A new contest record
702.8572
highest overall ever cooked here
702.8572 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 701.1200 Average Joe BBQ Team set in 2025.
- old record 701.1200
- set 2025 by Average Joe BBQ Team
BBQ Expo Master's Challenge 2026
Apr 11–12, 2026 · Parma, Italy · ITALY · 📍 Viale delle Esposizioni, 393a
Reps: Luca Famigli, Roberto Sirok
I Cinghiali won Grand Champion at the BBQ Expo Master's Challenge on April 11, 2026 in PARMA, 43126 at Viale delle Esposizioni, 393a, scoring 702.8572 in a field of 42 teams. COOKLOUNGE BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 695.9428. Category winners: Chicken — Tracica BBQ Team (178.8572); Pork Ribs — I Cinghiali (180.0000); Pork — COOKLOUNGE BBQ (177.1428); Brisket — FOOD'VENTURE GRILL & BBQ (176.5600). This is the 2nd of 3 editions of this contest on record; the 2025 edition was won by Average Joe BBQ Team; the next is scheduled for April 3, 2027.
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.
584.54
median 669.31
702.86 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 178.86
- Pork Ribs 180 🔥
- Pork 177.14
- Brisket 176.56
138.27
180
Entries
42
4 judged meats
Top score
702.8572
Winning margin
6.9144
GC over RC
Field average
663.24
584.54702.86
median 669.31 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Brisket
1.7028 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
685.0860
584.54702.86
10th place overall
Field spread
118.3200
winner to last place
Double threats
2
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 21%
beats 79% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
60%
18 of 30 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.4 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,526
avg power rating going in · stronger than 19% of contests
Storylines (8 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.
An upset on the books
13-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 87 times in 100
I Cinghiali came in rated below the field's top team, BBQ+, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 13-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1499
- top seed 1823
A first Grand Championship
8
tracked contests to get there
This was I Cinghiali's first Grand Championship in the data — it arrived at their 8th tracked contest.
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 19 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 6–7: Gold’s BBQ and Kamado BONO tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 7–8: Kamado BONO and Charcoal BBQ tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 9–10: This'll do it BBQ and I Cinghiali tied on 175.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 6–7 · tie
- Chicken 7–8 · tie
- Chicken 9–10 · tie
- Pork Ribs 6–7 · tie
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
I Cinghiali took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was chicken at 10th.
- Chicken 10th
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 9th
- Brisket 6th
A contest record in pork ribs
180.0000
best pork ribs ever cooked here
I Cinghiali turned in 180.0000 in pork ribs — past the 177.1544 that had stood across 1 earlier editions.
- old best 177.1544
- across 1 past editions
Back to defend
1
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: Average Joe BBQ Team (won 2025).
- Average Joe BBQ Team · 2025
A perfect score on the table
1
perfect 180s
1 perfect 180 was scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- I Cinghiali · Pork Ribs
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 29, 2025 | Brescia | Via Caprera, 5 | 30 | 701.1200 | Average Joe BBQ Team | BBQ+ |
| Apr 11, 2026 ← this one | Parma | Viale delle Esposizioni, 393a | 42 | 702.8572 | I Cinghiali | COOKLOUNGE BBQ |
| Apr 3, 2027 | Parma | — | — | — | — | — |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 178.8572 | 176.5828 | 175.4172 |
| Pork Ribs | 180 | 172.0116 | 170.8572 |
| Pork | 177.1428 | 174.2856 | 173.7028 |
| Brisket | 176.5600 | 174.8572 | 171.9772 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
42 entries · top 702.8572 · median 669.3086
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | I Cinghiali | |
| 2 | COOKLOUNGE BBQ | |
| 3 | BBQ Hot Yard | |
| 4 | Skinny Beans BBQ team | |
| 5 | The Antwerp Smokers | |
| 6 | Smoky Cotte | |
| 7 | Gold’s BBQ | |
| 8 | BBQ+ | |
| 9 | FOOD'VENTURE GRILL & BBQ | |
| 10 | Smoking Butcher | |
| 11 | Average Joe BBQ Team | |
| 12 | THE GRILL GATHERING BBQ-Team | |
| 13 | LUNA SMOKE - Italy | |
| 14 | Szendo Smoke BBQ Team | |
| 15 | Grill Kings & Queens BBQ | |
| 16 | Kamado BONO | |
| 17 | SOUTH BRIXIA | |
| 18 | Stammtischgriller | |
| 19 | Tracica BBQ Team | |
| 20 | Onkel Felix BBQ | |
| 21 | Art Razza Piave Bbq | |
| 22 | Pyrat BBQ | |
| 23 | Barbecoa BBQ Team | |
| 24 | Rubbaribs | |
| 25 | BM Grils & Smokers | |
| 26 | IL BBQ UNISCE | |
| 27 | BOARS BBQ TEAM CANAVESE | |
| 28 | Charcoal BBQ | |
| 29 | Breaking BBQ | |
| 30 | Italian's Steak team | |
| 31 | MANU'S AMERICAN BBQ | |
| 32 | LAMBORVINI | |
| 33 | the north brianza bbq smokers | |
| 34 | RIBS AND THE GANG | |
| 35 | Griller Unchained | |
| 36 | No probllama BBQ | |
| 37 | This'll do it BBQ | |
| 38 | Brace Pontina-MNG SRLS | |
| 39 | Daves & James | |
| 40 | BarbaQ | |
| 41 | FRANKIE'S BBQ | |
| 42 | DAT PRESSURE |
Chicken
42 entries · top 178.8572 · median 171.9828
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tracica BBQ Team | |
| 2 | Italian's Steak team | |
| 3 | Grill Kings & Queens BBQ | |
| 4 | BM Grils & Smokers | |
| 5 | Average Joe BBQ Team | |
| 6 | Gold’s BBQ | |
| 7 | Kamado BONO | |
| 8 | Charcoal BBQ | |
| 9 | This'll do it BBQ | |
| 10 | I Cinghiali | |
| 11 | BBQ Hot Yard | |
| 12 | THE GRILL GATHERING BBQ-Team | |
| 13 | COOKLOUNGE BBQ | |
| 14 | LUNA SMOKE - Italy | |
| 15 | Skinny Beans BBQ team | |
| 16 | Rubbaribs | |
| 17 | BBQ+ | |
| 18 | Smoky Cotte | |
| 19 | the north brianza bbq smokers | |
| 20 | Onkel Felix BBQ | |
| 21 | IL BBQ UNISCE | |
| 22 | Szendo Smoke BBQ Team | |
| 23 | LAMBORVINI | |
| 24 | BOARS BBQ TEAM CANAVESE | |
| 25 | RIBS AND THE GANG | |
| 26 | FOOD'VENTURE GRILL & BBQ | |
| 27 | MANU'S AMERICAN BBQ | |
| 28 | Smoking Butcher | |
| 29 | The Antwerp Smokers | |
| 30 | Art Razza Piave Bbq | |
| 31 | Breaking BBQ | |
| 32 | SOUTH BRIXIA | |
| 33 | Stammtischgriller | |
| 34 | Pyrat BBQ | |
| 35 | Brace Pontina-MNG SRLS | |
| 36 | No probllama BBQ | |
| 37 | BarbaQ | |
| 38 | FRANKIE'S BBQ | |
| 39 | Griller Unchained | |
| 40 | Barbecoa BBQ Team | |
| 41 | Daves & James | |
| 42 | DAT PRESSURE |
Pork Ribs
42 entries · top 180 · median 166.8400 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | I Cinghiali | |
| 2 | Szendo Smoke BBQ Team | |
| 3 | Smoking Butcher | |
| 4 | SOUTH BRIXIA | |
| 5 | Grill Kings & Queens BBQ | |
| 6 | The Antwerp Smokers | |
| 7 | Average Joe BBQ Team | |
| 8 | Charcoal BBQ | |
| 9 | FOOD'VENTURE GRILL & BBQ | |
| 10 | Art Razza Piave Bbq | |
| 11 | Barbecoa BBQ Team | |
| 12 | Rubbaribs | |
| 13 | BBQ Hot Yard | |
| 14 | Smoky Cotte | |
| 15 | COOKLOUNGE BBQ | |
| 16 | Skinny Beans BBQ team | |
| 17 | MANU'S AMERICAN BBQ | |
| 18 | LUNA SMOKE - Italy | |
| 19 | Kamado BONO | |
| 20 | Gold’s BBQ | |
| 21 | BOARS BBQ TEAM CANAVESE | |
| 22 | Stammtischgriller | |
| 23 | LAMBORVINI | |
| 24 | THE GRILL GATHERING BBQ-Team | |
| 25 | IL BBQ UNISCE | |
| 26 | BM Grils & Smokers | |
| 27 | BBQ+ | |
| 28 | Pyrat BBQ | |
| 29 | Breaking BBQ | |
| 30 | Tracica BBQ Team | |
| 31 | Onkel Felix BBQ | |
| 32 | RIBS AND THE GANG | |
| 33 | Italian's Steak team | |
| 34 | the north brianza bbq smokers | |
| 35 | No probllama BBQ | |
| 36 | This'll do it BBQ | |
| 37 | BarbaQ | |
| 38 | Daves & James | |
| 39 | Brace Pontina-MNG SRLS | |
| 40 | DAT PRESSURE | |
| 41 | Griller Unchained | |
| 42 | FRANKIE'S BBQ |
Pork
42 entries · top 177.1428 · median 167.1314
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | COOKLOUNGE BBQ | |
| 2 | BBQ+ | |
| 3 | Skinny Beans BBQ team | |
| 4 | Barbecoa BBQ Team | |
| 5 | LUNA SMOKE - Italy | |
| 6 | Smoky Cotte | |
| 7 | BBQ Hot Yard | |
| 8 | The Antwerp Smokers | |
| 9 | I Cinghiali | |
| 10 | Gold’s BBQ | |
| 11 | IL BBQ UNISCE | |
| 12 | Smoking Butcher | |
| 13 | Pyrat BBQ | |
| 14 | FOOD'VENTURE GRILL & BBQ | |
| 15 | Kamado BONO | |
| 16 | THE GRILL GATHERING BBQ-Team | |
| 17 | MANU'S AMERICAN BBQ | |
| 18 | Stammtischgriller | |
| 19 | Brace Pontina-MNG SRLS | |
| 20 | Art Razza Piave Bbq | |
| 21 | SOUTH BRIXIA | |
| 22 | Rubbaribs | |
| 23 | Tracica BBQ Team | |
| 24 | Average Joe BBQ Team | |
| 25 | Grill Kings & Queens BBQ | |
| 26 | Szendo Smoke BBQ Team | |
| 27 | Griller Unchained | |
| 28 | No probllama BBQ | |
| 29 | This'll do it BBQ | |
| 30 | BM Grils & Smokers | |
| 31 | Onkel Felix BBQ | |
| 32 | the north brianza bbq smokers | |
| 33 | Breaking BBQ | |
| 34 | Daves & James | |
| 35 | Charcoal BBQ | |
| 36 | LAMBORVINI | |
| 37 | Italian's Steak team | |
| 38 | BarbaQ | |
| 39 | RIBS AND THE GANG | |
| 40 | BOARS BBQ TEAM CANAVESE | |
| 41 | DAT PRESSURE | |
| 42 | FRANKIE'S BBQ |
Brisket
42 entries · top 176.5600 · median 165.4058
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FOOD'VENTURE GRILL & BBQ | |
| 2 | The Antwerp Smokers | |
| 3 | BBQ Hot Yard | |
| 4 | Stammtischgriller | |
| 5 | COOKLOUNGE BBQ | |
| 6 | I Cinghiali | |
| 7 | Onkel Felix BBQ | |
| 8 | Smoking Butcher | |
| 9 | Skinny Beans BBQ team | |
| 10 | BBQ+ | |
| 11 | Smoky Cotte | |
| 12 | THE GRILL GATHERING BBQ-Team | |
| 13 | BOARS BBQ TEAM CANAVESE | |
| 14 | Gold’s BBQ | |
| 15 | SOUTH BRIXIA | |
| 16 | Average Joe BBQ Team | |
| 17 | Pyrat BBQ | |
| 18 | Breaking BBQ | |
| 19 | Griller Unchained | |
| 20 | Szendo Smoke BBQ Team | |
| 21 | Tracica BBQ Team | |
| 22 | Italian's Steak team | |
| 23 | LUNA SMOKE - Italy | |
| 24 | Art Razza Piave Bbq | |
| 25 | Barbecoa BBQ Team | |
| 26 | BM Grils & Smokers | |
| 27 | Grill Kings & Queens BBQ | |
| 28 | Kamado BONO | |
| 29 | RIBS AND THE GANG | |
| 30 | Daves & James | |
| 31 | Rubbaribs | |
| 32 | IL BBQ UNISCE | |
| 33 | the north brianza bbq smokers | |
| 34 | Charcoal BBQ | |
| 35 | No probllama BBQ | |
| 36 | LAMBORVINI | |
| 37 | Brace Pontina-MNG SRLS | |
| 38 | MANU'S AMERICAN BBQ | |
| 39 | FRANKIE'S BBQ | |
| 40 | This'll do it BBQ | |
| 41 | DAT PRESSURE | |
| 42 | BarbaQ |