A new contest record
699.9428
highest overall ever cooked here
699.9428 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 698.2288 THE BLUE BLOODS set in 2014.
- old record 698.2288
- set 2014 by THE BLUE BLOODS
Smokin In The Square 2015
Mar 6–7, 2015 · Pensacola, FL
IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ won Grand Champion at the Smokin In The Square on March 6, 2015 in Pensacola, FL, scoring 699.9428 in a field of 48 teams. The Specialists took Reserve Grand Champion with 697.1204. Category winners: Chicken — SERIAL GRILLER (180.0000); Pork Ribs — JIGGY PIGGY (178.2972); Pork — BUTTRUB.COM (176.0000); Brisket — QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N (178.8572). This is the 3rd of 7 editions of this contest on record; the 2014 edition was won by THE BLUE BLOODS; the next was held in 2016.
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.
458.74
median 670.17
699.94 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 180 🔥
- Pork Ribs 178.30
- Pork 176
- Brisket 178.86
142.17
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2019 — this edition picked out.
Entries
48
4 judged meats · 4 ancillary
Top score
699.9428
Winning margin
2.8224
GC over RC
Field average
664.07
458.74699.94
median 670.17 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Brisket
2.8572 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
685.0516
458.74699.94
10th place overall
Field spread
241.2000
winner to last place
Double threats
3
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 34%
beats 66% of 4715 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
54%
25 of 46 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.68 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,595
avg power rating going in · stronger than 74% of contests
Storylines (8 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.
Won without a category win
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 3 calls from 4 boards, best of them 3rd. Consistency beat fireworks.
- Chicken 6th
- Pork Ribs 3rd
- Pork 12th
- Brisket 5th
A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 7 tracked editions
IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ has won this contest 2 times across its 7 tracked editions.
- 2015
- 2016
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 15 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 3–4: Organizer Portal and QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 6–7: IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ and RED EYED SMOKERS tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 7–8: RED EYED SMOKERS and SMOKIN BUTT CREW tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 3–4 · tie
- Chicken 6–7 · tie
- Chicken 7–8 · tie
- Chicken 9–10 · tie
A contest record in pork ribs
178.2972
best pork ribs ever cooked here
JIGGY PIGGY turned in 178.2972 in pork ribs — past the 177.7144 that had stood across 2 earlier editions.
- old best 177.7144
- across 2 past editions
Back to defend
2
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ (won 2013), THE BLUE BLOODS (won 2014).
- CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ · 2013
- THE BLUE BLOODS · 2014
The biggest field yet
48
teams — a contest high
This contest usually draws about 42 teams
48 teams is the deepest field this contest has drawn in the data, against a typical 42.
A perfect score on the table
1
perfect 180s
1 perfect 180 was scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- SERIAL GRILLER · Chicken
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 1, 2013 | Pensacola, FL | Pensacola, FL | 37 | 681.1424 | CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ | BAREKNUCKLES BBQ |
| Mar 7, 2014 | Pensacola, FL | Pensacola, FL 32570 | 46 | 698.2288 | THE BLUE BLOODS | WARREN COUNTY PORK CHOPPERS |
| Mar 6, 2015 ← this one | Pensacola, FL | Pensacola, FL 32570 | 48 | 699.9428 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | The Specialists |
| Mar 18, 2016 | Pensacola, FL | Pensacola, FL 32570 | 43 | 694.7656 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | CHECKERED PIG |
| Mar 17, 2017 | Pensacola, FL | Seville SQ | 38 | 698.2056 | SOUTH PORK | BOOTYQUE |
| Mar 16, 2018 | Pensacola, FL | Seville SQ | 49 | 699.4176 | SMOKE ME SILLY | HOT WACHULA'S |
| Mar 15, 2019 | Pensacola, FL | Seville SQ | 35 | 693.1084 | MIDNIGHT BURN | THE SPECIALISTS |
| Mar 19, 2021 | Pensacola, FL | — | — | — | — | — |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180 | 176.5716 | 175.4056 |
| Pork Ribs | 178.2972 | 175.4172 | 170.2744 |
| Pork | 176 | 173.1200 | 170.8456 |
| Brisket | 178.8572 | 176 | 174.2628 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
48 entries · top 699.9428 · median 670.1658
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 2 | The Specialists | |
| 3 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 4 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 5 | BREW 'N' BAR-B-QUE | |
| 6 | WINK'S BARBEQUE | |
| 7 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 8 | HAULIN' BUTT BBQ | |
| 9 | GIVE IT TO GOD | |
| 10 | BUB-BA-Q | |
| 11 | RED EYED SMOKERS | |
| 12 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | |
| 13 | PIGGIN' OUT | |
| 14 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 15 | LIBERTY BBQ | |
| 16 | BOOTYQUE | |
| 17 | LOTTA BULL BBQ | |
| 18 | 2 MEN AND A PIG | |
| 19 | THE BLUE BLOODS | |
| 20 | CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ | |
| 21 | TEMPLAR TEMPTATIONS | |
| 22 | MIDNIGHT BURN | |
| 23 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 24 | ROLLIN' SMOKE COMPETITION QUE | |
| 25 | SWINE AND SHINE BBQ | |
| 26 | Organizer Portal | |
| 27 | KILLER B'S BBQ | |
| 28 | WILD BUNCH BUTT BURNERS | |
| 29 | KICKIN' ASH SINCE '68 | |
| 30 | SMOKING BUTT HEADS | |
| 31 | FORREST'S FINE FOODS | |
| 32 | DOUBLE DUECE SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 33 | AWESOME Q | |
| 34 | BUTTRUB.COM | |
| 35 | GENERAL LEE SMOKING | |
| 36 | MIKE'S KENTUCKY HURRICANES | |
| 37 | HOUSE OF Q | |
| 38 | PAPA WOOD BBQ | |
| 39 | E.T.'S BBQ | |
| 40 | BUBBAJACK'S | |
| 41 | VICTOR'S BBQ | |
| 42 | Pig Boss Man | |
| 43 | BBQ ISLAND | |
| 44 | FUNNY FARM | |
| 45 | AFTER MIDNIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 46 | NO CLUE KREWE | |
| 47 | BUBBLE HEAD BBQ | |
| 48 | BIG TASTY BBQ |
Chicken
48 entries · top 180 · median 168.8228 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 2 | The Specialists | |
| 3 | Organizer Portal | |
| 4 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 5 | HAULIN' BUTT BBQ | |
| 6 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 7 | RED EYED SMOKERS | |
| 8 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | |
| 9 | BREW 'N' BAR-B-QUE | |
| 10 | WINK'S BARBEQUE | |
| 11 | SWINE AND SHINE BBQ | |
| 12 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 13 | LIBERTY BBQ | |
| 14 | DOUBLE DUECE SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 15 | KILLER B'S BBQ | |
| 16 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 17 | THE BLUE BLOODS | |
| 18 | 2 MEN AND A PIG | |
| 19 | GIVE IT TO GOD | |
| 20 | MIDNIGHT BURN | |
| 21 | WILD BUNCH BUTT BURNERS | |
| 22 | BBQ ISLAND | |
| 23 | GENERAL LEE SMOKING | |
| 24 | LOTTA BULL BBQ | |
| 25 | FORREST'S FINE FOODS | |
| 26 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 27 | PIGGIN' OUT | |
| 28 | SMOKING BUTT HEADS | |
| 29 | AWESOME Q | |
| 30 | TEMPLAR TEMPTATIONS | |
| 31 | CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ | |
| 32 | BUBBAJACK'S | |
| 33 | BOOTYQUE | |
| 34 | KICKIN' ASH SINCE '68 | |
| 35 | HOUSE OF Q | |
| 36 | Pig Boss Man | |
| 37 | BUB-BA-Q | |
| 38 | ROLLIN' SMOKE COMPETITION QUE | |
| 39 | VICTOR'S BBQ | |
| 40 | NO CLUE KREWE | |
| 41 | BUTTRUB.COM | |
| 42 | MIKE'S KENTUCKY HURRICANES | |
| 43 | PAPA WOOD BBQ | |
| 44 | AFTER MIDNIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 45 | E.T.'S BBQ | |
| 46 | FUNNY FARM | |
| 47 | BUBBLE HEAD BBQ | |
| 48 | BIG TASTY BBQ |
Pork Ribs
48 entries · top 178.2972 · median 166.2628
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 2 | LOTTA BULL BBQ | |
| 3 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 4 | GIVE IT TO GOD | |
| 5 | PIGGIN' OUT | |
| 6 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 7 | 2 MEN AND A PIG | |
| 8 | BUB-BA-Q | |
| 9 | CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ | |
| 10 | ROLLIN' SMOKE COMPETITION QUE | |
| 11 | LIBERTY BBQ | |
| 12 | HOUSE OF Q | |
| 13 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 14 | THE BLUE BLOODS | |
| 15 | HAULIN' BUTT BBQ | |
| 16 | BREW 'N' BAR-B-QUE | |
| 17 | The Specialists | |
| 18 | KILLER B'S BBQ | |
| 19 | AWESOME Q | |
| 20 | BUTTRUB.COM | |
| 21 | WINK'S BARBEQUE | |
| 22 | KICKIN' ASH SINCE '68 | |
| 23 | E.T.'S BBQ | |
| 24 | BOOTYQUE | |
| 25 | SMOKING BUTT HEADS | |
| 26 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | |
| 27 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 28 | BUBBAJACK'S | |
| 29 | TEMPLAR TEMPTATIONS | |
| 30 | WILD BUNCH BUTT BURNERS | |
| 31 | PAPA WOOD BBQ | |
| 32 | SWINE AND SHINE BBQ | |
| 33 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 34 | BBQ ISLAND | |
| 35 | MIDNIGHT BURN | |
| 36 | RED EYED SMOKERS | |
| 37 | GENERAL LEE SMOKING | |
| 38 | MIKE'S KENTUCKY HURRICANES | |
| 39 | Organizer Portal | |
| 40 | FORREST'S FINE FOODS | |
| 41 | DOUBLE DUECE SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 42 | Pig Boss Man | |
| 43 | AFTER MIDNIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 44 | BUBBLE HEAD BBQ | |
| 45 | NO CLUE KREWE | |
| 46 | BIG TASTY BBQ | |
| 47 | FUNNY FARM | |
| 48 | VICTOR'S BBQ |
Pork
47 entries · top 176 · median 167.9772
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BUTTRUB.COM | |
| 2 | The Specialists | |
| 3 | FORREST'S FINE FOODS | |
| 4 | SWINE AND SHINE BBQ | |
| 5 | BOOTYQUE | |
| 6 | HAULIN' BUTT BBQ | |
| 7 | LIBERTY BBQ | |
| 8 | THE BLUE BLOODS | |
| 9 | BREW 'N' BAR-B-QUE | |
| 10 | MIKE'S KENTUCKY HURRICANES | |
| 11 | BUB-BA-Q | |
| 12 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 13 | WINK'S BARBEQUE | |
| 14 | DOUBLE DUECE SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 15 | PAPA WOOD BBQ | |
| 16 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 17 | CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ | |
| 18 | KILLER B'S BBQ | |
| 19 | E.T.'S BBQ | |
| 20 | LOTTA BULL BBQ | |
| 21 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 22 | WILD BUNCH BUTT BURNERS | |
| 23 | RED EYED SMOKERS | |
| 24 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 25 | GIVE IT TO GOD | |
| 26 | GENERAL LEE SMOKING | |
| 27 | ROLLIN' SMOKE COMPETITION QUE | |
| 28 | PIGGIN' OUT | |
| 29 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | |
| 30 | VICTOR'S BBQ | |
| 31 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 32 | TEMPLAR TEMPTATIONS | |
| 33 | FUNNY FARM | |
| 34 | Pig Boss Man | |
| 35 | MIDNIGHT BURN | |
| 36 | AWESOME Q | |
| 37 | SMOKING BUTT HEADS | |
| 38 | AFTER MIDNIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 39 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 40 | KICKIN' ASH SINCE '68 | |
| 41 | BUBBAJACK'S | |
| 42 | HOUSE OF Q | |
| 43 | Organizer Portal | |
| 44 | 2 MEN AND A PIG | |
| 45 | BBQ ISLAND | |
| 46 | NO CLUE KREWE | |
| 47 | BUBBLE HEAD BBQ |
Brisket
48 entries · top 178.8572 · median 167.9772
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 2 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 3 | BUB-BA-Q | |
| 4 | TEMPLAR TEMPTATIONS | |
| 5 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 6 | WINK'S BARBEQUE | |
| 7 | KICKIN' ASH SINCE '68 | |
| 8 | RED EYED SMOKERS | |
| 9 | BREW 'N' BAR-B-QUE | |
| 10 | BOOTYQUE | |
| 11 | The Specialists | |
| 12 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 13 | MIDNIGHT BURN | |
| 14 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | |
| 15 | 2 MEN AND A PIG | |
| 16 | SMOKING BUTT HEADS | |
| 17 | PIGGIN' OUT | |
| 18 | Organizer Portal | |
| 19 | CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ | |
| 20 | ROLLIN' SMOKE COMPETITION QUE | |
| 21 | MIKE'S KENTUCKY HURRICANES | |
| 22 | GIVE IT TO GOD | |
| 23 | HAULIN' BUTT BBQ | |
| 24 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 25 | VICTOR'S BBQ | |
| 26 | AWESOME Q | |
| 27 | DOUBLE DUECE SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 28 | FORREST'S FINE FOODS | |
| 29 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 30 | LIBERTY BBQ | |
| 31 | THE BLUE BLOODS | |
| 32 | WILD BUNCH BUTT BURNERS | |
| 33 | HOUSE OF Q | |
| 34 | GENERAL LEE SMOKING | |
| 35 | E.T.'S BBQ | |
| 36 | LOTTA BULL BBQ | |
| 37 | BIG TASTY BBQ | |
| 38 | PAPA WOOD BBQ | |
| 39 | BUTTRUB.COM | |
| 40 | FUNNY FARM | |
| 41 | KILLER B'S BBQ | |
| 42 | SWINE AND SHINE BBQ | |
| 43 | BUBBAJACK'S | |
| 44 | NO CLUE KREWE | |
| 45 | AFTER MIDNIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 46 | Pig Boss Man | |
| 47 | BBQ ISLAND | |
| 48 | BUBBLE HEAD BBQ |
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 — Backyard Champion
26 entries · top 350.9256 · median 326.0056
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SLADES BBQ | |
| 2 | 3 SMOKIN' DUDES | |
| 3 | SHEATS SMOKED MEATS | |
| 4 | PENSACOLA EGGFEST | |
| 5 | THE BARBECUE GRILLBILLIES | |
| 6 | LATE NIGHT BUTT RUBBERS | |
| 7 | WHO DAT SMOKIN | |
| 8 | WILD BILL'S BBQ | |
| 9 | COYOTE CHEW | |
| 10 | COOKTOP WIZARDS | |
| 11 | WATER HAWGS BBQ | |
| 12 | SMOKIN' ON A BUDGET | |
| 13 | WOODNBUTTS BBQ TEAM | |
| 14 | GULF COAST SMOKE SHOW | |
| 15 | TEAM BEAVER BITES | |
| 16 | NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME SWINE | |
| 17 | KC 2 BC | |
| 18 | SMOKIN BULLETS | |
| 19 | Smoke Ring Express | |
| 20 | SMOKIN STOGIE BOYS | |
| 21 | TOTALLY BOAR'D BBQ | |
| 22 | BLOWIN' SMOKE | |
| 23 | PORKNADO | |
| 24 | GREENLIGHT BBQ | |
| 25 | JONEZ' N 4BBQ | |
| 26 | Scrappys BBQ |
Master Series — Backyard Chicken
26 entries · top 177.7600 · median 164.6172
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SLADES BBQ | |
| 2 | WHO DAT SMOKIN | |
| 3 | SHEATS SMOKED MEATS | |
| 4 | LATE NIGHT BUTT RUBBERS | |
| 5 | WILD BILL'S BBQ | |
| 6 | 3 SMOKIN' DUDES | |
| 7 | COOKTOP WIZARDS | |
| 8 | PENSACOLA EGGFEST | |
| 9 | WATER HAWGS BBQ | |
| 10 | BLOWIN' SMOKE | |
| 11 | GREENLIGHT BBQ | |
| 12 | KC 2 BC | |
| 13 | COYOTE CHEW | |
| 14 | WOODNBUTTS BBQ TEAM | |
| 15 | SMOKIN STOGIE BOYS | |
| 16 | GULF COAST SMOKE SHOW | |
| 17 | TEAM BEAVER BITES | |
| 18 | TOTALLY BOAR'D BBQ | |
| 19 | THE BARBECUE GRILLBILLIES | |
| 20 | NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME SWINE | |
| 21 | SMOKIN BULLETS | |
| 22 | SMOKIN' ON A BUDGET | |
| 23 | Smoke Ring Express | |
| 24 | JONEZ' N 4BBQ | |
| 25 | PORKNADO | |
| 26 | Scrappys BBQ |
Master Series — Backyard Ribs
26 entries · top 179.4400 · median 163.7028
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE BARBECUE GRILLBILLIES | |
| 2 | PENSACOLA EGGFEST | |
| 3 | SLADES BBQ | |
| 4 | 3 SMOKIN' DUDES | |
| 5 | SMOKIN' ON A BUDGET | |
| 6 | SHEATS SMOKED MEATS | |
| 7 | NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME SWINE | |
| 8 | SMOKIN BULLETS | |
| 9 | COYOTE CHEW | |
| 10 | Smoke Ring Express | |
| 11 | TEAM BEAVER BITES | |
| 12 | LATE NIGHT BUTT RUBBERS | |
| 13 | PORKNADO | |
| 14 | GULF COAST SMOKE SHOW | |
| 15 | WOODNBUTTS BBQ TEAM | |
| 16 | WHO DAT SMOKIN | |
| 17 | COOKTOP WIZARDS | |
| 18 | Scrappys BBQ | |
| 19 | WILD BILL'S BBQ | |
| 20 | WATER HAWGS BBQ | |
| 21 | TOTALLY BOAR'D BBQ | |
| 22 | JONEZ' N 4BBQ | |
| 23 | SMOKIN STOGIE BOYS | |
| 24 | KC 2 BC | |
| 25 | BLOWIN' SMOKE | |
| 26 | GREENLIGHT BBQ |
Master Series — Seafood
19 entries · top 174.8456 · median 158.2744
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WINK'S BARBEQUE | |
| 2 | VICTOR'S BBQ | |
| 3 | BBQ ISLAND | |
| 4 | GULF COAST SMOKE SHOW | |
| 5 | MIKE'S KENTUCKY HURRICANES | |
| 6 | AFTER MIDNIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 7 | PENSACOLA EGGFEST | |
| 8 | 2 MEN AND A PIG | |
| 9 | WHO DAT SMOKIN | |
| 10 | PORKNADO | |
| 11 | NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME SWINE | |
| 12 | WILD BILL'S BBQ | |
| 13 | Pig Boss Man | |
| 14 | Smoke Ring Express | |
| 15 | TOTALLY BOAR'D BBQ | |
| 16 | COYOTE CHEW | |
| 17 | JONEZ' N 4BBQ | |
| 18 | GREENLIGHT BBQ | |
| 19 | BUBBAJACK'S |