A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 3 tracked editions
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE SMOKE has won this contest 2 times across its 3 tracked editions.
- 2014
- 2015
Mr. BBQ Barbeque Challenge 2013
Jun 22–23, 2013 · Davenport, IA
IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ won Grand Champion at the Mr. BBQ Barbeque Challenge on June 22, 2013 in Davenport, IA, scoring 687.9998 in a field of 32 teams. WOODWARD BARBEQUE took Reserve Grand Champion with 682.2854. Category winners: Chicken — IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ (177.7142); Pork Ribs — CANCERSUCKSCHICAGO.COM (178.2858); Pork — MOE CASON BBQ (177.7144); Brisket — THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE SMOKE (172.0000). This is the 1st of 3 editions of this contest on record; the next was held in 2014.
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.
553.71
median 653.14
688.00 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 177.71
- Pork Ribs 178.29
- Pork 177.71
- Brisket 172
121.71
178.29
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2015 — this edition picked out.
Entries
31
4 judged meats
Top score
687.9998
Winning margin
5.7144
GC over RC
Field average
646.29
553.71688.00
median 653.14 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Brisket
3.4288 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
668
553.71688.00
10th place overall
Field spread
134.2858
winner to last place
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 76%
beats 24% of 4715 Master Series wins in the data
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.71 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,525
avg power rating going in · stronger than 18% of contests
Storylines (3 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.
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 7 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 4–5: Whiskey Pit BBQ Co. and MIDNIGHT SMOKERS tied on 173.7142 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 3–4: MIDNIGHT SMOKERS and WOODWARD BARBEQUE tied on 172.5714 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 4–5: WOODWARD BARBEQUE and CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ tied on 172.5714 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 4–5 · tie
- Pork Ribs 3–4 · tie
- Pork Ribs 4–5 · tie
- Pork Ribs 9–10 · tie
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was pork ribs at 8th.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork Ribs 8th
- Pork 7th
- Brisket 3rd
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 22, 2013 ← this one | Davenport, IA | Davenport, IA | 32 | 687.9998 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | WOODWARD BARBEQUE |
| Jun 21, 2014 | Davenport, IA | Davenport, IA 52804 | 25 | 697.6916 | THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE SMOKE | TRUEBUD BBQ |
| Jun 27, 2015 | Davenport, IA | Davenport, IA 52802 | 32 | 694.8572 | THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE SMOKE | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ |
| Jun 25, 2016 | Davenport, IA | — | — | — | — | — |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 177.7142 | 173.7142 | 169.7140 |
| Pork Ribs | 178.2858 | 172 | 168 |
| Pork | 177.7144 | 171.4284 | 166.8572 |
| Brisket | 172 | 168.5712 | 164.5714 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
31 entries · top 687.9998 · median 653.1424
Chicken
31 entries · top 177.7142 · median 164.0002
Pork Ribs
31 entries · top 178.2858 · median 161.7144
Pork
31 entries · top 177.7144 · median 164
Brisket
31 entries · top 172 · median 158.2854