A statement win
13.7720
points clear of the field
Wider than 95% of the 4,714 championships in the data
The champion won by 13.7720 points — a wider margin than 95% of championships in the data.
The Great Brunswick BBQ Throwdown 2017
Mar 3–4, 2017 · Brunswick, MD · 📍 Potomac St
OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE won Grand Champion at The Great Brunswick BBQ Throwdown on March 3, 2017 in Brunswick, MD at Potomac St, scoring 691.9888 in a field of 50 teams. WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 678.2168. Category winners: Chicken — OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE (180.0000); Pork Ribs — BEER MEETS GRILL (175.4400); Pork — WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ (180.0000); Brisket — LO' -N- SLO' BBQ (177.1544). This is the 1st of 2 editions of this contest on record; the next was held in 2018.
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.
478.80
median 646.18
691.99 🏆
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 175.44
- Pork 180 🔥
- Brisket 177.15
77.34
180
Entries
50
4 judged meats
Top score
691.9888
Winning margin
13.7720
GC over RC
Field average
633.88
478.80691.99
median 646.18 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
3.4628 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
667.3488
478.80691.99
10th place overall
Field spread
213.1884
winner to last place
Double threats
5
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 64%
beats 36% of 4715 Master Series wins in the data
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.8 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,589
avg power rating going in · stronger than 71% of contests
Storylines (5 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 2 tracked editions
OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE has won this contest 2 times across its 2 tracked editions.
- 2017
- 2018
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 13 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 3–4: BONE TO BARK BBQ and LIFE IS GOOD BUT BBQ IS BETTER tied on 174.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 6–7: J & M BAR B Q and ALQUEMY - VA tied on 171.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 1–2: BEER MEETS GRILL and ASTRO PIGS BBQ tied on 175.4400 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 3–4 · tie
- Chicken 6–7 · tie
- Pork Ribs 1–2 · tie
- Brisket 9–10 · 0.0116
How the title was won
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was pork at 21st.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork Ribs 7th
- Pork 21st
- Brisket 2nd
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.
- OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE · Chicken
- WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ · Pork
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 3, 2017 ← this one | Brunswick, MD | Potomac St | 50 | 691.9888 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ |
| Mar 2, 2018 | Brunswick, MD | Maple Ave | 29 | 695.9428 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180 | 174.2628 | 170.8228 |
| Pork Ribs | 175.4400 | 171.9772 | 166.8572 |
| Pork | 180 | 174.2972 | 170.8228 |
| Brisket | 177.1544 | 169.6800 | 166.8228 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
50 entries · top 691.9888 · median 646.1828
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 2 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 3 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 4 | LIFE IS GOOD BUT BBQ IS BETTER | |
| 5 | LO' -N- SLO' BBQ | |
| 6 | 4:20 Q | |
| 7 | ASTRO PIGS BBQ | |
| 8 | 5-ALARM BBQ | |
| 9 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 10 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 11 | Sauce This BBQ | |
| 12 | FLAVOR SAVOR | |
| 13 | ALQUEMY - VA | |
| 14 | CHICKEN CHOKERS | |
| 15 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 16 | BONE TO BARK BBQ | |
| 17 | HOOS SMOKIN | |
| 18 | CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ | |
| 19 | BEER MEETS GRILL | |
| 20 | SMOKETASTIC BBQ | |
| 21 | OLD COLONY SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 22 | POKE N SMOKE | |
| 23 | THE SMOKES ON U | |
| 24 | SMACK THAT BUTT BBQ | |
| 25 | SMOKESTACK REDEMPTION | |
| 26 | 2 RHODIES BBQ | |
| 27 | BIG UGLY'S BBQ - MD | |
| 28 | REED BOYZ BBQ | |
| 29 | PLUM CRAZY BBQ | |
| 30 | BUBBA JOE'S SMOKETOWN BBQ | |
| 31 | Q HAVEN BBQ | |
| 32 | PORKS & REC | |
| 33 | BIG DOG BBQ VA | |
| 34 | SHACK'S Q | |
| 35 | SLOPPY DOGS BAR-B-QUE | |
| 36 | BACKDRAFT BAR-B-Q CT | |
| 37 | BAM BAM'S BBQ WINCHESTER VA | |
| 38 | HILLCREST SMOKERS BBQ | |
| 39 | J & M BAR B Q | |
| 40 | G. Henn BBQ | |
| 41 | Bad Company | |
| 42 | HERE COME THE JUDGE BBQ TEAM | |
| 43 | CHUBS GRUB | |
| 44 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 45 | PARTY PIGS BBQ | |
| 46 | DIGN DEM BONZ | |
| 47 | STROKE OF MADNESS' BBQ TEAM | |
| 48 | PORK AUTHORITY - MD | |
| 49 | American Tattoo | |
| 50 | Pighole BBQ |
Chicken
50 entries · top 180 · median 164.2456 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 2 | SMOKETASTIC BBQ | |
| 3 | BONE TO BARK BBQ | |
| 4 | LIFE IS GOOD BUT BBQ IS BETTER | |
| 5 | 4:20 Q | |
| 6 | J & M BAR B Q | |
| 7 | ALQUEMY - VA | |
| 8 | BIG DOG BBQ VA | |
| 9 | 5-ALARM BBQ | |
| 10 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 11 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 12 | HOOS SMOKIN | |
| 13 | 2 RHODIES BBQ | |
| 14 | CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ | |
| 15 | ASTRO PIGS BBQ | |
| 16 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 17 | Sauce This BBQ | |
| 18 | PORKS & REC | |
| 19 | Pighole BBQ | |
| 20 | HILLCREST SMOKERS BBQ | |
| 21 | BIG UGLY'S BBQ - MD | |
| 22 | SMOKESTACK REDEMPTION | |
| 23 | SMACK THAT BUTT BBQ | |
| 24 | Q HAVEN BBQ | |
| 25 | LO' -N- SLO' BBQ | |
| 26 | PARTY PIGS BBQ | |
| 27 | CHICKEN CHOKERS | |
| 28 | BUBBA JOE'S SMOKETOWN BBQ | |
| 29 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 30 | OLD COLONY SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 31 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 32 | BACKDRAFT BAR-B-Q CT | |
| 33 | G. Henn BBQ | |
| 34 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 35 | POKE N SMOKE | |
| 36 | REED BOYZ BBQ | |
| 37 | FLAVOR SAVOR | |
| 38 | PLUM CRAZY BBQ | |
| 39 | Bad Company | |
| 40 | SHACK'S Q | |
| 41 | THE SMOKES ON U | |
| 42 | CHUBS GRUB | |
| 43 | HERE COME THE JUDGE BBQ TEAM | |
| 44 | SLOPPY DOGS BAR-B-QUE | |
| 45 | DIGN DEM BONZ | |
| 46 | BEER MEETS GRILL | |
| 47 | BAM BAM'S BBQ WINCHESTER VA | |
| 48 | PORK AUTHORITY - MD | |
| 49 | American Tattoo | |
| 50 | STROKE OF MADNESS' BBQ TEAM |
Pork Ribs
50 entries · top 175.4400 · median 159.1030
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BEER MEETS GRILL | |
| 2 | ASTRO PIGS BBQ | |
| 3 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 4 | LIFE IS GOOD BUT BBQ IS BETTER | |
| 5 | POKE N SMOKE | |
| 6 | Sauce This BBQ | |
| 7 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 8 | SMOKESTACK REDEMPTION | |
| 9 | REED BOYZ BBQ | |
| 10 | THE SMOKES ON U | |
| 11 | SMACK THAT BUTT BBQ | |
| 12 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 13 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 14 | 5-ALARM BBQ | |
| 15 | PLUM CRAZY BBQ | |
| 16 | FLAVOR SAVOR | |
| 17 | CHICKEN CHOKERS | |
| 18 | LO' -N- SLO' BBQ | |
| 19 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 20 | SLOPPY DOGS BAR-B-QUE | |
| 21 | BIG DOG BBQ VA | |
| 22 | ALQUEMY - VA | |
| 23 | 4:20 Q | |
| 24 | SHACK'S Q | |
| 25 | BIG UGLY'S BBQ - MD | |
| 26 | HOOS SMOKIN | |
| 27 | HILLCREST SMOKERS BBQ | |
| 28 | BONE TO BARK BBQ | |
| 29 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 30 | SMOKETASTIC BBQ | |
| 31 | CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ | |
| 32 | Q HAVEN BBQ | |
| 33 | OLD COLONY SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 34 | BUBBA JOE'S SMOKETOWN BBQ | |
| 35 | G. Henn BBQ | |
| 36 | HERE COME THE JUDGE BBQ TEAM | |
| 37 | J & M BAR B Q | |
| 38 | Pighole BBQ | |
| 39 | BACKDRAFT BAR-B-Q CT | |
| 40 | BAM BAM'S BBQ WINCHESTER VA | |
| 41 | 2 RHODIES BBQ | |
| 42 | PORKS & REC | |
| 43 | CHUBS GRUB | |
| 44 | PARTY PIGS BBQ | |
| 45 | STROKE OF MADNESS' BBQ TEAM | |
| 46 | Bad Company | |
| 47 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 48 | DIGN DEM BONZ | |
| 49 | American Tattoo | |
| 50 | PORK AUTHORITY - MD |
Pork
49 entries · top 180 · median 162.8800 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 2 | FLAVOR SAVOR | |
| 3 | Q HAVEN BBQ | |
| 4 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 5 | CHICKEN CHOKERS | |
| 6 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 7 | SHACK'S Q | |
| 8 | LO' -N- SLO' BBQ | |
| 9 | 2 RHODIES BBQ | |
| 10 | REED BOYZ BBQ | |
| 11 | SMOKESTACK REDEMPTION | |
| 12 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 13 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 14 | BUBBA JOE'S SMOKETOWN BBQ | |
| 15 | HOOS SMOKIN | |
| 16 | 4:20 Q | |
| 17 | 5-ALARM BBQ | |
| 18 | ASTRO PIGS BBQ | |
| 19 | OLD COLONY SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 20 | LIFE IS GOOD BUT BBQ IS BETTER | |
| 21 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 22 | PORKS & REC | |
| 23 | BEER MEETS GRILL | |
| 24 | ALQUEMY - VA | |
| 25 | BAM BAM'S BBQ WINCHESTER VA | |
| 26 | Sauce This BBQ | |
| 27 | BONE TO BARK BBQ | |
| 28 | PLUM CRAZY BBQ | |
| 29 | THE SMOKES ON U | |
| 30 | CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ | |
| 31 | Bad Company | |
| 32 | BACKDRAFT BAR-B-Q CT | |
| 33 | BIG UGLY'S BBQ - MD | |
| 34 | SLOPPY DOGS BAR-B-QUE | |
| 35 | SMACK THAT BUTT BBQ | |
| 36 | BIG DOG BBQ VA | |
| 37 | STROKE OF MADNESS' BBQ TEAM | |
| 38 | CHUBS GRUB | |
| 39 | DIGN DEM BONZ | |
| 40 | HERE COME THE JUDGE BBQ TEAM | |
| 41 | G. Henn BBQ | |
| 42 | POKE N SMOKE | |
| 43 | SMOKETASTIC BBQ | |
| 44 | HILLCREST SMOKERS BBQ | |
| 45 | J & M BAR B Q | |
| 46 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 47 | PORK AUTHORITY - MD | |
| 48 | PARTY PIGS BBQ | |
| 49 | American Tattoo |
Brisket
50 entries · top 177.1544 · median 159.6800
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LO' -N- SLO' BBQ | |
| 2 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 3 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 4 | CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ | |
| 5 | 4:20 Q | |
| 6 | BAM BAM'S BBQ WINCHESTER VA | |
| 7 | POKE N SMOKE | |
| 8 | SMOKETASTIC BBQ | |
| 9 | OLD COLONY SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 10 | BEER MEETS GRILL | |
| 11 | THE SMOKES ON U | |
| 12 | FLAVOR SAVOR | |
| 13 | Sauce This BBQ | |
| 14 | ALQUEMY - VA | |
| 15 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 16 | BONE TO BARK BBQ | |
| 17 | Pighole BBQ | |
| 18 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 19 | LIFE IS GOOD BUT BBQ IS BETTER | |
| 20 | 5-ALARM BBQ | |
| 21 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 22 | BIG UGLY'S BBQ - MD | |
| 23 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 24 | ASTRO PIGS BBQ | |
| 25 | PLUM CRAZY BBQ | |
| 26 | PORKS & REC | |
| 27 | Bad Company | |
| 28 | BACKDRAFT BAR-B-Q CT | |
| 29 | HOOS SMOKIN | |
| 30 | 2 RHODIES BBQ | |
| 31 | SMACK THAT BUTT BBQ | |
| 32 | CHICKEN CHOKERS | |
| 33 | SLOPPY DOGS BAR-B-QUE | |
| 34 | BUBBA JOE'S SMOKETOWN BBQ | |
| 35 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 36 | J & M BAR B Q | |
| 37 | CHUBS GRUB | |
| 38 | HILLCREST SMOKERS BBQ | |
| 39 | G. Henn BBQ | |
| 40 | HERE COME THE JUDGE BBQ TEAM | |
| 41 | STROKE OF MADNESS' BBQ TEAM | |
| 42 | REED BOYZ BBQ | |
| 43 | SHACK'S Q | |
| 44 | PORK AUTHORITY - MD | |
| 45 | BIG DOG BBQ VA | |
| 46 | Q HAVEN BBQ | |
| 47 | SMOKESTACK REDEMPTION | |
| 48 | DIGN DEM BONZ | |
| 49 | American Tattoo | |
| 50 | PARTY PIGS BBQ |