A statement win
15.4628
points clear of the field
Wider than 96% of the 4,742 championships in the data
The champion won by 15.4628 points — a wider margin than 96% of championships in the data.
Smoke on the Water Barbecue Championship
2016-10-08 – 2016-10-09 · Atlantic City, NJ · 📍 1 Castle RD
Grand Champion: BLAZIN' BUTTZ BBQ (704.0000) · 48 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 THE BBQ GURU
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.
554.74
median 654.75
704.00 🏆
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 173.15
- Pork 176.56
- Brisket 177.70
124.49
177.70
Entries
48
4 judged meats · 1 ancillary
Top score
704.0000
Winning margin
15.4628
GC over RC
Field average
647.21
554.74704.00
median 654.75 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
1.1316 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
664.4800
554.74704.00
10th place overall
Field spread
149.2572
winner to last place
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 16%
beats 84% of 4707 Master Series wins in the data
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.7 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1572
avg power rating going in · stronger than 56% of contests
Storylines (4 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 hat-trick of category wins
3
category wins in a day
BLAZIN' BUTTZ BBQ won Pork Ribs, Pork, Brisket — a hat-trick, and took the Grand Championship on top of it.
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 1st
- Brisket 1st
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 15 calls decided inside half a point
Pork Ribs places 1–2: BLAZIN' BUTTZ BBQ and NEW REVOLUTION Q tied on 173.1544 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 2–3: NEW REVOLUTION Q and THE BBQ GURU tied on 173.1544 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 2–3: BRISKET BURNERS and WAKE-N-BACON TEAM BBQ tied on 175.4056 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Pork Ribs 1–2 · tie
- Pork Ribs 2–3 · tie
- Pork 2–3 · tie
- Brisket 6–7 · tie
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
BLAZIN' BUTTZ BBQ took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 3 outright wins — their weakest board was chicken at 3rd.
- Chicken 3rd
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 1st
- Brisket 1st
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)
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 177.7028 | 174.2856 | 170.8228 |
| Pork Ribs | 173.1544 | 172.0228 | 166.3088 |
| Pork | 176.5600 | 174.8572 | 170.8572 |
| Brisket | 177.7028 | 170.8572 | 169.7028 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
48 entries · top 704.0000 · median 654.7544
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BLAZIN' BUTTZ BBQ | |
| 2 | THE BBQ GURU | |
| 3 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 4 | NEW REVOLUTION Q | |
| 5 | Q HAVEN BBQ | |
| 6 | ACK-QUE | |
| 7 | LOCAL SMOKE BBQ | |
| 8 | 412Q | |
| 9 | EASTERN BEAST BBQ TEAM | |
| 10 | BRISKET BURNERS | |
| 11 | CHICKEN CHOKERS | |
| 12 | Sauce This BBQ | |
| 13 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 14 | THE BEARDED ONE BBQ | |
| 15 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 16 | JD'S SMOKIN MISFITS | |
| 17 | BIG PAPA'S COUNTRY KITCHEN | |
| 18 | BABY GOT BUTT BBQ MD | |
| 19 | QUEGASM | |
| 20 | SIR-PORK'S-ALOT BBQ | |
| 21 | DANTE'S INFERNO | |
| 22 | SMOKOPOLIS BBQ | |
| 23 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 24 | DR. PEARL'S MEDICINAL SMOKE BBQ TEAM | |
| 25 | QUE AND A HALF MEN | |
| 26 | BACKDRAFT BAR-B-Q CT | |
| 27 | SMOKIN' TEX BBQ | |
| 28 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 29 | BABYLON GRILLBILLIES | |
| 30 | SMOKE THIS L.I. | |
| 31 | TOP GUN BARBECUE | |
| 32 | DIG'N N PIG'N | |
| 33 | SMOKEN DUDES BBQ | |
| 34 | WAKE-N-BACON TEAM BBQ | |
| 35 | GLAZED AND INFUSED NEW JERSEY BBQ | |
| 36 | BBQ PIT KING | |
| 37 | SMOKIN' HOT PIGGIES | |
| 38 | Hot Rod's BBQ | |
| 39 | Our Couch BBQ | |
| 40 | DEVILS ENVY BBQ | |
| 41 | BURNT SIDE DOWN | |
| 42 | MIKE'S BAD ASH BBQ | |
| 43 | SMOKE LIFE | |
| 44 | BEENO'S BBQ | |
| 45 | PORKOSAURUS | |
| 46 | BABA AND THE PIG MAN | |
| 47 | UP IN SMOKE BBQ | |
| 48 | CRAZY HORSE BBQ |
Chicken
48 entries · top 177.7028 · median 164.5372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 2 | Q HAVEN BBQ | |
| 3 | BLAZIN' BUTTZ BBQ | |
| 4 | QUE AND A HALF MEN | |
| 5 | BABY GOT BUTT BBQ MD | |
| 6 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 7 | SMOKOPOLIS BBQ | |
| 8 | SIR-PORK'S-ALOT BBQ | |
| 9 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 10 | Sauce This BBQ | |
| 11 | BBQ PIT KING | |
| 12 | LOCAL SMOKE BBQ | |
| 13 | NEW REVOLUTION Q | |
| 14 | Hot Rod's BBQ | |
| 15 | THE BEARDED ONE BBQ | |
| 16 | EASTERN BEAST BBQ TEAM | |
| 17 | CHICKEN CHOKERS | |
| 18 | DR. PEARL'S MEDICINAL SMOKE BBQ TEAM | |
| 19 | THE BBQ GURU | |
| 20 | ACK-QUE | |
| 21 | DIG'N N PIG'N | |
| 22 | BRISKET BURNERS | |
| 23 | PORKOSAURUS | |
| 24 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 25 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 26 | DANTE'S INFERNO | |
| 27 | BIG PAPA'S COUNTRY KITCHEN | |
| 28 | BACKDRAFT BAR-B-Q CT | |
| 29 | Our Couch BBQ | |
| 30 | QUEGASM | |
| 31 | SMOKEN DUDES BBQ | |
| 32 | BEENO'S BBQ | |
| 33 | TOP GUN BARBECUE | |
| 34 | SMOKIN' HOT PIGGIES | |
| 35 | SMOKIN' TEX BBQ | |
| 36 | JD'S SMOKIN MISFITS | |
| 37 | GLAZED AND INFUSED NEW JERSEY BBQ | |
| 38 | BURNT SIDE DOWN | |
| 39 | SMOKE THIS L.I. | |
| 40 | 412Q | |
| 41 | BABYLON GRILLBILLIES | |
| 42 | WAKE-N-BACON TEAM BBQ | |
| 43 | MIKE'S BAD ASH BBQ | |
| 44 | SMOKE LIFE | |
| 45 | BABA AND THE PIG MAN | |
| 46 | UP IN SMOKE BBQ | |
| 47 | DEVILS ENVY BBQ | |
| 48 | CRAZY HORSE BBQ |
Pork Ribs
48 entries · top 173.1544 · median 160.8344
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BLAZIN' BUTTZ BBQ | |
| 2 | NEW REVOLUTION Q | |
| 3 | THE BBQ GURU | |
| 4 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 5 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 6 | JD'S SMOKIN MISFITS | |
| 7 | LOCAL SMOKE BBQ | |
| 8 | BABY GOT BUTT BBQ MD | |
| 9 | CHICKEN CHOKERS | |
| 10 | ACK-QUE | |
| 11 | 412Q | |
| 12 | Q HAVEN BBQ | |
| 13 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 14 | SMOKIN' TEX BBQ | |
| 15 | Sauce This BBQ | |
| 16 | Our Couch BBQ | |
| 17 | SMOKEN DUDES BBQ | |
| 18 | BRISKET BURNERS | |
| 19 | EASTERN BEAST BBQ TEAM | |
| 20 | TOP GUN BARBECUE | |
| 21 | THE BEARDED ONE BBQ | |
| 22 | SMOKE THIS L.I. | |
| 23 | QUE AND A HALF MEN | |
| 24 | BACKDRAFT BAR-B-Q CT | |
| 25 | BABYLON GRILLBILLIES | |
| 26 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 27 | BIG PAPA'S COUNTRY KITCHEN | |
| 28 | SIR-PORK'S-ALOT BBQ | |
| 29 | DANTE'S INFERNO | |
| 30 | DR. PEARL'S MEDICINAL SMOKE BBQ TEAM | |
| 31 | SMOKOPOLIS BBQ | |
| 32 | BABA AND THE PIG MAN | |
| 33 | SMOKIN' HOT PIGGIES | |
| 34 | DIG'N N PIG'N | |
| 35 | DEVILS ENVY BBQ | |
| 36 | QUEGASM | |
| 37 | BEENO'S BBQ | |
| 38 | WAKE-N-BACON TEAM BBQ | |
| 39 | Hot Rod's BBQ | |
| 40 | MIKE'S BAD ASH BBQ | |
| 41 | PORKOSAURUS | |
| 42 | GLAZED AND INFUSED NEW JERSEY BBQ | |
| 43 | SMOKE LIFE | |
| 44 | BURNT SIDE DOWN | |
| 45 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 46 | BBQ PIT KING | |
| 47 | CRAZY HORSE BBQ | |
| 48 | UP IN SMOKE BBQ |
Pork
48 entries · top 176.5600 · median 163.6800
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BLAZIN' BUTTZ BBQ | |
| 2 | BRISKET BURNERS | |
| 3 | WAKE-N-BACON TEAM BBQ | |
| 4 | NEW REVOLUTION Q | |
| 5 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 6 | BIG PAPA'S COUNTRY KITCHEN | |
| 7 | 412Q | |
| 8 | ACK-QUE | |
| 9 | THE BBQ GURU | |
| 10 | QUEGASM | |
| 11 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 12 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 13 | EASTERN BEAST BBQ TEAM | |
| 14 | JD'S SMOKIN MISFITS | |
| 15 | DR. PEARL'S MEDICINAL SMOKE BBQ TEAM | |
| 16 | SMOKOPOLIS BBQ | |
| 17 | DIG'N N PIG'N | |
| 18 | TOP GUN BARBECUE | |
| 19 | Q HAVEN BBQ | |
| 20 | BABYLON GRILLBILLIES | |
| 21 | CHICKEN CHOKERS | |
| 22 | DANTE'S INFERNO | |
| 23 | THE BEARDED ONE BBQ | |
| 24 | SMOKIN' TEX BBQ | |
| 25 | Sauce This BBQ | |
| 26 | LOCAL SMOKE BBQ | |
| 27 | PORKOSAURUS | |
| 28 | SMOKE THIS L.I. | |
| 29 | BURNT SIDE DOWN | |
| 30 | QUE AND A HALF MEN | |
| 31 | BBQ PIT KING | |
| 32 | BACKDRAFT BAR-B-Q CT | |
| 33 | DEVILS ENVY BBQ | |
| 34 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 35 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 36 | MIKE'S BAD ASH BBQ | |
| 37 | SIR-PORK'S-ALOT BBQ | |
| 38 | BABY GOT BUTT BBQ MD | |
| 39 | GLAZED AND INFUSED NEW JERSEY BBQ | |
| 40 | UP IN SMOKE BBQ | |
| 41 | SMOKEN DUDES BBQ | |
| 42 | SMOKIN' HOT PIGGIES | |
| 43 | Hot Rod's BBQ | |
| 44 | Our Couch BBQ | |
| 45 | BEENO'S BBQ | |
| 46 | CRAZY HORSE BBQ | |
| 47 | SMOKE LIFE | |
| 48 | BABA AND THE PIG MAN |
Brisket
48 entries · top 177.7028 · median 162.5198
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BLAZIN' BUTTZ BBQ | |
| 2 | THE BBQ GURU | |
| 3 | QUEGASM | |
| 4 | 412Q | |
| 5 | LOCAL SMOKE BBQ | |
| 6 | BACKDRAFT BAR-B-Q CT | |
| 7 | ACK-QUE | |
| 8 | DANTE'S INFERNO | |
| 9 | GLAZED AND INFUSED NEW JERSEY BBQ | |
| 10 | SIR-PORK'S-ALOT BBQ | |
| 11 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 12 | SMOKE THIS L.I. | |
| 13 | Q HAVEN BBQ | |
| 14 | EASTERN BEAST BBQ TEAM | |
| 15 | THE BEARDED ONE BBQ | |
| 16 | BABYLON GRILLBILLIES | |
| 17 | Sauce This BBQ | |
| 18 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 19 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 20 | BIG PAPA'S COUNTRY KITCHEN | |
| 21 | CHICKEN CHOKERS | |
| 22 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 23 | SMOKIN' TEX BBQ | |
| 24 | JD'S SMOKIN MISFITS | |
| 25 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 26 | SMOKEN DUDES BBQ | |
| 27 | DR. PEARL'S MEDICINAL SMOKE BBQ TEAM | |
| 28 | BABY GOT BUTT BBQ MD | |
| 29 | NEW REVOLUTION Q | |
| 30 | SMOKE LIFE | |
| 31 | BRISKET BURNERS | |
| 32 | TOP GUN BARBECUE | |
| 33 | DEVILS ENVY BBQ | |
| 34 | SMOKIN' HOT PIGGIES | |
| 35 | SMOKOPOLIS BBQ | |
| 36 | DIG'N N PIG'N | |
| 37 | BBQ PIT KING | |
| 38 | QUE AND A HALF MEN | |
| 39 | WAKE-N-BACON TEAM BBQ | |
| 40 | Hot Rod's BBQ | |
| 41 | MIKE'S BAD ASH BBQ | |
| 42 | BURNT SIDE DOWN | |
| 43 | UP IN SMOKE BBQ | |
| 44 | BEENO'S BBQ | |
| 45 | CRAZY HORSE BBQ | |
| 46 | Our Couch BBQ | |
| 47 | BABA AND THE PIG MAN | |
| 48 | PORKOSAURUS |
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 — Steak
25 entries · top 174.9028 · median 163.4400