A statement win
13.1200
points clear of the field
Wider than 94% of the 4,710 championships in the data
The champion won by 13.1200 points — a wider margin than 94% of championships in the data.
Grill Games 2015
Aug 28–29, 2015 · Kenosha, WI
THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ won Grand Champion at the Grill Games on August 28, 2015 in Kenosha, WI, scoring 686.2516 in a field of 49 teams. MUD'S BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 673.1316. Category winners: Chicken — A MOTLEY QUE (179.4400); Pork Ribs — MOOSE'S BARBECUE (173.7028); Pork — THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ (177.7372); Brisket — YELLOW RIVER BBQ (178.3200). This is the 3rd of 6 editions of this contest on record; the 2014 edition was won by YELLOW RIVER BBQ; 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.
573.65
median 642.72
686.25 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 179.44
- Pork Ribs 173.70
- Pork 177.74
- Brisket 178.32
123.92
179.44
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2018 — this edition picked out.
Entries
49
4 judged meats · 2 ancillary
Top score
686.2516
Winning margin
13.1200
GC over RC
Field average
636.38
573.65686.25
median 642.72 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
3.4056 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
659.9200
573.65686.25
10th place overall
Field spread
112.6060
winner to last place
Double threats
1
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 80%
beats 20% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
55%
26 of 47 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.61 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,519
avg power rating going in · stronger than 13% 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 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
0.0112
closest of 8 calls decided inside half a point
Brisket places 4–5: ROB DOG BBQ edged Valet Porking by 0.0112. Pork Ribs places 9–10: A MOTLEY QUE edged BURNITA BAR-B-QUE by 0.0112. Pork Ribs places 7–8: Risky Brisket edged DUCE'S WILD by 0.0116.
- Brisket 4–5 · 0.0112
- Pork Ribs 9–10 · 0.0112
- Pork Ribs 7–8 · 0.0116
- Chicken 8–9 · 0.0228
How the title was won
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was chicken at 25th.
- Chicken 25th
- Pork Ribs 3rd
- Pork 1st
- Brisket 3rd
A contest record in chicken
179.4400
best chicken ever cooked here
A MOTLEY QUE turned in 179.4400 in chicken — past the 176.0572 that had stood across 2 earlier editions.
- old best 176.0572
- across 2 past editions
Back to defend
2
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: THE SMOKE HUNTERS (won 2013), YELLOW RIVER BBQ (won 2014).
- THE SMOKE HUNTERS · 2013
- YELLOW RIVER BBQ · 2014
The biggest field yet
49
teams — a contest high
This contest usually draws about 45 teams
49 teams is the deepest field this contest has drawn in the data, against a typical 45.
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 | Kenosha, WI | Kenosha, WI 53140 | 47 | 694.3200 | YELLOW RIVER BBQ | HILL-BILLY BBQ |
| Aug 28, 2015 ← this one | 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 | 179.4400 | 172 | 168.5600 |
| Pork Ribs | 173.7028 | 170.2972 | 169.1544 |
| Pork | 177.7372 | 171.4400 | 166.2628 |
| Brisket | 178.3200 | 171.4516 | 166.2972 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
49 entries · top 686.2516 · median 642.7196
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 2 | MUD'S BBQ | |
| 3 | YELLOW RIVER BBQ | |
| 4 | A MOTLEY QUE | |
| 5 | DUCE'S WILD | |
| 6 | SMOKE 2 PULL | |
| 7 | WISCO_BRISCO | |
| 8 | HAZY BLUE BBQ | |
| 9 | BURNITA BAR-B-QUE | |
| 10 | THE SMOKE HUNTERS | |
| 11 | D.F.G.'S BBQ | |
| 12 | Harbor Hogs BBQ | |
| 13 | ROB DOG BBQ | |
| 14 | BEER & SMOKING IN LAS VEGAS | |
| 15 | 2 BONES BBQ | |
| 16 | BIG "E" BBQ | |
| 17 | Risky Brisket | |
| 18 | MONSTERS OF THE RIBWAY | |
| 19 | HILL-BILLY BBQ | |
| 20 | Valet Porking | |
| 21 | SMOK'N BOOTY BBQ | |
| 22 | JH OLD SCHOOL | |
| 23 | Milwaukee Que Crew | |
| 24 | T-BAUM BBQ | |
| 25 | AXE-MEN BBQ | |
| 26 | KAVE DWELLERS | |
| 27 | Porking Ain't Easy BBQ | |
| 28 | A BOY NAMED QUE | |
| 29 | DU-LITTLE BBQ | |
| 30 | ROLL THE BONES BBQ | |
| 31 | JURASSIC PORK BBQ TEAM | |
| 32 | MOOSE'S BARBECUE | |
| 33 | A.M.I. - Q'N | |
| 34 | DESIGNATED SMOKIN' AREA | |
| 35 | Blue Island BBQ Company | |
| 36 | MEMPHIS IN MUNDELEIN | |
| 37 | Smokin' 5 O's | |
| 38 | Q-N WITH ATTITUDE | |
| 39 | RODEO JOE'S PIGNACIOUS BBQ | |
| 40 | Smokin' & Grinnin | |
| 41 | Fred's Blu Pig | |
| 42 | HOLY SMOQUE BBQ | |
| 43 | THREE LEGGED PIG BBQ | |
| 44 | SMOKIN' STACK RACKS | |
| 45 | JC'S RIB-RIPPIN GOOD BBQ | |
| 46 | KEN'S BURNT ENDS | |
| 47 | HOGLICKERS | |
| 48 | Grease Monkey Grilling | |
| 49 | Johnny Ray's BBQ |
Chicken
49 entries · top 179.4400 · median 161.6800
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A MOTLEY QUE | |
| 2 | HILL-BILLY BBQ | |
| 3 | HAZY BLUE BBQ | |
| 4 | WISCO_BRISCO | |
| 5 | KAVE DWELLERS | |
| 6 | AXE-MEN BBQ | |
| 7 | MUD'S BBQ | |
| 8 | SMOK'N BOOTY BBQ | |
| 9 | JH OLD SCHOOL | |
| 10 | SMOKE 2 PULL | |
| 11 | D.F.G.'S BBQ | |
| 12 | BEER & SMOKING IN LAS VEGAS | |
| 13 | MOOSE'S BARBECUE | |
| 14 | BIG "E" BBQ | |
| 15 | BURNITA BAR-B-QUE | |
| 16 | Valet Porking | |
| 17 | DUCE'S WILD | |
| 18 | 2 BONES BBQ | |
| 19 | DU-LITTLE BBQ | |
| 20 | Harbor Hogs BBQ | |
| 21 | RODEO JOE'S PIGNACIOUS BBQ | |
| 22 | ROB DOG BBQ | |
| 23 | Smokin' 5 O's | |
| 24 | JURASSIC PORK BBQ TEAM | |
| 25 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 26 | A.M.I. - Q'N | |
| 27 | Porking Ain't Easy BBQ | |
| 28 | T-BAUM BBQ | |
| 29 | Risky Brisket | |
| 30 | THE SMOKE HUNTERS | |
| 31 | YELLOW RIVER BBQ | |
| 32 | Johnny Ray's BBQ | |
| 33 | DESIGNATED SMOKIN' AREA | |
| 34 | ROLL THE BONES BBQ | |
| 35 | A BOY NAMED QUE | |
| 36 | MONSTERS OF THE RIBWAY | |
| 37 | Milwaukee Que Crew | |
| 38 | MEMPHIS IN MUNDELEIN | |
| 39 | Q-N WITH ATTITUDE | |
| 40 | Blue Island BBQ Company | |
| 41 | HOLY SMOQUE BBQ | |
| 42 | Smokin' & Grinnin | |
| 43 | THREE LEGGED PIG BBQ | |
| 44 | HOGLICKERS | |
| 45 | Grease Monkey Grilling | |
| 46 | SMOKIN' STACK RACKS | |
| 47 | KEN'S BURNT ENDS | |
| 48 | Fred's Blu Pig | |
| 49 | JC'S RIB-RIPPIN GOOD BBQ |
Pork Ribs
49 entries · top 173.7028 · median 159.3940
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MOOSE'S BARBECUE | |
| 2 | THE SMOKE HUNTERS | |
| 3 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 4 | MONSTERS OF THE RIBWAY | |
| 5 | SMOK'N BOOTY BBQ | |
| 6 | D.F.G.'S BBQ | |
| 7 | Risky Brisket | |
| 8 | DUCE'S WILD | |
| 9 | A MOTLEY QUE | |
| 10 | BURNITA BAR-B-QUE | |
| 11 | YELLOW RIVER BBQ | |
| 12 | T-BAUM BBQ | |
| 13 | SMOKE 2 PULL | |
| 14 | Harbor Hogs BBQ | |
| 15 | DU-LITTLE BBQ | |
| 16 | A.M.I. - Q'N | |
| 17 | BEER & SMOKING IN LAS VEGAS | |
| 18 | HAZY BLUE BBQ | |
| 19 | MUD'S BBQ | |
| 20 | Smokin' 5 O's | |
| 21 | DESIGNATED SMOKIN' AREA | |
| 22 | Milwaukee Que Crew | |
| 23 | Q-N WITH ATTITUDE | |
| 24 | KEN'S BURNT ENDS | |
| 25 | JH OLD SCHOOL | |
| 26 | Porking Ain't Easy BBQ | |
| 27 | ROB DOG BBQ | |
| 28 | Blue Island BBQ Company | |
| 29 | Fred's Blu Pig | |
| 30 | 2 BONES BBQ | |
| 31 | A BOY NAMED QUE | |
| 32 | Smokin' & Grinnin | |
| 33 | MEMPHIS IN MUNDELEIN | |
| 34 | ROLL THE BONES BBQ | |
| 35 | HILL-BILLY BBQ | |
| 36 | AXE-MEN BBQ | |
| 37 | KAVE DWELLERS | |
| 38 | Grease Monkey Grilling | |
| 39 | WISCO_BRISCO | |
| 40 | BIG "E" BBQ | |
| 41 | Valet Porking | |
| 42 | JURASSIC PORK BBQ TEAM | |
| 43 | JC'S RIB-RIPPIN GOOD BBQ | |
| 44 | HOLY SMOQUE BBQ | |
| 45 | SMOKIN' STACK RACKS | |
| 46 | RODEO JOE'S PIGNACIOUS BBQ | |
| 47 | HOGLICKERS | |
| 48 | THREE LEGGED PIG BBQ | |
| 49 | Johnny Ray's BBQ |
Pork
49 entries · top 177.7372 · median 159.9772
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 2 | MUD'S BBQ | |
| 3 | A.M.I. - Q'N | |
| 4 | Harbor Hogs BBQ | |
| 5 | Milwaukee Que Crew | |
| 6 | SMOKE 2 PULL | |
| 7 | WISCO_BRISCO | |
| 8 | A BOY NAMED QUE | |
| 9 | JURASSIC PORK BBQ TEAM | |
| 10 | YELLOW RIVER BBQ | |
| 11 | A MOTLEY QUE | |
| 12 | BIG "E" BBQ | |
| 13 | BURNITA BAR-B-QUE | |
| 14 | Fred's Blu Pig | |
| 15 | 2 BONES BBQ | |
| 16 | THE SMOKE HUNTERS | |
| 17 | HAZY BLUE BBQ | |
| 18 | Valet Porking | |
| 19 | DUCE'S WILD | |
| 20 | RODEO JOE'S PIGNACIOUS BBQ | |
| 21 | KAVE DWELLERS | |
| 22 | DU-LITTLE BBQ | |
| 23 | T-BAUM BBQ | |
| 24 | D.F.G.'S BBQ | |
| 25 | HOLY SMOQUE BBQ | |
| 26 | ROB DOG BBQ | |
| 27 | MONSTERS OF THE RIBWAY | |
| 28 | Porking Ain't Easy BBQ | |
| 29 | KEN'S BURNT ENDS | |
| 30 | Smokin' & Grinnin | |
| 31 | JH OLD SCHOOL | |
| 32 | HILL-BILLY BBQ | |
| 33 | THREE LEGGED PIG BBQ | |
| 34 | DESIGNATED SMOKIN' AREA | |
| 35 | AXE-MEN BBQ | |
| 36 | ROLL THE BONES BBQ | |
| 37 | MEMPHIS IN MUNDELEIN | |
| 38 | HOGLICKERS | |
| 39 | Risky Brisket | |
| 40 | Smokin' 5 O's | |
| 41 | BEER & SMOKING IN LAS VEGAS | |
| 42 | MOOSE'S BARBECUE | |
| 43 | JC'S RIB-RIPPIN GOOD BBQ | |
| 44 | Blue Island BBQ Company | |
| 45 | SMOKIN' STACK RACKS | |
| 46 | Johnny Ray's BBQ | |
| 47 | Q-N WITH ATTITUDE | |
| 48 | SMOK'N BOOTY BBQ | |
| 49 | Grease Monkey Grilling |
Brisket
49 entries · top 178.3200 · median 158.3200
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | YELLOW RIVER BBQ | |
| 2 | DUCE'S WILD | |
| 3 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 4 | ROB DOG BBQ | |
| 5 | Valet Porking | |
| 6 | BIG "E" BBQ | |
| 7 | WISCO_BRISCO | |
| 8 | Risky Brisket | |
| 9 | BEER & SMOKING IN LAS VEGAS | |
| 10 | 2 BONES BBQ | |
| 11 | ROLL THE BONES BBQ | |
| 12 | SMOK'N BOOTY BBQ | |
| 13 | MUD'S BBQ | |
| 14 | THE SMOKE HUNTERS | |
| 15 | AXE-MEN BBQ | |
| 16 | Blue Island BBQ Company | |
| 17 | MONSTERS OF THE RIBWAY | |
| 18 | D.F.G.'S BBQ | |
| 19 | BURNITA BAR-B-QUE | |
| 20 | Porking Ain't Easy BBQ | |
| 21 | HAZY BLUE BBQ | |
| 22 | HILL-BILLY BBQ | |
| 23 | SMOKE 2 PULL | |
| 24 | MEMPHIS IN MUNDELEIN | |
| 25 | JC'S RIB-RIPPIN GOOD BBQ | |
| 26 | THREE LEGGED PIG BBQ | |
| 27 | JH OLD SCHOOL | |
| 28 | KAVE DWELLERS | |
| 29 | A BOY NAMED QUE | |
| 30 | Milwaukee Que Crew | |
| 31 | A MOTLEY QUE | |
| 32 | T-BAUM BBQ | |
| 33 | SMOKIN' STACK RACKS | |
| 34 | RODEO JOE'S PIGNACIOUS BBQ | |
| 35 | Q-N WITH ATTITUDE | |
| 36 | Harbor Hogs BBQ | |
| 37 | JURASSIC PORK BBQ TEAM | |
| 38 | HOGLICKERS | |
| 39 | HOLY SMOQUE BBQ | |
| 40 | DESIGNATED SMOKIN' AREA | |
| 41 | Grease Monkey Grilling | |
| 42 | Fred's Blu Pig | |
| 43 | Smokin' & Grinnin | |
| 44 | DU-LITTLE BBQ | |
| 45 | Smokin' 5 O's | |
| 46 | Johnny Ray's BBQ | |
| 47 | MOOSE'S BARBECUE | |
| 48 | KEN'S BURNT ENDS | |
| 49 | A.M.I. - Q'N |
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
17 entries · top 171.4400 · median 157.2116
Master Series — Desert
19 entries · top 174.3200 · median 148.5600