRECT BBQ | |
| 11 | K & E's Little Smokers | |
| 12 | STEWBABYS BBQ | |
| 13 | Glamping Grillers | |
| 14 | CLAUDE'S Q | |
| 15 | OFF THE CHAIN | |
| 16 | Blue Smoke Q | |
| 17 | PapaBearDawg BBQ | |
| 18 | Willingham's | |
| 19 | Quenut BBQ | |
| 20 | HICKORY FLAT BBQ CO. | |
| 21 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 22 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 23 | IT'S GOOD ENOUGH | |
| 24 | MES Partners | |
| 25 | Social Swine | |
| 26 | Smokin J's | |
| 27 | Can't Quit Smokin' |
Pork Ribs
27 entries · top 177.7144 · median 171.9656
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 2 | Blue Smoke Q | |
| 3 | Glamping Grillers | |
| 4 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 5 | OFF THE CHAIN | |
| 6 | BARREL FEVER BBQ | |
| 7 | STEWBABYS BBQ | |
| 8 | The BBQ Asylum | |
| 9 | Willingham's | |
| 10 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 11 | MAYA JANE BBQ CO. | |
| 12 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 13 | Kings BBQ Team | |
| 14 | PIGLITICALLY INCORRECT BBQ | |
| 15 | Free Smokes BBQ | |
| 16 | Quenut BBQ | |
| 17 | Smokin J's | |
| 18 | IT'S GOOD ENOUGH | |
| 19 | CLAUDE'S Q | |
| 20 | Can't Quit Smokin' | |
| 21 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 22 | HICKORY FLAT BBQ CO. | |
| 23 | MES Partners | |
| 24 | K & E's Little Smokers | |
| 25 | YES, DEAR BBQ | |
| 26 | PapaBearDawg BBQ | |
| 27 | Social Swine |
Pork
26 entries · top 180.0000 · median 171.3942 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 2 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 3 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 4 | PIGLITICALLY INCORRECT BBQ | |
| 5 | Blue Smoke Q | |
| 6 | Glamping Grillers | |
| 7 | Free Smokes BBQ | |
| 8 | OFF THE CHAIN | |
| 9 | MAYA JANE BBQ CO. | |
| 10 | YES, DEAR BBQ | |
| 11 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 12 | CLAUDE'S Q | |
| 13 | Willingham's | |
| 14 | The BBQ Asylum | |
| 15 | IT'S GOOD ENOUGH | |
| 16 | Kings BBQ Team | |
| 17 | BARREL FEVER BBQ | |
| 18 | STEWBABYS BBQ | |
| 19 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 20 | HICKORY FLAT BBQ CO. | |
| 21 | MES Partners | |
| 22 | Smokin J's | |
| 23 | Quenut BBQ | |
| 24 | Can't Quit Smokin' | |
| 25 | Social Swine | |
| 26 | PapaBearDawg BBQ |
Brisket
26 entries · top 180.0000 · median 170.2514 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glamping Grillers | |
| 2 | YES, DEAR BBQ | |
| 3 | STEWBABYS BBQ | |
| 4 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 5 | Quenut BBQ | |
| 6 | PIGLITICALLY INCORRECT BBQ | |
| 7 | The BBQ Asylum | |
| 8 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 9 | Kings BBQ Team | |
| 10 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 11 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 12 | Blue Smoke Q | |
| 13 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 14 | BARREL FEVER BBQ | |
| 15 | OFF THE CHAIN | |
| 16 | IT'S GOOD ENOUGH | |
| 17 | HICKORY FLAT BBQ CO. | |
| 18 | Willingham's | |
| 19 | CLAUDE'S Q | |
| 20 | MAYA JANE BBQ CO. | |
| 21 | Smokin J's | |
| 22 | Free Smokes BBQ | |
| 23 | MES Partners | |
| 24 | Can't Quit Smokin' | |
| 25 | PapaBearDawg BBQ | |
| 26 | Social Swine |
Backyard Series
Overall
15 entries · top 343.9428 · median 333.6228
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cluckin’ Crazy BBQ | |
| 2 | Dogpatch Q | |
| 3 | NORALA BBQ TEAM | |
| 4 | 3D BBQ | |
| 5 | RUNNING STYLE BBQ - GA | |
| 6 | Beachin' Good Barbecue | |
| 7 | Big Baker's BBQ | |
| 8 | HUNTER'S HOT ASH BBQ | |
| 9 | A Guy & A Grill | |
| 10 | Crowe Barr | |
| 11 | Smoking N Joking BBQ | |
| 12 | Porko Smoko | |
| 13 | Hatch Best BBQ | |
| 14 | Still Site BBQ | |
| 15 | Son of Sprat |
Chicken
15 entries · top 175.4172 · median 168.0000
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cluckin’ Crazy BBQ | |
| 2 | Beachin' Good Barbecue | |
| 3 | 3D BBQ | |
| 4 | RUNNING STYLE BBQ - GA | |
| 5 | Big Baker's BBQ | |
| 6 | Porko Smoko | |
| 7 | NORALA BBQ TEAM | |
| 8 | A Guy & A Grill | |
| 9 | Crowe Barr | |
| 10 | Dogpatch Q | |
| 11 | Smoking N Joking BBQ | |
| 12 | HUNTER'S HOT ASH BBQ | |
| 13 | Hatch Best BBQ | |
| 14 | Still Site BBQ | |
| 15 | Son of Sprat |
Pork Ribs
15 entries · top 180.0000 · median 164.5372 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dogpatch Q | |
| 2 | HUNTER'S HOT ASH BBQ | |
| 3 | NORALA BBQ TEAM | |
| 4 | 3D BBQ | |
| 5 | Cluckin’ Crazy BBQ | |
| 6 | RUNNING STYLE BBQ - GA | |
| 7 | Smoking N Joking BBQ | |
| 8 | Big Baker's BBQ | |
| 9 | A Guy & A Grill | |
| 10 | Beachin' Good Barbecue | |
| 11 | Crowe Barr | |
| 12 | Hatch Best BBQ | |
| 13 | Still Site BBQ | |
| 14 | Son of Sprat | |
| 15 | Porko Smoko |
Ancillary
Pork
15 entries · top 176.5716 · median 165.6684
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Smoking N Joking BBQ | |
| 2 | NORALA BBQ TEAM | |
| 3 | HUNTER'S HOT ASH BBQ | |
| 4 | RUNNING STYLE BBQ - GA | |
| 5 | 3D BBQ | |
| 6 | Beachin' Good Barbecue | |
| 7 | Big Baker's BBQ | |
| 8 | Crowe Barr | |
| 9 | Cluckin’ Crazy BBQ | |
| 10 | Son of Sprat | |
| 11 | A Guy & A Grill | |
| 12 | Still Site BBQ | |
| 13 | Dogpatch Q | |
| 14 | Hatch Best BBQ | |
| 15 | Porko Smoko |
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 — Anything Butt
12 entries · top 180.0000 · median 170.5772 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 2 | Willingham's | |
| 3 | HUNTER'S HOT ASH BBQ | |
| 4 | RUNNING STYLE BBQ - GA | |
| 5 | Kings BBQ Team | |
| 6 | Big Baker's BBQ | |
| 7 | A Guy & A Grill | |
| 8 | Cluckin’ Crazy BBQ | |
| 9 | Crowe Barr | |
| 10 | Smoking N Joking BBQ | |
| 11 | Social Swine | |
| 12 | MES Partners |
Ancillary — Peaches
15 entries · top 180.0000 · median 175.4172 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Still Site BBQ | |
| 2 | RUNNING STYLE BBQ - GA | |
| 3 | Son of Sprat | |
| 4 | Cluckin’ Crazy BBQ | |
| 5 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 6 | CLAUDE'S Q | |
| 7 | HUNTER'S HOT ASH BBQ | |
| 8 | K & E's Little Smokers | |
| 9 | Porko Smoko | |
| 10 | Crowe Barr | |
| 11 | Beachin' Good Barbecue | |
| 12 | Smoking N Joking BBQ | |
| 13 | Big Baker's BBQ | |
| 14 | Willingham's | |
| 15 | MES Partners |