A new contest record
694.3200
highest overall ever cooked here
694.3200 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 685.7488 THE SMOKE HUNTERS set in 2013.
- old record 685.7488
- set 2013 by THE SMOKE HUNTERS
Grill Games 2014
Aug 22–23, 2014 · Kenosha, WI
YELLOW RIVER BBQ won Grand Champion at the Grill Games on August 22, 2014 in Kenosha, WI, scoring 694.3200 in a field of 47 teams. HILL-BILLY BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 681.6456. Category winners: Chicken — WISCO_BRISCO (176.0572); Pork Ribs — CAPTAIN RON'S BREW-N-QUE (178.2972); Pork — YELLOW RIVER BBQ (177.7028); Brisket — T-BAUM BBQ (177.7144). This is the 2nd of 6 editions of this contest on record; the 2013 edition was won by THE SMOKE HUNTERS; 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.
402.25
median 641.61
694.32 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 176.06
- Pork Ribs 178.30
- Pork 177.70
- Brisket 177.71
20
178.30
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2018 — this edition picked out.
Entries
47
4 judged meats · 2 ancillary
Top score
694.3200
Winning margin
12.6744
GC over RC
Field average
625.03
402.25694.32
median 641.61 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Brisket
4.5372 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
664.5712
402.25694.32
10th place overall
Field spread
292.0688
winner to last place
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 56%
beats 44% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
63%
27 of 43 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.46 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,517
avg power rating going in · stronger than 11% of contests
Storylines (7 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
12.6744
points clear of the field
Wider than 93% of the 4,710 championships in the data
The champion won by 12.6744 points — a wider margin than 93% of championships in the data.
A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 6 tracked editions
THE SMOKE HUNTERS has won this contest 2 times across its 6 tracked editions.
- 2013
- 2016
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 6 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 9–10: MUD'S BBQ and 2 SKINNY COOKS tied on 169.6800 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 4–5: D.F.G.'S BBQ edged CANCERSUCKSCHICAGO.COM by 0.0112. Brisket places 8–9: THE SMOKE HUNTERS edged MEMPHIS IN MUNDELEIN by 0.0112.
- Chicken 9–10 · tie
- Chicken 4–5 · 0.0112
- Brisket 8–9 · 0.0112
- Chicken 7–8 · 0.0116
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
YELLOW RIVER BBQ took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was brisket at 10th.
- Chicken 6th
- Pork Ribs 2nd
- Pork 1st
- Brisket 10th
A contest record in chicken
176.0572
best chicken ever cooked here
WISCO_BRISCO turned in 176.0572 in chicken — past the 174.3316 that had stood across 1 earlier editions.
- old best 174.3316
- across 1 past editions
Back to defend
1
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: THE SMOKE HUNTERS (won 2013).
- THE SMOKE HUNTERS · 2013
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 23, 2013 | Kenosha, WI | Kenosha, WI | 43 | 685.7488 | THE SMOKE HUNTERS | DUCE'S WILD |
| Aug 22, 2014 ← this one | Kenosha, WI | Kenosha, WI 53140 | 47 | 694.3200 | YELLOW RIVER BBQ | HILL-BILLY BBQ |
| Aug 28, 2015 | Kenosha, WI | Kenosha, WI 53140 | 49 | 686.2516 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | MUD'S BBQ |
| Aug 26, 2016 | Kenosha, WI | Larkefront, 1st Ave and 56th st | 37 | 692.5256 | THE SMOKE HUNTERS | ONE2BBQ |
| Aug 25, 2017 | Kenosha, WI | Lake Front 1st Ave& 56th st | 39 | 671.3256 | CHANNABILLY BBQ | DUCE'S WILD |
| Aug 24, 2018 | Kenosha, WI | Lake Front 1st Ave& 56th st | 42 | 686.3084 | D.F.G.'S BBQ | ONE2BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 176.0572 | 171.4288 | 169.6800 |
| Pork Ribs | 178.2972 | 173.1316 | 167.4516 |
| Pork | 177.7028 | 173.1200 | 166.8228 |
| Brisket | 177.7144 | 173.1772 | 169.7256 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
47 entries · top 694.3200 · median 641.6116
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | YELLOW RIVER BBQ | |
| 2 | HILL-BILLY BBQ | |
| 3 | CAPTAIN RON'S BREW-N-QUE | |
| 4 | THE SMOKIN' C'S BBQ | |
| 5 | MUD'S BBQ | |
| 6 | KAVE DWELLERS | |
| 7 | SECOND CITY SMOKE | |
| 8 | FIREWISE BBQ | |
| 9 | T-BAUM BBQ | |
| 10 | THE SMOKE HUNTERS | |
| 11 | RODEO JOE'S PIGNACIOUS BBQ | |
| 12 | BIG "E" BBQ | |
| 13 | Risky Brisket | |
| 14 | CANCERSUCKSCHICAGO.COM | |
| 15 | 5 FINGER BBQ | |
| 16 | BRINGIN' THE HEAT | |
| 17 | MEMPHIS IN MUNDELEIN | |
| 18 | 2 SKINNY COOKS | |
| 19 | D.F.G.'S BBQ | |
| 20 | TOPPGATOR BBQ | |
| 21 | JC'S RIB-RIPPIN GOOD BBQ | |
| 22 | HAZY BLUE BBQ | |
| 23 | SMOKE 2 PULL | |
| 24 | Harbor Hogs BBQ | |
| 25 | KEN'S BURNT ENDS | |
| 26 | A.M.I. - Q'N | |
| 27 | Milwaukee Que Crew | |
| 28 | ROLL THE BONES BBQ | |
| 29 | My Smoking Jacket | |
| 30 | A BOY NAMED QUE | |
| 31 | WISCO_BRISCO | |
| 32 | Porkin aint Easy Bbq | |
| 33 | Backyard Barbeque | |
| 34 | R & W Pitcrew | |
| 35 | TRU-BBQ | |
| 36 | MONSTERS OF THE RIBWAY | |
| 37 | Brass Monkey BBQ | |
| 38 | Burning Ring of Fire | |
| 39 | MOOSE'S BARBECUE | |
| 40 | BEER & SMOKING IN LAS VEGAS | |
| 41 | SMOKIN CROATIANS | |
| 42 | THE GRILL MASTERS | |
| 43 | Big Matt's BBQ | |
| 44 | Rub Da Rack BBQ | |
| 45 | Johnny Ray's BBQ | |
| 46 | Smokin' 5 O's | |
| 47 | FULLER FLAVOR |
Chicken
47 entries · top 176.0572 · median 163.4172
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WISCO_BRISCO | |
| 2 | A.M.I. - Q'N | |
| 3 | HAZY BLUE BBQ | |
| 4 | D.F.G.'S BBQ | |
| 5 | CANCERSUCKSCHICAGO.COM | |
| 6 | YELLOW RIVER BBQ | |
| 7 | A BOY NAMED QUE | |
| 8 | JC'S RIB-RIPPIN GOOD BBQ | |
| 9 | MUD'S BBQ | |
| 10 | 2 SKINNY COOKS | |
| 11 | SECOND CITY SMOKE | |
| 12 | Porkin aint Easy Bbq | |
| 13 | 5 FINGER BBQ | |
| 14 | BRINGIN' THE HEAT | |
| 15 | CAPTAIN RON'S BREW-N-QUE | |
| 16 | RODEO JOE'S PIGNACIOUS BBQ | |
| 17 | R & W Pitcrew | |
| 18 | Burning Ring of Fire | |
| 19 | FIREWISE BBQ | |
| 20 | HILL-BILLY BBQ | |
| 21 | THE SMOKIN' C'S BBQ | |
| 22 | My Smoking Jacket | |
| 23 | BIG "E" BBQ | |
| 24 | THE SMOKE HUNTERS | |
| 25 | TOPPGATOR BBQ | |
| 26 | T-BAUM BBQ | |
| 27 | TRU-BBQ | |
| 28 | Brass Monkey BBQ | |
| 29 | Harbor Hogs BBQ | |
| 30 | MEMPHIS IN MUNDELEIN | |
| 31 | KEN'S BURNT ENDS | |
| 32 | KAVE DWELLERS | |
| 33 | BEER & SMOKING IN LAS VEGAS | |
| 34 | SMOKIN CROATIANS | |
| 35 | SMOKE 2 PULL | |
| 36 | MONSTERS OF THE RIBWAY | |
| 37 | Risky Brisket | |
| 38 | Milwaukee Que Crew | |
| 39 | Backyard Barbeque | |
| 40 | ROLL THE BONES BBQ | |
| 41 | MOOSE'S BARBECUE | |
| 42 | Smokin' 5 O's | |
| 43 | FULLER FLAVOR | |
| 44 | THE GRILL MASTERS | |
| 45 | Big Matt's BBQ | |
| 46 | Johnny Ray's BBQ | |
| 47 | Rub Da Rack BBQ |
Pork Ribs
47 entries · top 178.2972 · median 159.4400
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CAPTAIN RON'S BREW-N-QUE | |
| 2 | YELLOW RIVER BBQ | |
| 3 | FIREWISE BBQ | |
| 4 | BIG "E" BBQ | |
| 5 | T-BAUM BBQ | |
| 6 | MUD'S BBQ | |
| 7 | HILL-BILLY BBQ | |
| 8 | 5 FINGER BBQ | |
| 9 | THE SMOKIN' C'S BBQ | |
| 10 | Backyard Barbeque | |
| 11 | R & W Pitcrew | |
| 12 | SECOND CITY SMOKE | |
| 13 | TOPPGATOR BBQ | |
| 14 | HAZY BLUE BBQ | |
| 15 | Brass Monkey BBQ | |
| 16 | My Smoking Jacket | |
| 17 | Risky Brisket | |
| 18 | CANCERSUCKSCHICAGO.COM | |
| 19 | KEN'S BURNT ENDS | |
| 20 | MEMPHIS IN MUNDELEIN | |
| 21 | THE SMOKE HUNTERS | |
| 22 | ROLL THE BONES BBQ | |
| 23 | D.F.G.'S BBQ | |
| 24 | RODEO JOE'S PIGNACIOUS BBQ | |
| 25 | SMOKE 2 PULL | |
| 26 | KAVE DWELLERS | |
| 27 | JC'S RIB-RIPPIN GOOD BBQ | |
| 28 | A.M.I. - Q'N | |
| 29 | 2 SKINNY COOKS | |
| 30 | Porkin aint Easy Bbq | |
| 31 | Harbor Hogs BBQ | |
| 32 | WISCO_BRISCO | |
| 33 | SMOKIN CROATIANS | |
| 34 | Rub Da Rack BBQ | |
| 35 | BEER & SMOKING IN LAS VEGAS | |
| 36 | Burning Ring of Fire | |
| 37 | THE GRILL MASTERS | |
| 38 | MONSTERS OF THE RIBWAY | |
| 39 | A BOY NAMED QUE | |
| 40 | Johnny Ray's BBQ | |
| 41 | Milwaukee Que Crew | |
| 42 | BRINGIN' THE HEAT | |
| 43 | MOOSE'S BARBECUE | |
| 44 | Big Matt's BBQ | |
| 45 | Smokin' 5 O's | |
| 46 | TRU-BBQ | |
| 47 | FULLER FLAVOR |
Pork
46 entries · top 177.7028 · median 159.4170
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | YELLOW RIVER BBQ | |
| 2 | KAVE DWELLERS | |
| 3 | Risky Brisket | |
| 4 | THE SMOKIN' C'S BBQ | |
| 5 | HILL-BILLY BBQ | |
| 6 | Milwaukee Que Crew | |
| 7 | A.M.I. - Q'N | |
| 8 | THE SMOKE HUNTERS | |
| 9 | SMOKE 2 PULL | |
| 10 | Harbor Hogs BBQ | |
| 11 | ROLL THE BONES BBQ | |
| 12 | KEN'S BURNT ENDS | |
| 13 | Big Matt's BBQ | |
| 14 | FIREWISE BBQ | |
| 15 | HAZY BLUE BBQ | |
| 16 | BRINGIN' THE HEAT | |
| 17 | A BOY NAMED QUE | |
| 18 | JC'S RIB-RIPPIN GOOD BBQ | |
| 19 | MUD'S BBQ | |
| 20 | TRU-BBQ | |
| 21 | RODEO JOE'S PIGNACIOUS BBQ | |
| 22 | CAPTAIN RON'S BREW-N-QUE | |
| 23 | SECOND CITY SMOKE | |
| 24 | MEMPHIS IN MUNDELEIN | |
| 25 | D.F.G.'S BBQ | |
| 26 | My Smoking Jacket | |
| 27 | TOPPGATOR BBQ | |
| 28 | 2 SKINNY COOKS | |
| 29 | R & W Pitcrew | |
| 30 | BIG "E" BBQ | |
| 31 | MOOSE'S BARBECUE | |
| 32 | Rub Da Rack BBQ | |
| 33 | BEER & SMOKING IN LAS VEGAS | |
| 34 | Johnny Ray's BBQ | |
| 35 | T-BAUM BBQ | |
| 36 | Backyard Barbeque | |
| 37 | CANCERSUCKSCHICAGO.COM | |
| 38 | 5 FINGER BBQ | |
| 39 | SMOKIN CROATIANS | |
| 40 | MONSTERS OF THE RIBWAY | |
| 41 | Porkin aint Easy Bbq | |
| 42 | Brass Monkey BBQ | |
| 43 | Burning Ring of Fire | |
| 44 | WISCO_BRISCO | |
| 45 | THE GRILL MASTERS | |
| 46 | Smokin' 5 O's |
Brisket
47 entries · top 177.7144 · median 160.5600
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | T-BAUM BBQ | |
| 2 | KAVE DWELLERS | |
| 3 | CAPTAIN RON'S BREW-N-QUE | |
| 4 | RODEO JOE'S PIGNACIOUS BBQ | |
| 5 | SECOND CITY SMOKE | |
| 6 | BRINGIN' THE HEAT | |
| 7 | HILL-BILLY BBQ | |
| 8 | THE SMOKE HUNTERS | |
| 9 | MEMPHIS IN MUNDELEIN | |
| 10 | YELLOW RIVER BBQ | |
| 11 | MUD'S BBQ | |
| 12 | MONSTERS OF THE RIBWAY | |
| 13 | 2 SKINNY COOKS | |
| 14 | THE SMOKIN' C'S BBQ | |
| 15 | Milwaukee Que Crew | |
| 16 | CANCERSUCKSCHICAGO.COM | |
| 17 | TRU-BBQ | |
| 18 | TOPPGATOR BBQ | |
| 19 | BIG "E" BBQ | |
| 20 | 5 FINGER BBQ | |
| 21 | WISCO_BRISCO | |
| 22 | Risky Brisket | |
| 23 | SMOKE 2 PULL | |
| 24 | D.F.G.'S BBQ | |
| 25 | Harbor Hogs BBQ | |
| 26 | FIREWISE BBQ | |
| 27 | Porkin aint Easy Bbq | |
| 28 | ROLL THE BONES BBQ | |
| 29 | THE GRILL MASTERS | |
| 30 | JC'S RIB-RIPPIN GOOD BBQ | |
| 31 | A BOY NAMED QUE | |
| 32 | MOOSE'S BARBECUE | |
| 33 | Burning Ring of Fire | |
| 34 | Backyard Barbeque | |
| 35 | KEN'S BURNT ENDS | |
| 36 | Brass Monkey BBQ | |
| 37 | My Smoking Jacket | |
| 38 | HAZY BLUE BBQ | |
| 39 | BEER & SMOKING IN LAS VEGAS | |
| 40 | A.M.I. - Q'N | |
| 41 | R & W Pitcrew | |
| 42 | Big Matt's BBQ | |
| 43 | Rub Da Rack BBQ | |
| 44 | Smokin' 5 O's | |
| 45 | SMOKIN CROATIANS | |
| 46 | Johnny Ray's BBQ | |
| 47 | FULLER FLAVOR |
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.
Master Series — Anything Goes
16 entries · top 170.3428 · median 147.9942
Master Series — Dessert
16 entries · top 169.7484 · median 144.0114