A first Grand Championship
5
tracked contests to get there
This was SWIGGIN PIG's first Grand Championship in the data — it arrived at their 5th tracked contest.
Smoke on the Falls 2013
Apr 12–13, 2013 · Gadsden, AL
SWIGGIN PIG won Grand Champion at the Smoke on the Falls on April 12, 2013 in Gadsden, AL, scoring 696.5718 in a field of 34 teams. BIG BLUE QUE took Reserve Grand Champion with 685.7138. Category winners: Chicken — SWIGGIN PIG (179.4286); Pork Ribs — THE LOONEY PIT (176.0002); Pork — WILD BUNCH BUTT BURNERS (176.0000); Brisket — DADDY GRAY'S (179.4286). This is the 1st of 11 editions of this contest on record; the next was held in 2015.
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.
609.14
median 661.71
696.57 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 179.43
- Pork Ribs 176.00
- Pork 176
- Brisket 179.43
141.14
179.43
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2026 — this edition picked out.
Entries
34
4 judged meats
Top score
696.5718
Winning margin
10.8580
GC over RC
Field average
657.19
609.14696.57
median 661.71 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Pork
4.5716 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
669.7140
609.14696.57
10th place overall
Field spread
87.4292
winner to last place
Double threats
3
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 46%
beats 54% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.63 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,513
avg power rating going in · stronger than 9% 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.
A statement win
10.8580
points clear of the field
Wider than 89% of the 4,710 championships in the data
The champion won by 10.8580 points — a wider margin than 89% of championships in the data.
A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 11 tracked editions
The Specialists has won this contest 2 times across its 11 tracked editions.
- 2015
- 2018
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 8 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 6–7: HOUSE OF Q and BEAN BANDITS tied on 172.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 9–10: SMOKE OF THE SHOALS and SMOKE ON THIS tied on 170.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 7–8: SMOKE ON THIS and HIGH ON THE HAWG tied on 169.7142 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 6–7 · tie
- Chicken 9–10 · tie
- Pork Ribs 7–8 · tie
- Pork 7–8 · tie
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
SWIGGIN PIG took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was brisket at 7th.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork Ribs 2nd
- Pork 4th
- Brisket 7th
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 12, 2013 ← this one | Gadsden, AL | Gadsden, AL | 34 | 696.5718 | SWIGGIN PIG | BIG BLUE QUE |
| Apr 10, 2015 | Gadsden, AL | Gadsden, AL 35904 | 34 | 699.9884 | The Specialists | UNCULTURED SWINE |
| Apr 7, 2017 | Gadsden, AL | 1500 Noccalula Rd | 28 | 704.5488 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | Organizer Portal |
| Apr 13, 2018 | Gadsden, AL | 1500 Noccalula Rd | 38 | 697.1084 | THE SPECIALISTS | Organizer Portal |
| Apr 12, 2019 | Gadsden, AL | 1500 Noccalula Rd | 30 | 699.9656 | Contagious Q | CHOOCHOO BBQ |
| Sep 18, 2020 | Gadsden, AL | 1500 Noccalula Rd | 28 | 699.3944 | Rooters-N-Tooters | UNDER THE RADAR |
| Apr 9, 2021 | Gadsden, AL | Gadsden, AL 35901 | 38 | 699.3600 | chicken fried bbq | LC BBQ |
| Apr 8, 2022 | Gadsden, AL | 1600 Noccalula Rd | 34 | 700.5028 | Smoke Me Silly | GETTIN' BASTED |
| Apr 7, 2023 | Gadsden, AL | 1600 Noccalula Rd | 39 | 690.8000 | We Will Rock 'Que | COOL HAND QUE |
| Apr 12, 2024 | Gadsden, AL | 1500 Noccalula Rd | 31 | 699.9428 | We Will Rock 'Que | FRED VEGAS SMOKERS |
| Apr 3, 2026 | Gadsden, AL | 1600 Noccalula Rd | 36 | 714.2628 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | COOL HAND QUE |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 179.4286 | 172.5714 | 170.8572 |
| Pork Ribs | 176.0002 | 170.8574 | 168.5712 |
| Pork | 176 | 171.4284 | 166.8572 |
| Brisket | 179.4286 | 173.1428 | 168.5714 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
34 entries · top 696.5718 · median 661.7136
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SWIGGIN PIG | |
| 2 | BIG BLUE QUE | |
| 3 | MIKE | |
| 4 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | |
| 5 | WILD BUNCH BUTT BURNERS | |
| 6 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 7 | THE LOONEY PIT | |
| 8 | MUSIC CITY PIG PALS | |
| 9 | 4:20 Q | |
| 10 | BEAN BANDITS | |
| 11 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 12 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 13 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 14 | THE BLUE BLOODS | |
| 15 | HOUSE OF Q | |
| 16 | HIGH ON THE HAWG | |
| 17 | SMOKE OF THE SHOALS | |
| 18 | E.M. AZING BBQ | |
| 19 | Organizer Portal | |
| 20 | TEAM TOP CHICK | |
| 21 | DADDY GRAY'S | |
| 22 | UNCLE CHET'S BBQ | |
| 23 | BUTT NAKED AND SMOKIN | |
| 24 | FAT BEAR BBQ | |
| 25 | SPICES SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 26 | BUTTS, BELLIES & BUDDIES | |
| 27 | SMOKIN SECTION | |
| 28 | SMOKIN CHUCKS WAGON | |
| 29 | DADDY DUKES BBQ | |
| 30 | SMOKE-N-ASHES | |
| 31 | SOUTHERN TRADITION BBQ'R | |
| 32 | 2 FAT BOYS & A GRILL | |
| 33 | MIKE'S BACK PORCH BBQ | |
| 34 | BBQ BOSS |
Chicken
34 entries · top 179.4286 · median 168.5714
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SWIGGIN PIG | |
| 2 | BIG BLUE QUE | |
| 3 | THE BLUE BLOODS | |
| 4 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 5 | FAT BEAR BBQ | |
| 6 | HOUSE OF Q | |
| 7 | BEAN BANDITS | |
| 8 | MUSIC CITY PIG PALS | |
| 9 | SMOKE OF THE SHOALS | |
| 10 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 11 | SMOKIN SECTION | |
| 12 | MIKE | |
| 13 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | |
| 14 | HIGH ON THE HAWG | |
| 15 | THE LOONEY PIT | |
| 16 | 4:20 Q | |
| 17 | SMOKIN CHUCKS WAGON | |
| 18 | UNCLE CHET'S BBQ | |
| 19 | WILD BUNCH BUTT BURNERS | |
| 20 | BUTTS, BELLIES & BUDDIES | |
| 21 | DADDY DUKES BBQ | |
| 22 | Organizer Portal | |
| 23 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 24 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 25 | E.M. AZING BBQ | |
| 26 | 2 FAT BOYS & A GRILL | |
| 27 | DADDY GRAY'S | |
| 28 | TEAM TOP CHICK | |
| 29 | SPICES SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 30 | SMOKE-N-ASHES | |
| 31 | SOUTHERN TRADITION BBQ'R | |
| 32 | BUTT NAKED AND SMOKIN | |
| 33 | MIKE'S BACK PORCH BBQ | |
| 34 | BBQ BOSS |
Pork Ribs
34 entries · top 176.0002 · median 165.1428
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE LOONEY PIT | |
| 2 | SWIGGIN PIG | |
| 3 | BIG BLUE QUE | |
| 4 | BUTT NAKED AND SMOKIN | |
| 5 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 6 | E.M. AZING BBQ | |
| 7 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 8 | HIGH ON THE HAWG | |
| 9 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | |
| 10 | Organizer Portal | |
| 11 | BEAN BANDITS | |
| 12 | MIKE | |
| 13 | HOUSE OF Q | |
| 14 | SMOKE-N-ASHES | |
| 15 | TEAM TOP CHICK | |
| 16 | 4:20 Q | |
| 17 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 18 | THE BLUE BLOODS | |
| 19 | DADDY DUKES BBQ | |
| 20 | DADDY GRAY'S | |
| 21 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 22 | SMOKE OF THE SHOALS | |
| 23 | SOUTHERN TRADITION BBQ'R | |
| 24 | BUTTS, BELLIES & BUDDIES | |
| 25 | MUSIC CITY PIG PALS | |
| 26 | WILD BUNCH BUTT BURNERS | |
| 27 | SMOKIN CHUCKS WAGON | |
| 28 | SPICES SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 29 | SMOKIN SECTION | |
| 30 | UNCLE CHET'S BBQ | |
| 31 | MIKE'S BACK PORCH BBQ | |
| 32 | 2 FAT BOYS & A GRILL | |
| 33 | FAT BEAR BBQ | |
| 34 | BBQ BOSS |
Pork
34 entries · top 176 · median 162.5714
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WILD BUNCH BUTT BURNERS | |
| 2 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 3 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | |
| 4 | SWIGGIN PIG | |
| 5 | UNCLE CHET'S BBQ | |
| 6 | SMOKE OF THE SHOALS | |
| 7 | MIKE | |
| 8 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 9 | THE LOONEY PIT | |
| 10 | BBQ BOSS | |
| 11 | MUSIC CITY PIG PALS | |
| 12 | TEAM TOP CHICK | |
| 13 | 4:20 Q | |
| 14 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 15 | BUTT NAKED AND SMOKIN | |
| 16 | FAT BEAR BBQ | |
| 17 | Organizer Portal | |
| 18 | THE BLUE BLOODS | |
| 19 | HOUSE OF Q | |
| 20 | DADDY DUKES BBQ | |
| 21 | SMOKIN CHUCKS WAGON | |
| 22 | BEAN BANDITS | |
| 23 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 24 | BIG BLUE QUE | |
| 25 | 2 FAT BOYS & A GRILL | |
| 26 | E.M. AZING BBQ | |
| 27 | HIGH ON THE HAWG | |
| 28 | MIKE'S BACK PORCH BBQ | |
| 29 | SOUTHERN TRADITION BBQ'R | |
| 30 | SMOKIN SECTION | |
| 31 | SPICES SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 32 | BUTTS, BELLIES & BUDDIES | |
| 33 | SMOKE-N-ASHES | |
| 34 | DADDY GRAY'S |
Brisket
34 entries · top 179.4286 · median 163.7142
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DADDY GRAY'S | |
| 2 | MUSIC CITY PIG PALS | |
| 3 | BIG BLUE QUE | |
| 4 | MIKE | |
| 5 | WILD BUNCH BUTT BURNERS | |
| 6 | 4:20 Q | |
| 7 | SWIGGIN PIG | |
| 8 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 9 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | |
| 10 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 11 | BEAN BANDITS | |
| 12 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 13 | E.M. AZING BBQ | |
| 14 | SPICES SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 15 | HIGH ON THE HAWG | |
| 16 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 17 | THE BLUE BLOODS | |
| 18 | Organizer Portal | |
| 19 | TEAM TOP CHICK | |
| 20 | THE LOONEY PIT | |
| 21 | HOUSE OF Q | |
| 22 | SMOKE OF THE SHOALS | |
| 23 | UNCLE CHET'S BBQ | |
| 24 | BUTT NAKED AND SMOKIN | |
| 25 | FAT BEAR BBQ | |
| 26 | SMOKIN SECTION | |
| 27 | BUTTS, BELLIES & BUDDIES | |
| 28 | SOUTHERN TRADITION BBQ'R | |
| 29 | SMOKE-N-ASHES | |
| 30 | MIKE'S BACK PORCH BBQ | |
| 31 | 2 FAT BOYS & A GRILL | |
| 32 | BBQ BOSS | |
| 33 | SMOKIN CHUCKS WAGON | |
| 34 | DADDY DUKES BBQ |