A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 4 tracked editions
QUAU has won this contest 2 times across its 4 tracked editions.
- 2013
- 2015
Central Illinois Bragging Rights
2014-10-10 – 2014-10-11 · Arthur, IL · 📍 Arthur, IL 61911
Grand Champion: IT'S 5 O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE (683.9544) · 37 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 JUGS 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.
585.57
median 645.62
683.95 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 177.15
- Pork Ribs 176.03
- Pork 177.14
- Brisket 178.30
131.87
178.30
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2019 — this edition picked out.
Entries
37
4 judged meats
Top score
683.9544
Winning margin
5.0972
GC over RC
Field average
643.53
585.57683.95
median 645.62 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Chicken
6.2972 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
663.9200
585.57683.95
10th place overall
Field spread
98.3888
winner to last place
Double threats
6
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 83%
beats 17% of 4707 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
42%
22 of 53 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.82 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1532
avg power rating going in · stronger than 23% 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.
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 10 calls decided inside half a point
Pork places 7–8: KCBEER'S SMOKE SHACK and RURAL ROUTE BBQ tied on 165.6800 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Brisket places 3–4: BEAR DOWN BBQ and CRASH TEST SMOKERS tied on 172.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Brisket places 8–9: GREY STREET BBQ and RURAL ROUTE BBQ tied on 167.9656 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Pork 7–8 · tie
- Brisket 3–4 · tie
- Brisket 8–9 · tie
- Chicken 2–3 · 0.0228
How the title was won
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
IT'S 5 O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was pork at 14th.
- Chicken 7th
- Pork Ribs 2nd
- Pork 14th
- Brisket 1st
A contest record in pork ribs
176.0344
best pork ribs ever cooked here
SLEEPY HOLLOW turned in 176.0344 in pork ribs — past the 174.8572 that had stood across 1 earlier editions.
- old best 174.8572
- across 1 past editions
Back to defend
1
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: QUAU (won 2013).
- QUAU · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-10-11 | Arthur, IL | Arthur, IL | 53 | 704.5716 | QUAU | THE SMOKE HUNTERS |
| 2014-10-10 ← this one | Arthur, IL | Arthur, IL 61911 | 37 | 683.9544 | IT'S 5 O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE | JUGS BBQ |
| 2015-10-09 | Arthur, IL | Arthur, IL 61911 | 48 | 702.2744 | QUAU | ALL IN QUE |
| 2019-10-11 | Arthur, IL | Downtown | 43 | 699.4172 | QUE U | JaBs BBQ |
| 2022-09-30 | Arthur, IL | — | — | — | — | — |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 177.1544 | 170.8572 | 168.5600 |
| Pork Ribs | 176.0344 | 167.4056 | 164.5944 |
| Pork | 177.1428 | 169.1428 | 164.5140 |
| Brisket | 178.2972 | 171.4056 | 167.4744 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
37 entries · top 683.9544 · median 645.6228
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | IT'S 5 O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE | |
| 2 | JUGS BBQ | |
| 3 | RURAL ROUTE BBQ | |
| 4 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 5 | QUAU | |
| 6 | GREY STREET BBQ | |
| 7 | SLEEPY HOLLOW | |
| 8 | MONSTER-QUE | |
| 9 | THE BBQ SHERPAS | |
| 10 | F.B.I. BBQ - FAT BOYS OF ILLINOIS | |
| 11 | CRASH TEST SMOKERS | |
| 12 | FIGHTIN' RIBTIPS | |
| 13 | OUTSIDERS BBQ | |
| 14 | TRUCKY'S TRUE BLU BBQ'UE | |
| 15 | BOURBON SMOKE BBQ | |
| 16 | FIDDLIN' FATBACK | |
| 17 | THE CHILLY WATER SMOKERS | |
| 18 | BOSS HAWG BBQ | |
| 19 | BLUE RIDGE BBQ | |
| 20 | KCBEER'S SMOKE SHACK | |
| 21 | PORK PARADISE | |
| 22 | BRADLEY'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 23 | BRANDIN' IRON BBQ | |
| 24 | Silver Bullet Smokers | |
| 25 | MEATSMACK | |
| 26 | Thank You for Smoking | |
| 27 | BEAR DOWN BBQ | |
| 28 | 2 SKINNY COOKS | |
| 29 | DANDDY BBQ | |
| 30 | NUTHATCH HILL BBQ CO. | |
| 31 | All Porked Up | |
| 32 | CHESTER'S BBQ | |
| 33 | Lucky 13 BBQ | |
| 34 | SLOW MY ROLL | |
| 35 | WILBUR'S LAST SQUEAL | |
| 36 | SMOKIN' WET BBQ | |
| 37 | Big Bad Hawg's |
Chicken
37 entries · top 177.1544 · median 162.8228
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | JUGS BBQ | |
| 2 | RURAL ROUTE BBQ | |
| 3 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 4 | MONSTER-QUE | |
| 5 | GREY STREET BBQ | |
| 6 | FIGHTIN' RIBTIPS | |
| 7 | IT'S 5 O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE | |
| 8 | PORK PARADISE | |
| 9 | BOURBON SMOKE BBQ | |
| 10 | Silver Bullet Smokers | |
| 11 | THE CHILLY WATER SMOKERS | |
| 12 | OUTSIDERS BBQ | |
| 13 | CRASH TEST SMOKERS | |
| 14 | THE BBQ SHERPAS | |
| 15 | Thank You for Smoking | |
| 16 | MEATSMACK | |
| 17 | SLEEPY HOLLOW | |
| 18 | SLOW MY ROLL | |
| 19 | FIDDLIN' FATBACK | |
| 20 | BEAR DOWN BBQ | |
| 21 | TRUCKY'S TRUE BLU BBQ'UE | |
| 22 | F.B.I. BBQ - FAT BOYS OF ILLINOIS | |
| 23 | BRANDIN' IRON BBQ | |
| 24 | NUTHATCH HILL BBQ CO. | |
| 25 | DANDDY BBQ | |
| 26 | QUAU | |
| 27 | BRADLEY'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 28 | SMOKIN' WET BBQ | |
| 29 | Lucky 13 BBQ | |
| 30 | BLUE RIDGE BBQ | |
| 31 | KCBEER'S SMOKE SHACK | |
| 32 | WILBUR'S LAST SQUEAL | |
| 33 | All Porked Up | |
| 34 | 2 SKINNY COOKS | |
| 35 | BOSS HAWG BBQ | |
| 36 | CHESTER'S BBQ | |
| 37 | Big Bad Hawg's |
Pork Ribs
37 entries · top 176.0344 · median 160.5600
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SLEEPY HOLLOW | |
| 2 | IT'S 5 O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE | |
| 3 | RURAL ROUTE BBQ | |
| 4 | GREY STREET BBQ | |
| 5 | JUGS BBQ | |
| 6 | THE BBQ SHERPAS | |
| 7 | BLUE RIDGE BBQ | |
| 8 | CRASH TEST SMOKERS | |
| 9 | F.B.I. BBQ - FAT BOYS OF ILLINOIS | |
| 10 | FIGHTIN' RIBTIPS | |
| 11 | QUAU | |
| 12 | OUTSIDERS BBQ | |
| 13 | BRANDIN' IRON BBQ | |
| 14 | KCBEER'S SMOKE SHACK | |
| 15 | 2 SKINNY COOKS | |
| 16 | MONSTER-QUE | |
| 17 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 18 | Big Bad Hawg's | |
| 19 | SMOKIN' WET BBQ | |
| 20 | BOSS HAWG BBQ | |
| 21 | PORK PARADISE | |
| 22 | FIDDLIN' FATBACK | |
| 23 | Lucky 13 BBQ | |
| 24 | WILBUR'S LAST SQUEAL | |
| 25 | BRADLEY'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 26 | DANDDY BBQ | |
| 27 | CHESTER'S BBQ | |
| 28 | THE CHILLY WATER SMOKERS | |
| 29 | Silver Bullet Smokers | |
| 30 | BOURBON SMOKE BBQ | |
| 31 | All Porked Up | |
| 32 | TRUCKY'S TRUE BLU BBQ'UE | |
| 33 | BEAR DOWN BBQ | |
| 34 | Thank You for Smoking | |
| 35 | NUTHATCH HILL BBQ CO. | |
| 36 | MEATSMACK | |
| 37 | SLOW MY ROLL |
Pork
37 entries · top 177.1428 · median 159.9656
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | QUAU | |
| 2 | F.B.I. BBQ - FAT BOYS OF ILLINOIS | |
| 3 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 4 | JUGS BBQ | |
| 5 | THE BBQ SHERPAS | |
| 6 | THE CHILLY WATER SMOKERS | |
| 7 | KCBEER'S SMOKE SHACK | |
| 8 | RURAL ROUTE BBQ | |
| 9 | BOURBON SMOKE BBQ | |
| 10 | TRUCKY'S TRUE BLU BBQ'UE | |
| 11 | FIDDLIN' FATBACK | |
| 12 | BLUE RIDGE BBQ | |
| 13 | All Porked Up | |
| 14 | IT'S 5 O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE | |
| 15 | MONSTER-QUE | |
| 16 | PORK PARADISE | |
| 17 | GREY STREET BBQ | |
| 18 | SLOW MY ROLL | |
| 19 | 2 SKINNY COOKS | |
| 20 | BOSS HAWG BBQ | |
| 21 | OUTSIDERS BBQ | |
| 22 | WILBUR'S LAST SQUEAL | |
| 23 | BRADLEY'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 24 | SMOKIN' WET BBQ | |
| 25 | BRANDIN' IRON BBQ | |
| 26 | DANDDY BBQ | |
| 27 | SLEEPY HOLLOW | |
| 28 | NUTHATCH HILL BBQ CO. | |
| 29 | FIGHTIN' RIBTIPS | |
| 30 | MEATSMACK | |
| 31 | CHESTER'S BBQ | |
| 32 | Thank You for Smoking | |
| 33 | CRASH TEST SMOKERS | |
| 34 | Silver Bullet Smokers | |
| 35 | Lucky 13 BBQ | |
| 36 | Big Bad Hawg's | |
| 37 | BEAR DOWN BBQ |
Brisket
37 entries · top 178.2972 · median 161.6800
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | IT'S 5 O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE | |
| 2 | BOSS HAWG BBQ | |
| 3 | BEAR DOWN BBQ | |
| 4 | CRASH TEST SMOKERS | |
| 5 | MONSTER-QUE | |
| 6 | TRUCKY'S TRUE BLU BBQ'UE | |
| 7 | SLEEPY HOLLOW | |
| 8 | GREY STREET BBQ | |
| 9 | RURAL ROUTE BBQ | |
| 10 | BRADLEY'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 11 | QUAU | |
| 12 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 13 | MEATSMACK | |
| 14 | JUGS BBQ | |
| 15 | FIDDLIN' FATBACK | |
| 16 | THE BBQ SHERPAS | |
| 17 | Silver Bullet Smokers | |
| 18 | BOURBON SMOKE BBQ | |
| 19 | KCBEER'S SMOKE SHACK | |
| 20 | FIGHTIN' RIBTIPS | |
| 21 | F.B.I. BBQ - FAT BOYS OF ILLINOIS | |
| 22 | BLUE RIDGE BBQ | |
| 23 | Thank You for Smoking | |
| 24 | OUTSIDERS BBQ | |
| 25 | CHESTER'S BBQ | |
| 26 | BRANDIN' IRON BBQ | |
| 27 | 2 SKINNY COOKS | |
| 28 | NUTHATCH HILL BBQ CO. | |
| 29 | THE CHILLY WATER SMOKERS | |
| 30 | PORK PARADISE | |
| 31 | DANDDY BBQ | |
| 32 | Lucky 13 BBQ | |
| 33 | SLOW MY ROLL | |
| 34 | All Porked Up | |
| 35 | WILBUR'S LAST SQUEAL | |
| 36 | Big Bad Hawg's | |
| 37 | SMOKIN' WET BBQ |