A new contest record
710.2860
highest overall ever cooked here
710.2860 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 697.7028 SMOKE N BABES BBQ set in 2014.
- old record 697.7028
- set 2014 by SMOKE N BABES BBQ
Cookin on the Kaw 2015
Oct 9–10, 2015 · DeSoto, KS
BURNT FINGER BBQ won Grand Champion at the Cookin on the Kaw on October 9, 2015 in DeSoto, KS, scoring 710.2860 in a field of 36 teams. TRUEBUD BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 703.4404. Category winners: Chicken — BURNT FINGER BBQ (180.0000); Pork Ribs — 913 BBQ (178.8572); Pork — OLD STYLE BBQ (180.0000); Brisket — BURNT FINGER BBQ (180.0000). This is the 3rd of 4 editions of this contest on record; the 2014 edition was won by SMOKE N BABES 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.
596.94
median 668.23
710.29 🏆
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 178.86
- Pork 180 🔥
- Brisket 180 🔥
139.36
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2016 — this edition picked out.
Entries
36
4 judged meats · 1 ancillary
Top score
710.2860
Winning margin
6.8456
GC over RC
Field average
668.19
596.94710.29
median 668.23 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
2.2972 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
684.5256
596.94710.29
10th place overall
Field spread
113.3488
winner to last place
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 3%
beats 97% of 4714 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
41%
19 of 46 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.74 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,547
avg power rating going in · stronger than 35% 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 day of perfect scores
3
perfect 180s
3 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- BURNT FINGER BBQ · Brisket
- BURNT FINGER BBQ · Chicken
- OLD STYLE BBQ · Pork
A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 4 tracked editions
SMOKE N BABES BBQ has won this contest 2 times across its 4 tracked editions.
- 2013
- 2014
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 10 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 4–5: MAN MEAT BBQ and HIGH i QUE tied on 177.1544 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 9–10: Rub-N-Tug BBQ and PORKERSTARS tied on 173.1084 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 4–5: WHISKEY, WINE AND A LITTLE SWINE and HITTIN' THE GAS! tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 4–5 · tie
- Chicken 9–10 · tie
- Pork Ribs 4–5 · tie
- Pork 3–4 · tie
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
BURNT FINGER BBQ won Chicken, Brisket — a double, and took the Grand Championship on top of it.
- Chicken 1st
- Brisket 1st
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
BURNT FINGER BBQ took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 2 outright wins — their weakest board was pork at 9th.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork Ribs 3rd
- Pork 9th
- Brisket 1st
A contest record in brisket
180.0000
best brisket ever cooked here
BURNT FINGER BBQ turned in 180.0000 in brisket — past the 175.4172 that had stood across 2 earlier editions.
- old best 175.4172
- across 2 past editions
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 11, 2013 | DeSoto, KS | DeSoto, KS | 42 | 665.7144 | SMOKE N BABES BBQ | SMOKIN' R'S 2.0 |
| Oct 10, 2014 | DeSoto, KS | DeSoto, KS 66018 | 46 | 697.7028 | SMOKE N BABES BBQ | BURNT AT BOTH ENDZ |
| Oct 9, 2015 ← this one | DeSoto, KS | DeSoto, KS 66018 | 36 | 710.2860 | BURNT FINGER BBQ | TRUEBUD BBQ |
| Oct 7, 2016 | DeSoto, KS | 33440 W 79th | 56 | 695.4172 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | GETTIN' BASTED |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180 | 177.1544 | 173.1084 |
| Pork Ribs | 178.8572 | 176.5600 | 174.2744 |
| Pork | 180 | 175.4400 | 172.5828 |
| Brisket | 180 | 176.5716 | 170.2744 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
36 entries · top 710.2860 · median 668.2284
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BURNT FINGER BBQ | |
| 2 | TRUEBUD BBQ | |
| 3 | 913 BBQ | |
| 4 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 5 | THUMP & STRUM BBQ | |
| 6 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 7 | BURNT AT BOTH ENDZ | |
| 8 | OLD STYLE BBQ | |
| 9 | PORKERSTARS | |
| 10 | SMOKIN' R'S | |
| 11 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 12 | HITTIN' THE GAS! | |
| 13 | WHIMPYS | |
| 14 | Rub-N-Tug BBQ | |
| 15 | SMALLEYWOOD BBQ | |
| 16 | JOUSTING PIGS BBQ 2.0 | |
| 17 | DIXIE BOYS BBQ | |
| 18 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 19 | DUNN UP BBQ | |
| 20 | Smokehouse Mafia | |
| 21 | WHISKEY, WINE AND A LITTLE SWINE | |
| 22 | 18 TH & SWINE BBQ | |
| 23 | WANNA B'S | |
| 24 | KC RIB DOCTOR | |
| 25 | GRISWOLD GRILLERS | |
| 26 | IHC BBQ | |
| 27 | Fubar-B-Q | |
| 28 | Rubbin Butts-Bone In | |
| 29 | BIG D & THE BRIQUETTES | |
| 30 | Two Grills One Butt BBQ | |
| 31 | SMOKEN HOG RODS | |
| 32 | ROCK-N-ROLL RIB RUBBERS | |
| 33 | THREE LEGGED PIG BBQ | |
| 34 | 4 MEAT SAKES | |
| 35 | SMOKIN GOOD BBQ | |
| 36 | FINE SWINE BBQ |
Chicken
36 entries · top 180 · median 166.2514 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BURNT FINGER BBQ | |
| 2 | TRUEBUD BBQ | |
| 3 | 18 TH & SWINE BBQ | |
| 4 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 5 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 6 | 913 BBQ | |
| 7 | GRISWOLD GRILLERS | |
| 8 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 9 | Rub-N-Tug BBQ | |
| 10 | PORKERSTARS | |
| 11 | THUMP & STRUM BBQ | |
| 12 | BURNT AT BOTH ENDZ | |
| 13 | KC RIB DOCTOR | |
| 14 | OLD STYLE BBQ | |
| 15 | JOUSTING PIGS BBQ 2.0 | |
| 16 | DIXIE BOYS BBQ | |
| 17 | Smokehouse Mafia | |
| 18 | WHISKEY, WINE AND A LITTLE SWINE | |
| 19 | 4 MEAT SAKES | |
| 20 | Two Grills One Butt BBQ | |
| 21 | SMALLEYWOOD BBQ | |
| 22 | IHC BBQ | |
| 23 | HITTIN' THE GAS! | |
| 24 | Fubar-B-Q | |
| 25 | ROCK-N-ROLL RIB RUBBERS | |
| 26 | WHIMPYS | |
| 27 | BIG D & THE BRIQUETTES | |
| 28 | WANNA B'S | |
| 29 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 30 | Rubbin Butts-Bone In | |
| 31 | SMOKIN GOOD BBQ | |
| 32 | DUNN UP BBQ | |
| 33 | SMOKIN' R'S | |
| 34 | SMOKEN HOG RODS | |
| 35 | THREE LEGGED PIG BBQ | |
| 36 | FINE SWINE BBQ |
Pork Ribs
36 entries · top 178.8572 · median 170.8344
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 913 BBQ | |
| 2 | THUMP & STRUM BBQ | |
| 3 | BURNT FINGER BBQ | |
| 4 | WHISKEY, WINE AND A LITTLE SWINE | |
| 5 | HITTIN' THE GAS! | |
| 6 | DIXIE BOYS BBQ | |
| 7 | SMOKIN' R'S | |
| 8 | SMALLEYWOOD BBQ | |
| 9 | PORKERSTARS | |
| 10 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 11 | IHC BBQ | |
| 12 | JOUSTING PIGS BBQ 2.0 | |
| 13 | ROCK-N-ROLL RIB RUBBERS | |
| 14 | WHIMPYS | |
| 15 | KC RIB DOCTOR | |
| 16 | BURNT AT BOTH ENDZ | |
| 17 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 18 | TRUEBUD BBQ | |
| 19 | WANNA B'S | |
| 20 | Smokehouse Mafia | |
| 21 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 22 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 23 | DUNN UP BBQ | |
| 24 | SMOKEN HOG RODS | |
| 25 | GRISWOLD GRILLERS | |
| 26 | 18 TH & SWINE BBQ | |
| 27 | OLD STYLE BBQ | |
| 28 | THREE LEGGED PIG BBQ | |
| 29 | Rub-N-Tug BBQ | |
| 30 | Fubar-B-Q | |
| 31 | BIG D & THE BRIQUETTES | |
| 32 | Rubbin Butts-Bone In | |
| 33 | SMOKIN GOOD BBQ | |
| 34 | 4 MEAT SAKES | |
| 35 | Two Grills One Butt BBQ | |
| 36 | FINE SWINE BBQ |
Pork
36 entries · top 180 · median 169.3942 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | OLD STYLE BBQ | |
| 2 | THUMP & STRUM BBQ | |
| 3 | TRUEBUD BBQ | |
| 4 | 913 BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKEN HOG RODS | |
| 6 | Rub-N-Tug BBQ | |
| 7 | WHIMPYS | |
| 8 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 9 | BURNT FINGER BBQ | |
| 10 | SMOKIN' R'S | |
| 11 | BIG D & THE BRIQUETTES | |
| 12 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 13 | THREE LEGGED PIG BBQ | |
| 14 | SMALLEYWOOD BBQ | |
| 15 | JOUSTING PIGS BBQ 2.0 | |
| 16 | DIXIE BOYS BBQ | |
| 17 | WANNA B'S | |
| 18 | BURNT AT BOTH ENDZ | |
| 19 | DUNN UP BBQ | |
| 20 | Fubar-B-Q | |
| 21 | Smokehouse Mafia | |
| 22 | Two Grills One Butt BBQ | |
| 23 | Rubbin Butts-Bone In | |
| 24 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 25 | HITTIN' THE GAS! | |
| 26 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 27 | IHC BBQ | |
| 28 | PORKERSTARS | |
| 29 | 4 MEAT SAKES | |
| 30 | KC RIB DOCTOR | |
| 31 | GRISWOLD GRILLERS | |
| 32 | ROCK-N-ROLL RIB RUBBERS | |
| 33 | FINE SWINE BBQ | |
| 34 | 18 TH & SWINE BBQ | |
| 35 | WHISKEY, WINE AND A LITTLE SWINE | |
| 36 | SMOKIN GOOD BBQ |
Brisket
36 entries · top 180 · median 163.9942 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BURNT FINGER BBQ | |
| 2 | BURNT AT BOTH ENDZ | |
| 3 | SMOKIN' R'S | |
| 4 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 5 | TRUEBUD BBQ | |
| 6 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 7 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 8 | PORKERSTARS | |
| 9 | OLD STYLE BBQ | |
| 10 | HITTIN' THE GAS! | |
| 11 | Rubbin Butts-Bone In | |
| 12 | WHIMPYS | |
| 13 | THUMP & STRUM BBQ | |
| 14 | Rub-N-Tug BBQ | |
| 15 | DUNN UP BBQ | |
| 16 | 913 BBQ | |
| 17 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 18 | WHISKEY, WINE AND A LITTLE SWINE | |
| 19 | SMALLEYWOOD BBQ | |
| 20 | Fubar-B-Q | |
| 21 | 18 TH & SWINE BBQ | |
| 22 | Two Grills One Butt BBQ | |
| 23 | GRISWOLD GRILLERS | |
| 24 | JOUSTING PIGS BBQ 2.0 | |
| 25 | WANNA B'S | |
| 26 | THREE LEGGED PIG BBQ | |
| 27 | KC RIB DOCTOR | |
| 28 | IHC BBQ | |
| 29 | BIG D & THE BRIQUETTES | |
| 30 | Smokehouse Mafia | |
| 31 | DIXIE BOYS BBQ | |
| 32 | SMOKIN GOOD BBQ | |
| 33 | 4 MEAT SAKES | |
| 34 | ROCK-N-ROLL RIB RUBBERS | |
| 35 | SMOKEN HOG RODS | |
| 36 | FINE SWINE 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 — Dessert
7 entries · top 179.4400 · median 177.7028
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WANNA B'S | |
| 2 | THREE LEGGED PIG BBQ | |
| 3 | SMALLEYWOOD BBQ | |
| 4 | JOUSTING PIGS BBQ 2.0 | |
| 5 | BURNT FINGER BBQ | |
| 6 | SMOKEN HOG RODS | |
| 7 | FINE SWINE BBQ |