A razor-thin finish
0.0116
points between champion and reserve
Closer than 98% of the 4,710 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 0.0116 points — closer than 98% of every championship in the data.
- 913 BBQ
- BULL CREEK BBQ
Border War Barbeque 2016
Oct 21–22, 2016 · Osawatomie, KS
913 BBQ won Grand Champion at the Border War Barbeque on October 21, 2016 in Osawatomie, KS, scoring 695.3944 in a field of 38 teams. BULL CREEK BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 695.3828. Category winners: Chicken — SUBLIME BBQ (180.0000); Pork Ribs — R BUTTS R SMOKIN (178.8800); Pork — BOXER Q BBQ (177.7028); Brisket — BULL CREEK BBQ (180.0000). This is the 1st of 6 editions of this contest on record; the next was held in 2017.
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.
581.09
median 666.21
695.39 🏆
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 178.88
- Pork 177.70
- Brisket 180 🔥
126.80
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2016 to 2022 — this edition picked out.
Entries
38
4 judged meats · 2 ancillary
Top score
695.3944
Winning margin
0.0116
GC over RC
Field average
658.19
581.09695.39
median 666.21 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Chicken
3.4400 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
675.8968
581.09695.39
10th place overall
Field spread
114.3088
winner to last place
Double threats
2
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 52%
beats 48% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.77 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,620
avg power rating going in · stronger than 88% 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.
Won without a category win
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
913 BBQ won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 3 calls from 4 boards, best of them 2nd. Consistency beat fireworks.
- Chicken 2nd
- Pork Ribs 18th
- Pork 5th
- Brisket 3rd
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 9 calls decided inside half a point
Pork places 1–2: BOXER Q BBQ and ALL IN QUE tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 8–9: DIRT ROAD BBQ and AMERICAN FIRE BBQ tied on 170.8228 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Brisket places 4–5: HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB and THESLABS.COM tied on 175.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Pork 1–2 · tie
- Pork 8–9 · tie
- Brisket 4–5 · tie
- Brisket 8–9 · tie
A perfect score on the table
2
perfect 180s
2 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- BULL CREEK BBQ · Brisket
- SUBLIME BBQ · Chicken
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 21, 2016 ← this one | Osawatomie, KS | Osawatomie, KS | 38 | 695.3944 | 913 BBQ | BULL CREEK BBQ |
| Oct 27, 2017 | Osawatomie, KS | John Brown Memorial Park | 46 | 699.4284 | PORK PULLERS | DIRT ROAD BBQ |
| Oct 26, 2018 | Osawatomie, KS | John Brown Memorial Park | 56 | 697.1428 | BULL CREEK BBQ | PELLET ENVY |
| Oct 25, 2019 | Osawatomie, KS | John Brown Memorial Park | 44 | 698.8116 | Tebo Creek BBQ | DIRT ROAD BBQ |
| Oct 22, 2021 | Osawatomie, KS | John Brown Memorial Park | 30 | 705.7028 | All Forked Up For Q | SLAPS BBQ |
| Oct 21, 2022 | Osawatomie, KS | John Brown Memorial Park | 30 | 705.6800 | High i Que BBQ | Damn Fine Beef & Swine |
| Oct 18, 2024 | Osawatomie, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180 | 176.5600 | 170.2628 |
| Pork Ribs | 178.8800 | 174.2744 | 170.8456 |
| Pork | 177.7028 | 173.1200 | 170.2744 |
| Brisket | 180 | 175.4172 | 171.9772 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
38 entries · top 695.3944 · median 666.2116
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 913 BBQ | |
| 2 | BULL CREEK BBQ | |
| 3 | SUBLIME BBQ | |
| 4 | R BUTTS R SMOKIN | |
| 5 | THE SMOKING HILLS | |
| 6 | HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB | |
| 7 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 8 | THUMP & STRUM BBQ | |
| 9 | SKUNK RIVER BBQ | |
| 10 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 11 | DRUM DADDY BBQ | |
| 12 | ALL IN QUE | |
| 13 | PITT SMOKERS | |
| 14 | UNCLE TOAD'S COMPETITION BBQ | |
| 15 | HOT WACHULA'S | |
| 16 | SMOKIN BAD HABIT | |
| 17 | MIDNIGHT STOKERS | |
| 18 | SMOKEY AND THE BRISKET | |
| 19 | BALDIN' SMOKIN' BANDITOS | |
| 20 | B & C SMOKERS | |
| 21 | BOXER Q BBQ | |
| 22 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 23 | HERITAGE FARMS | |
| 24 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 25 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 26 | ROCK N BLUES BBQ | |
| 27 | PORK PULLERS | |
| 28 | ROLLING COALS BBQ - KS | |
| 29 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 30 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 31 | Big Al and the Boys Barbeque | |
| 32 | Smokin' Dreams | |
| 33 | Brothers BBQ | |
| 34 | PARTS R SMOKIN | |
| 35 | Good Ole Boys & Gals | |
| 36 | BROWN STREET BBQ | |
| 37 | JUST SMOKED YOUR BUTT | |
| 38 | Kickin' Back BBQ |
Chicken
38 entries · top 180 · median 166.5486 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SUBLIME BBQ | |
| 2 | 913 BBQ | |
| 3 | SKUNK RIVER BBQ | |
| 4 | DRUM DADDY BBQ | |
| 5 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 6 | BULL CREEK BBQ | |
| 7 | R BUTTS R SMOKIN | |
| 8 | HOT WACHULA'S | |
| 9 | Big Al and the Boys Barbeque | |
| 10 | BALDIN' SMOKIN' BANDITOS | |
| 11 | THE SMOKING HILLS | |
| 12 | SMOKEY AND THE BRISKET | |
| 13 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 14 | PITT SMOKERS | |
| 15 | HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB | |
| 16 | HERITAGE FARMS | |
| 17 | UNCLE TOAD'S COMPETITION BBQ | |
| 18 | BOXER Q BBQ | |
| 19 | PORK PULLERS | |
| 20 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 21 | ROCK N BLUES BBQ | |
| 22 | Brothers BBQ | |
| 23 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 24 | THUMP & STRUM BBQ | |
| 25 | ALL IN QUE | |
| 26 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 27 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 28 | MIDNIGHT STOKERS | |
| 29 | B & C SMOKERS | |
| 30 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 31 | SMOKIN BAD HABIT | |
| 32 | Good Ole Boys & Gals | |
| 33 | PARTS R SMOKIN | |
| 34 | ROLLING COALS BBQ - KS | |
| 35 | JUST SMOKED YOUR BUTT | |
| 36 | BROWN STREET BBQ | |
| 37 | Smokin' Dreams | |
| 38 | Kickin' Back BBQ |
Pork Ribs
38 entries · top 178.8800 · median 166.2630
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | R BUTTS R SMOKIN | |
| 2 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 3 | THUMP & STRUM BBQ | |
| 4 | HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB | |
| 5 | SMOKIN BAD HABIT | |
| 6 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 7 | SMOKEY AND THE BRISKET | |
| 8 | SUBLIME BBQ | |
| 9 | THE SMOKING HILLS | |
| 10 | BALDIN' SMOKIN' BANDITOS | |
| 11 | BULL CREEK BBQ | |
| 12 | ALL IN QUE | |
| 13 | UNCLE TOAD'S COMPETITION BBQ | |
| 14 | HERITAGE FARMS | |
| 15 | MIDNIGHT STOKERS | |
| 16 | PITT SMOKERS | |
| 17 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 18 | 913 BBQ | |
| 19 | BOXER Q BBQ | |
| 20 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 21 | PORK PULLERS | |
| 22 | DRUM DADDY BBQ | |
| 23 | Smokin' Dreams | |
| 24 | B & C SMOKERS | |
| 25 | ROLLING COALS BBQ - KS | |
| 26 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 27 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 28 | SKUNK RIVER BBQ | |
| 29 | Brothers BBQ | |
| 30 | ROCK N BLUES BBQ | |
| 31 | Good Ole Boys & Gals | |
| 32 | JUST SMOKED YOUR BUTT | |
| 33 | HOT WACHULA'S | |
| 34 | PARTS R SMOKIN | |
| 35 | BROWN STREET BBQ | |
| 36 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 37 | Kickin' Back BBQ | |
| 38 | Big Al and the Boys Barbeque |
Pork
38 entries · top 177.7028 · median 165.9600
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BOXER Q BBQ | |
| 2 | ALL IN QUE | |
| 3 | PITT SMOKERS | |
| 4 | HOT WACHULA'S | |
| 5 | 913 BBQ | |
| 6 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 7 | SUBLIME BBQ | |
| 8 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 9 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 10 | DRUM DADDY BBQ | |
| 11 | BULL CREEK BBQ | |
| 12 | THE SMOKING HILLS | |
| 13 | MIDNIGHT STOKERS | |
| 14 | THUMP & STRUM BBQ | |
| 15 | ROLLING COALS BBQ - KS | |
| 16 | SKUNK RIVER BBQ | |
| 17 | HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB | |
| 18 | ROCK N BLUES BBQ | |
| 19 | B & C SMOKERS | |
| 20 | SMOKIN BAD HABIT | |
| 21 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 22 | R BUTTS R SMOKIN | |
| 23 | BALDIN' SMOKIN' BANDITOS | |
| 24 | PORK PULLERS | |
| 25 | HERITAGE FARMS | |
| 26 | UNCLE TOAD'S COMPETITION BBQ | |
| 27 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 28 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 29 | BROWN STREET BBQ | |
| 30 | Smokin' Dreams | |
| 31 | SMOKEY AND THE BRISKET | |
| 32 | Big Al and the Boys Barbeque | |
| 33 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 34 | JUST SMOKED YOUR BUTT | |
| 35 | PARTS R SMOKIN | |
| 36 | Brothers BBQ | |
| 37 | Good Ole Boys & Gals | |
| 38 | Kickin' Back BBQ |
Brisket
38 entries · top 180 · median 163.9886 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BULL CREEK BBQ | |
| 2 | THE SMOKING HILLS | |
| 3 | 913 BBQ | |
| 4 | HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB | |
| 5 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 6 | UNCLE TOAD'S COMPETITION BBQ | |
| 7 | B & C SMOKERS | |
| 8 | SUBLIME BBQ | |
| 9 | THUMP & STRUM BBQ | |
| 10 | SKUNK RIVER BBQ | |
| 11 | R BUTTS R SMOKIN | |
| 12 | SMOKIN BAD HABIT | |
| 13 | Big Al and the Boys Barbeque | |
| 14 | SMOKEY AND THE BRISKET | |
| 15 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 16 | HOT WACHULA'S | |
| 17 | MIDNIGHT STOKERS | |
| 18 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 19 | DRUM DADDY BBQ | |
| 20 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 21 | ALL IN QUE | |
| 22 | BALDIN' SMOKIN' BANDITOS | |
| 23 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 24 | PITT SMOKERS | |
| 25 | ROCK N BLUES BBQ | |
| 26 | Smokin' Dreams | |
| 27 | HERITAGE FARMS | |
| 28 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 29 | ROLLING COALS BBQ - KS | |
| 30 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 31 | PORK PULLERS | |
| 32 | BOXER Q BBQ | |
| 33 | Good Ole Boys & Gals | |
| 34 | PARTS R SMOKIN | |
| 35 | BROWN STREET BBQ | |
| 36 | Kickin' Back BBQ | |
| 37 | Brothers BBQ | |
| 38 | JUST SMOKED YOUR BUTT |
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
14 entries · top 180 · median 174.8400 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE SMOKING HILLS | |
| 2 | BALDIN' SMOKIN' BANDITOS | |
| 3 | HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB | |
| 4 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 5 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 6 | ROCK N BLUES BBQ | |
| 7 | BULL CREEK BBQ | |
| 8 | HERITAGE FARMS | |
| 9 | Smokin' Dreams | |
| 10 | UNCLE TOAD'S COMPETITION BBQ | |
| 11 | BROWN STREET BBQ | |
| 12 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 13 | Brothers BBQ | |
| 14 | B & C SMOKERS |
Master Series — Sausage
15 entries · top 177.1544 · median 172
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SKUNK RIVER BBQ | |
| 2 | HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB | |
| 3 | PITT SMOKERS | |
| 4 | BROWN STREET BBQ | |
| 5 | B & C SMOKERS | |
| 6 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 7 | BULL CREEK BBQ | |
| 8 | ROCK N BLUES BBQ | |
| 9 | BALDIN' SMOKIN' BANDITOS | |
| 10 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 11 | HERITAGE FARMS | |
| 12 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 13 | Smokin' Dreams | |
| 14 | SMOKIN BAD HABIT | |
| 15 | Kickin' Back BBQ |