A statement win
10.3196
points clear of the field
Wider than 88% of the 4,742 championships in the data
The champion won by 10.3196 points — a wider margin than 88% of championships in the data.
Grill Games
2016-08-26 – 2016-08-27 · Kenosha, WI · 📍 Larkefront, 1st Ave and 56th st
Grand Champion: THE SMOKE HUNTERS (692.5256) · 37 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 ONE2BBQ
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.
576.95
median 638.85
692.53 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 177.70
- Pork Ribs 176.01
- Pork 178.30
- Brisket 175.42
129.68
178.30
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2018 — this edition picked out.
Entries
37
4 judged meats · 2 ancillary
Top score
692.5256
Winning margin
10.3196
GC over RC
Field average
635.94
576.95692.53
median 638.85 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Pork
5.1544 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
653.5424
576.95692.53
10th place overall
Field spread
115.5768
winner to last place
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 62%
beats 38% of 4707 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
37%
18 of 49 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.52 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1525
avg power rating going in · stronger than 18% of contests
Storylines (6 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
Tie
closest of 8 calls decided inside half a point
Pork places 2–3: THE BBQ BUS and RACK MASTERS BBQ tied on 174.2972 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 9–10: ROLL THE BONES BBQ edged SMOK'N BOOTY BBQ by 0.0116. Brisket places 3–4: D.F.G.'S BBQ edged THE SMOKE HUNTERS by 0.0116.
- Pork 2–3 · tie
- Pork 9–10 · 0.0116
- Brisket 3–4 · 0.0116
- Chicken 7–8 · 0.0228
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
THE SMOKE HUNTERS took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was pork ribs at 5th.
- Chicken 2nd
- Pork Ribs 5th
- Pork 1st
- Brisket 4th
A contest record in pork
178.2972
best pork ever cooked here
THE SMOKE HUNTERS turned in 178.2972 in pork — past the 177.7372 that had stood across 3 earlier editions.
- old best 177.7372
- across 3 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
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-08-23 | Kenosha, WI | Kenosha, WI | 43 | 685.7488 | THE SMOKE HUNTERS | DUCE'S WILD |
| 2014-08-22 | Kenosha, WI | Kenosha, WI 53140 | 47 | 694.3200 | YELLOW RIVER BBQ | HILL-BILLY BBQ |
| 2015-08-28 | Kenosha, WI | Kenosha, WI 53140 | 49 | 686.2516 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | MUD'S BBQ |
| 2016-08-26 ← this one | Kenosha, WI | Larkefront, 1st Ave and 56th st | 37 | 692.5256 | THE SMOKE HUNTERS | ONE2BBQ |
| 2017-08-25 | Kenosha, WI | Lake Front 1st Ave& 56th st | 39 | 671.3256 | CHANNABILLY BBQ | DUCE'S WILD |
| 2018-08-24 | 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 | 177.7028 | 171.4516 | 167.3944 |
| Pork Ribs | 176.0116 | 168.5716 | 164.5256 |
| Pork | 178.2972 | 173.1428 | 166.8228 |
| Brisket | 175.4172 | 168.5372 | 163.3828 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
37 entries · top 692.5256 · median 638.8460
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE SMOKE HUNTERS | |
| 2 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 3 | YELLOW RIVER BBQ | |
| 4 | BEER & SMOKING IN LAS VEGAS | |
| 5 | RACK MASTERS BBQ | |
| 6 | MUD'S BBQ | |
| 7 | 5 FINGER BBQ | |
| 8 | A MOTLEY QUE | |
| 9 | ROLL THE BONES BBQ | |
| 10 | CHANNABILLY BBQ | |
| 11 | TWO BREWS BBQ | |
| 12 | D.F.G.'S BBQ | |
| 13 | BLUE ISLAND BBQ CO. | |
| 14 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 15 | BURNITA BAR-B-QUE | |
| 16 | THE GOOD OLD BASTER BOYS | |
| 17 | T-BAUM BBQ | |
| 18 | Littles BBQ Co | |
| 19 | BRASS MONKEY BBQ | |
| 20 | SMOK'N BOOTY BBQ | |
| 21 | 2 SKINNY COOKS | |
| 22 | ALL-STAR-Q WI | |
| 23 | HAZY BLUE BBQ | |
| 24 | The Wannabe's | |
| 25 | HARBOR HOGS BAR-B-QUE | |
| 26 | TRAINWRECK SMOKING COMPANY | |
| 27 | MEMPHIS IN MUNDELEIN | |
| 28 | HOLY SMOQUE BBQ | |
| 29 | Q-N WITH ATTITUDE | |
| 30 | JURASSIC PORK BBQ TEAM | |
| 31 | MOOSE'S BARBECUE | |
| 32 | JC's Rib Rippin Good BBQ | |
| 33 | A.M.I. - Q'N | |
| 34 | Smokin' 5 O's | |
| 35 | R & W Pitcrew | |
| 36 | Dip & Shyt Smokers | |
| 37 | SMOKIN ON THE WEEKENDS |
Chicken
37 entries · top 177.7028 · median 160.5028
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | YELLOW RIVER BBQ | |
| 2 | THE SMOKE HUNTERS | |
| 3 | BEER & SMOKING IN LAS VEGAS | |
| 4 | T-BAUM BBQ | |
| 5 | BRASS MONKEY BBQ | |
| 6 | CHANNABILLY BBQ | |
| 7 | TWO BREWS BBQ | |
| 8 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 9 | A MOTLEY QUE | |
| 10 | HARBOR HOGS BAR-B-QUE | |
| 11 | MUD'S BBQ | |
| 12 | MEMPHIS IN MUNDELEIN | |
| 13 | ROLL THE BONES BBQ | |
| 14 | The Wannabe's | |
| 15 | A.M.I. - Q'N | |
| 16 | TRAINWRECK SMOKING COMPANY | |
| 17 | RACK MASTERS BBQ | |
| 18 | BURNITA BAR-B-QUE | |
| 19 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 20 | Littles BBQ Co | |
| 21 | 2 SKINNY COOKS | |
| 22 | 5 FINGER BBQ | |
| 23 | Q-N WITH ATTITUDE | |
| 24 | BLUE ISLAND BBQ CO. | |
| 25 | THE GOOD OLD BASTER BOYS | |
| 26 | JC's Rib Rippin Good BBQ | |
| 27 | Smokin' 5 O's | |
| 28 | SMOK'N BOOTY BBQ | |
| 29 | HAZY BLUE BBQ | |
| 30 | D.F.G.'S BBQ | |
| 31 | ALL-STAR-Q WI | |
| 32 | MOOSE'S BARBECUE | |
| 33 | R & W Pitcrew | |
| 34 | JURASSIC PORK BBQ TEAM | |
| 35 | SMOKIN ON THE WEEKENDS | |
| 36 | HOLY SMOQUE BBQ | |
| 37 | Dip & Shyt Smokers |
Pork Ribs
37 entries · top 176.0116 · median 161.1200
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 FINGER BBQ | |
| 2 | MUD'S BBQ | |
| 3 | YELLOW RIVER BBQ | |
| 4 | BURNITA BAR-B-QUE | |
| 5 | THE SMOKE HUNTERS | |
| 6 | TWO BREWS BBQ | |
| 7 | JC's Rib Rippin Good BBQ | |
| 8 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 9 | 2 SKINNY COOKS | |
| 10 | CHANNABILLY BBQ | |
| 11 | TRAINWRECK SMOKING COMPANY | |
| 12 | ALL-STAR-Q WI | |
| 13 | T-BAUM BBQ | |
| 14 | RACK MASTERS BBQ | |
| 15 | JURASSIC PORK BBQ TEAM | |
| 16 | SMOK'N BOOTY BBQ | |
| 17 | BEER & SMOKING IN LAS VEGAS | |
| 18 | HAZY BLUE BBQ | |
| 19 | R & W Pitcrew | |
| 20 | BLUE ISLAND BBQ CO. | |
| 21 | BRASS MONKEY BBQ | |
| 22 | D.F.G.'S BBQ | |
| 23 | The Wannabe's | |
| 24 | ROLL THE BONES BBQ | |
| 25 | SMOKIN ON THE WEEKENDS | |
| 26 | A MOTLEY QUE | |
| 27 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 28 | Littles BBQ Co | |
| 29 | HOLY SMOQUE BBQ | |
| 30 | MOOSE'S BARBECUE | |
| 31 | Q-N WITH ATTITUDE | |
| 32 | THE GOOD OLD BASTER BOYS | |
| 33 | MEMPHIS IN MUNDELEIN | |
| 34 | Smokin' 5 O's | |
| 35 | HARBOR HOGS BAR-B-QUE | |
| 36 | Dip & Shyt Smokers | |
| 37 | A.M.I. - Q'N |
Pork
37 entries · top 178.2972 · median 161.0972
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE SMOKE HUNTERS | |
| 2 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 3 | RACK MASTERS BBQ | |
| 4 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 5 | BEER & SMOKING IN LAS VEGAS | |
| 6 | A MOTLEY QUE | |
| 7 | MUD'S BBQ | |
| 8 | D.F.G.'S BBQ | |
| 9 | ROLL THE BONES BBQ | |
| 10 | SMOK'N BOOTY BBQ | |
| 11 | 5 FINGER BBQ | |
| 12 | THE GOOD OLD BASTER BOYS | |
| 13 | TWO BREWS BBQ | |
| 14 | MOOSE'S BARBECUE | |
| 15 | HAZY BLUE BBQ | |
| 16 | A.M.I. - Q'N | |
| 17 | Littles BBQ Co | |
| 18 | JURASSIC PORK BBQ TEAM | |
| 19 | BRASS MONKEY BBQ | |
| 20 | YELLOW RIVER BBQ | |
| 21 | R & W Pitcrew | |
| 22 | CHANNABILLY BBQ | |
| 23 | BLUE ISLAND BBQ CO. | |
| 24 | HARBOR HOGS BAR-B-QUE | |
| 25 | Q-N WITH ATTITUDE | |
| 26 | HOLY SMOQUE BBQ | |
| 27 | The Wannabe's | |
| 28 | BURNITA BAR-B-QUE | |
| 29 | JC's Rib Rippin Good BBQ | |
| 30 | T-BAUM BBQ | |
| 31 | ALL-STAR-Q WI | |
| 32 | 2 SKINNY COOKS | |
| 33 | TRAINWRECK SMOKING COMPANY | |
| 34 | MEMPHIS IN MUNDELEIN | |
| 35 | Smokin' 5 O's | |
| 36 | Dip & Shyt Smokers | |
| 37 | SMOKIN ON THE WEEKENDS |
Brisket
37 entries · top 175.4172 · median 155.9884
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BLUE ISLAND BBQ CO. | |
| 2 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 3 | D.F.G.'S BBQ | |
| 4 | THE SMOKE HUNTERS | |
| 5 | ROLL THE BONES BBQ | |
| 6 | THE GOOD OLD BASTER BOYS | |
| 7 | RACK MASTERS BBQ | |
| 8 | ALL-STAR-Q WI | |
| 9 | YELLOW RIVER BBQ | |
| 10 | A MOTLEY QUE | |
| 11 | Littles BBQ Co | |
| 12 | BEER & SMOKING IN LAS VEGAS | |
| 13 | 5 FINGER BBQ | |
| 14 | CHANNABILLY BBQ | |
| 15 | HOLY SMOQUE BBQ | |
| 16 | 2 SKINNY COOKS | |
| 17 | BURNITA BAR-B-QUE | |
| 18 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 19 | MUD'S BBQ | |
| 20 | HARBOR HOGS BAR-B-QUE | |
| 21 | T-BAUM BBQ | |
| 22 | HAZY BLUE BBQ | |
| 23 | The Wannabe's | |
| 24 | MEMPHIS IN MUNDELEIN | |
| 25 | TWO BREWS BBQ | |
| 26 | SMOK'N BOOTY BBQ | |
| 27 | Dip & Shyt Smokers | |
| 28 | TRAINWRECK SMOKING COMPANY | |
| 29 | BRASS MONKEY BBQ | |
| 30 | Smokin' 5 O's | |
| 31 | Q-N WITH ATTITUDE | |
| 32 | MOOSE'S BARBECUE | |
| 33 | JURASSIC PORK BBQ TEAM | |
| 34 | A.M.I. - Q'N | |
| 35 | SMOKIN ON THE WEEKENDS | |
| 36 | JC's Rib Rippin Good BBQ | |
| 37 | R & W Pitcrew |
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
13 entries · top 169.7372 · median 153.1888
Master Series — Dessert
10 entries · top 173.1544 · median 149.9828