The Golden State Battle VIII
2026-01-30 – 2026-01-31 · Riverside, CA · 📍 Magnolia Church · State championship
Reps: KATHLEEN MCINTOSH, KELLY MCINTOSH · Prize money: $10,000.00
Grand Champion: Loot N' Booty BBQ (708.5372) · 41 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 Cherry Anchor BBQ
Entries
41
7 judged meats · 1 ancillary
Top score
708.5372
Winning margin
2.2972
GC over RC
Field average
677.75
median 684.46
Perfect 180s
4 🔥
Tightest race
Brisket
2.2856 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
694.7540
10th place overall
Field spread
98.2516
winner to last place
Prize money
$10,000.00
on the line
Double threats
8
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 10%
beats 90% of 1951 Master Series wins in the data
Traveled in
13%
of the 45 teams with a home region came from outside CA
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.39 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1557
avg power rating going in · stronger than 63% of contests
Storylines
🧳 Out-of-towners took the title
LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ took the Grand Championship home to AZ.
🔥 A day of perfect scores
4 perfect 180s were scored at this contest.
🧹 A double category winner
GRILL WORTHY won Pork Ribs, Pork — a double.
📸 Photo finishes
Master Series — Chicken places 1–2: Poppa Pig and BURNIN AND LOOTIN tied on 180.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 5–6: Big Johns BBQ Company and PORTERHOUSE BBQ tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 9–10: Pork Bombin BBQ and Bad Bears BBQ tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
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)
Where the field came from (home regions on file)
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 180.0000 | 177.7028 | 176.5600 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 179.4400 | 176.5716 | 173.1316 |
| Master Series — Pork | 180.0000 | 176.5600 | 175.4056 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 177.7028 | 175.4172 | 174.2744 |
| Open Comp — Chicken | 171.9772 | — | — |
| Open Comp — Pork Ribs | 165.1428 | — | — |
| Open Comp — Pork | 170.8572 | — | — |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
41 entries · top 708.5372 · median 684.4572
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ | |
| 2 | Cherry Anchor BBQ | |
| 3 | PORTERHOUSE BBQ | |
| 4 | Pork Bombin BBQ | |
| 5 | LADY OF Q | |
| 6 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 7 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 8 | ONE PIT WONDER | |
| 9 | Bad Bears BBQ | |
| 10 | Big Johns BBQ Company | |
| 11 | Pops BBQ 22 | |
| 12 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 13 | West Coast BBQ Shop | |
| 14 | SoCal Outlaw BBQ | |
| 15 | SMOKE HOUND BBQ | |
| 16 | AJ’S SMOKEHOUSE BBQ | |
| 17 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 18 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 19 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 20 | THE BRISKET BROTHERS | |
| 21 | WILD WILLY'S SMOKIN HOT BBQ | |
| 22 | Poppa Pig | |
| 23 | Smoking Rays Backyard BBQ | |
| 24 | BONE RUBBIN BBQ | |
| 25 | BLAZIN BARRELS BBQ | |
| 26 | Ribbin-1-Out | |
| 27 | COACHES PIT BBQ | |
| 28 | Proper Smoke | |
| 29 | Big Juicy BBQ | |
| 30 | Twiki G BBQ | |
| 31 | Big Cat BBQ | |
| 32 | Aloha Y'all BBQ | |
| 33 | Fire Ash BBQ | |
| 34 | Hot Hoskins BBQ | |
| 35 | Saucy Smokers BBQ | |
| 36 | Blackjack bbq | |
| 37 | Janer Family BBQ | |
| 38 | Curls Brothers3A Competition Team | |
| 39 | TCB-Takin Care of BBQ | |
| 40 | Bangers & Mash | |
| 41 | Main Coarse Catering |
Chicken
41 entries · top 180.0000 · median 171.9772 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poppa Pig | |
| 2 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 3 | ONE PIT WONDER | |
| 4 | Hot Hoskins BBQ | |
| 5 | Big Johns BBQ Company | |
| 6 | PORTERHOUSE BBQ | |
| 7 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 8 | Pops BBQ 22 | |
| 9 | Pork Bombin BBQ | |
| 10 | Bad Bears BBQ | |
| 11 | LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ | |
| 12 | SoCal Outlaw BBQ | |
| 13 | West Coast BBQ Shop | |
| 14 | LADY OF Q | |
| 15 | Saucy Smokers BBQ | |
| 16 | AJ’S SMOKEHOUSE BBQ | |
| 17 | Cherry Anchor BBQ | |
| 18 | SMOKE HOUND BBQ | |
| 19 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 20 | THE BRISKET BROTHERS | |
| 21 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 22 | Smoking Rays Backyard BBQ | |
| 23 | Ribbin-1-Out | |
| 24 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 25 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 26 | Proper Smoke | |
| 27 | Aloha Y'all BBQ | |
| 28 | WILD WILLY'S SMOKIN HOT BBQ | |
| 29 | Big Juicy BBQ | |
| 30 | BONE RUBBIN BBQ | |
| 31 | COACHES PIT BBQ | |
| 32 | BLAZIN BARRELS BBQ | |
| 33 | Twiki G BBQ | |
| 34 | Big Cat BBQ | |
| 35 | Blackjack bbq | |
| 36 | Fire Ash BBQ | |
| 37 | Curls Brothers3A Competition Team | |
| 38 | Janer Family BBQ | |
| 39 | Bangers & Mash | |
| 40 | Main Coarse Catering | |
| 41 | TCB-Takin Care of BBQ |
Pork Ribs
41 entries · top 179.4400 · median 170.8344
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SoCal Outlaw BBQ | |
| 2 | LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ | |
| 3 | BONE RUBBIN BBQ | |
| 4 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 5 | Cherry Anchor BBQ | |
| 6 | Pork Bombin BBQ | |
| 7 | Big Johns BBQ Company | |
| 8 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 9 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 10 | LADY OF Q | |
| 11 | PORTERHOUSE BBQ | |
| 12 | SMOKE HOUND BBQ | |
| 13 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 14 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 15 | Aloha Y'all BBQ | |
| 16 | WILD WILLY'S SMOKIN HOT BBQ | |
| 17 | BLAZIN BARRELS BBQ | |
| 18 | Ribbin-1-Out | |
| 19 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 20 | Pops BBQ 22 | |
| 21 | Bad Bears BBQ | |
| 22 | West Coast BBQ Shop | |
| 23 | Smoking Rays Backyard BBQ | |
| 24 | AJ’S SMOKEHOUSE BBQ | |
| 25 | Janer Family BBQ | |
| 26 | THE BRISKET BROTHERS | |
| 27 | COACHES PIT BBQ | |
| 28 | Poppa Pig | |
| 29 | ONE PIT WONDER | |
| 30 | Saucy Smokers BBQ | |
| 31 | Big Juicy BBQ | |
| 32 | Fire Ash BBQ | |
| 33 | Big Cat BBQ | |
| 34 | TCB-Takin Care of BBQ | |
| 35 | Blackjack bbq | |
| 36 | Proper Smoke | |
| 37 | Hot Hoskins BBQ | |
| 38 | Twiki G BBQ | |
| 39 | Curls Brothers3A Competition Team | |
| 40 | Bangers & Mash | |
| 41 | Main Coarse Catering |
Pork
41 entries · top 180.0000 · median 171.9656 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cherry Anchor BBQ | |
| 2 | SoCal Outlaw BBQ | |
| 3 | PORTERHOUSE BBQ | |
| 4 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 5 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 6 | AJ’S SMOKEHOUSE BBQ | |
| 7 | ONE PIT WONDER | |
| 8 | LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ | |
| 9 | LADY OF Q | |
| 10 | Pops BBQ 22 | |
| 11 | West Coast BBQ Shop | |
| 12 | Pork Bombin BBQ | |
| 13 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 14 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 15 | Proper Smoke | |
| 16 | Poppa Pig | |
| 17 | Bad Bears BBQ | |
| 18 | WILD WILLY'S SMOKIN HOT BBQ | |
| 19 | COACHES PIT BBQ | |
| 20 | THE BRISKET BROTHERS | |
| 21 | Big Johns BBQ Company | |
| 22 | BONE RUBBIN BBQ | |
| 23 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 24 | Big Cat BBQ | |
| 25 | Blackjack bbq | |
| 26 | Big Juicy BBQ | |
| 27 | Smoking Rays Backyard BBQ | |
| 28 | SMOKE HOUND BBQ | |
| 29 | Fire Ash BBQ | |
| 30 | Twiki G BBQ | |
| 31 | BLAZIN BARRELS BBQ | |
| 32 | Ribbin-1-Out | |
| 33 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 34 | Curls Brothers3A Competition Team | |
| 35 | Hot Hoskins BBQ | |
| 36 | TCB-Takin Care of BBQ | |
| 37 | Janer Family BBQ | |
| 38 | Aloha Y'all BBQ | |
| 39 | Main Coarse Catering | |
| 40 | Saucy Smokers BBQ | |
| 41 | Bangers & Mash |
Brisket
41 entries · top 177.7028 · median 167.9772
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pork Bombin BBQ | |
| 2 | LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ | |
| 3 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 4 | LADY OF Q | |
| 5 | Bad Bears BBQ | |
| 6 | PORTERHOUSE BBQ | |
| 7 | Cherry Anchor BBQ | |
| 8 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 9 | Twiki G BBQ | |
| 10 | SMOKE HOUND BBQ | |
| 11 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 12 | ONE PIT WONDER | |
| 13 | THE BRISKET BROTHERS | |
| 14 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 15 | West Coast BBQ Shop | |
| 16 | Big Johns BBQ Company | |
| 17 | AJ’S SMOKEHOUSE BBQ | |
| 18 | Pops BBQ 22 | |
| 19 | Smoking Rays Backyard BBQ | |
| 20 | WILD WILLY'S SMOKIN HOT BBQ | |
| 21 | Fire Ash BBQ | |
| 22 | Big Cat BBQ | |
| 23 | BLAZIN BARRELS BBQ | |
| 24 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 25 | Proper Smoke | |
| 26 | Aloha Y'all BBQ | |
| 27 | BONE RUBBIN BBQ | |
| 28 | COACHES PIT BBQ | |
| 29 | Ribbin-1-Out | |
| 30 | Blackjack bbq | |
| 31 | Saucy Smokers BBQ | |
| 32 | Big Juicy BBQ | |
| 33 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 34 | Hot Hoskins BBQ | |
| 35 | Poppa Pig | |
| 36 | Janer Family BBQ | |
| 37 | TCB-Takin Care of BBQ | |
| 38 | Bangers & Mash | |
| 39 | SoCal Outlaw BBQ | |
| 40 | Main Coarse Catering | |
| 41 | Curls Brothers3A Competition Team |
Open Comp
Overall
4 entries · top 499.3372 · median 492.4858
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ANNOINTED BBQ | |
| 2 | GRILL WORTHY | |
| 3 | HOPE BBQ | |
| 4 | GRILL MY SHEEP |
Chicken
4 entries · top 171.9772 · median 163.4172
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ANNOINTED BBQ | |
| 2 | GRILL MY SHEEP | |
| 3 | GRILL WORTHY | |
| 4 | HOPE BBQ |
Pork Ribs
4 entries · top 165.1428 · median 159.9428
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GRILL WORTHY | |
| 2 | HOPE BBQ | |
| 3 | GRILL MY SHEEP | |
| 4 | ANNOINTED BBQ |
Pork
4 entries · top 170.8572 · median 167.1086
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GRILL WORTHY | |
| 2 | ANNOINTED BBQ | |
| 3 | HOPE BBQ | |
| 4 | GRILL MY SHEEP |
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.
Ancillary — Dessert
11 entries · top 179.4400 · median 175.4056