A new contest record
699.3600
highest overall ever cooked here
699.3600 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 697.6456 THE SMOKEHOUSE MAFIA set in 2016.
- old record 697.6456
- set 2016 by THE SMOKEHOUSE MAFIA
The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival (GBC Qualifier) 2017
Oct 13–14, 2017 · Lyons, GA · 📍 168 Miot St
Organizer Portal won Grand Champion at The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival (GBC Qualifier) on October 13, 2017 in Lyons, GA at 168 Miot St, scoring 699.3600 in a field of 29 teams. Uncle Kenny's Take-Away took Reserve Grand Champion with 694.8000. Category winners: Chicken — BALLS OUT BBQ (177.7028); Pork Ribs — Uncle Kenny's Take-Away (177.7144); Pork — Organizer Portal (177.7144); Brisket — Uncle Kenny's Take-Away (179.4400). This is the 2nd of 10 editions of this contest on record; the 2016 edition was won by THE SMOKEHOUSE MAFIA; 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.
607.79
median 670.73
699.36 🏆
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 177.71
- Pork 177.71
- Brisket 179.44
140.50
179.44
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2016 to 2025 — this edition picked out.
Entries
29
4 judged meats · 4 ancillary
Top score
699.3600
Winning margin
4.5600
GC over RC
Field average
665.52
607.79699.36
median 670.73 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
1.7144 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
686.7312
607.79699.36
10th place overall
Field spread
91.5660
winner to last place
Double threats
5
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 36%
beats 64% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
27%
7 of 26 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.7 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,604
avg power rating going in · stronger than 80% 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 10 tracked editions
SMOKE ME SILLY has won this contest 2 times across its 10 tracked editions.
- 2017
- 2018
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 15 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 8–9: REAL SOUTH BBQ and SLAYTON'S BARBEQUE COMPANY tied on 170.8228 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 9–10: SLAYTON'S BARBEQUE COMPANY and WAYLON'S WICKEDLY GOOD Q tied on 170.8228 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 1–2: Uncle Kenny's Take-Away and WAYLON'S WICKEDLY GOOD Q tied on 177.7144 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 8–9 · tie
- Chicken 9–10 · tie
- Pork Ribs 1–2 · tie
- Pork Ribs 9–10 · tie
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
Uncle Kenny's Take-Away won Pork Ribs, Brisket — a double.
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Brisket 1st
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
Organizer Portal took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was pork ribs at 6th.
- Chicken 5th
- Pork Ribs 6th
- Pork 1st
- Brisket 4th
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 7, 2016 | Lyons, GA | Lyons, GA | 26 | 697.6456 | THE SMOKEHOUSE MAFIA | SAUCED! BBQ TEAM |
| Oct 13, 2017 ← this one | Lyons, GA | 168 Miot St | 29 | 699.3600 | SMOKE ME SILLY | Uncle Kenny's Take-Away |
| Oct 12, 2018 | Lyons, GA | 168 Miot St | 26 | 703.9772 | SMOKE ME SILLY | SAUCED! BBQ TEAM |
| Oct 11, 2019 | Lyons, GA | 168 Miot St | 27 | 689.6456 | Que'n Stew'n & Brew'n | ANGRY JACK BBQ |
| Oct 9, 2020 | Lyons, GA | 168 Miot St | 37 | 703.9428 | Who Cares BBQ | HOT WACHULA'S |
| Oct 8, 2021 | Lyons, GA | 168 Miot St | 26 | 699.3484 | Uncle Kenny's BBQ | ROLLIN KOLBZ |
| Oct 7, 2022 | Lyons, GA | 168 Miot St | 30 | 706.2516 | Who Cares BBQ | Organizer Portal |
| Oct 6, 2023 | Lyons, GA | 168 Miot St | 29 | 708.5488 | YES, DEAR BBQ | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS |
| Oct 4, 2024 | Lyons, GA | — | — | — | — | — |
| Oct 3, 2025 | Lyons, GA | 168 Miot St | 32 | 703.9428 | Hickory Barbeque Company | COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 177.7028 | 173.1084 | 170.8228 |
| Pork Ribs | 177.7144 | 176 | 171.9772 |
| Pork | 177.7144 | 172.5600 | 170.8228 |
| Brisket | 179.4400 | 173.1200 | 171.9656 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
29 entries · top 699.3600 · median 670.7316
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Organizer Portal | |
| 2 | Uncle Kenny's Take-Away | |
| 3 | YES, DEAR BBQ | |
| 4 | ANGRY JACK BBQ | |
| 5 | BALLS OUT BBQ | |
| 6 | ROAST BEAST BBQ | |
| 7 | QMEISTERS | |
| 8 | WAYLON'S WICKEDLY GOOD Q | |
| 9 | FYC BARBEQUE | |
| 10 | SLAYTON'S BARBEQUE COMPANY | |
| 11 | KILLER B'S BBQ | |
| 12 | THE PIT CREW GA | |
| 13 | CHATTAHOOCHEE QUE | |
| 14 | BALD HAWG BBQ | |
| 15 | Willingham's | |
| 16 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 17 | CARTER-QUE-ING | |
| 18 | REAL SOUTH BBQ | |
| 19 | HOOTIE-Q | |
| 20 | RIVERSIDE SMOKE | |
| 21 | LANG BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 22 | DOUBLE DUECE SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 23 | BIG "J" AND THE BUTTS | |
| 24 | SPRAT BOY BARBEQUE | |
| 25 | Hunni Lovins | |
| 26 | Knights of the Holey Grill | |
| 27 | PRODIGAL REDNECK | |
| 28 | BABY CJ'S RIB SHACK | |
| 29 | BREWBQUE |
Chicken
29 entries · top 177.7028 · median 168.5372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BALLS OUT BBQ | |
| 2 | ROAST BEAST BBQ | |
| 3 | YES, DEAR BBQ | |
| 4 | CARTER-QUE-ING | |
| 5 | Organizer Portal | |
| 6 | THE PIT CREW GA | |
| 7 | BIG "J" AND THE BUTTS | |
| 8 | REAL SOUTH BBQ | |
| 9 | SLAYTON'S BARBEQUE COMPANY | |
| 10 | WAYLON'S WICKEDLY GOOD Q | |
| 11 | Willingham's | |
| 12 | KILLER B'S BBQ | |
| 13 | QMEISTERS | |
| 14 | RIVERSIDE SMOKE | |
| 15 | ANGRY JACK BBQ | |
| 16 | Knights of the Holey Grill | |
| 17 | FYC BARBEQUE | |
| 18 | DOUBLE DUECE SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 19 | Uncle Kenny's Take-Away | |
| 20 | BALD HAWG BBQ | |
| 21 | HOOTIE-Q | |
| 22 | LANG BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 23 | Hunni Lovins | |
| 24 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 25 | BABY CJ'S RIB SHACK | |
| 26 | CHATTAHOOCHEE QUE | |
| 27 | SPRAT BOY BARBEQUE | |
| 28 | PRODIGAL REDNECK | |
| 29 | BREWBQUE |
Pork Ribs
29 entries · top 177.7144 · median 168.5372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uncle Kenny's Take-Away | |
| 2 | WAYLON'S WICKEDLY GOOD Q | |
| 3 | ANGRY JACK BBQ | |
| 4 | KILLER B'S BBQ | |
| 5 | YES, DEAR BBQ | |
| 6 | Organizer Portal | |
| 7 | QMEISTERS | |
| 8 | BALLS OUT BBQ | |
| 9 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 10 | FYC BARBEQUE | |
| 11 | CHATTAHOOCHEE QUE | |
| 12 | ROAST BEAST BBQ | |
| 13 | THE PIT CREW GA | |
| 14 | REAL SOUTH BBQ | |
| 15 | SLAYTON'S BARBEQUE COMPANY | |
| 16 | BALD HAWG BBQ | |
| 17 | HOOTIE-Q | |
| 18 | LANG BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 19 | CARTER-QUE-ING | |
| 20 | BIG "J" AND THE BUTTS | |
| 21 | RIVERSIDE SMOKE | |
| 22 | Willingham's | |
| 23 | Hunni Lovins | |
| 24 | Knights of the Holey Grill | |
| 25 | PRODIGAL REDNECK | |
| 26 | DOUBLE DUECE SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 27 | BREWBQUE | |
| 28 | SPRAT BOY BARBEQUE | |
| 29 | BABY CJ'S RIB SHACK |
Pork
29 entries · top 177.7144 · median 166.2400
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Organizer Portal | |
| 2 | CHATTAHOOCHEE QUE | |
| 3 | SLAYTON'S BARBEQUE COMPANY | |
| 4 | QMEISTERS | |
| 5 | ANGRY JACK BBQ | |
| 6 | ROAST BEAST BBQ | |
| 7 | BALLS OUT BBQ | |
| 8 | YES, DEAR BBQ | |
| 9 | THE PIT CREW GA | |
| 10 | FYC BARBEQUE | |
| 11 | Uncle Kenny's Take-Away | |
| 12 | SPRAT BOY BARBEQUE | |
| 13 | KILLER B'S BBQ | |
| 14 | WAYLON'S WICKEDLY GOOD Q | |
| 15 | RIVERSIDE SMOKE | |
| 16 | Willingham's | |
| 17 | BALD HAWG BBQ | |
| 18 | CARTER-QUE-ING | |
| 19 | BABY CJ'S RIB SHACK | |
| 20 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 21 | REAL SOUTH BBQ | |
| 22 | LANG BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 23 | HOOTIE-Q | |
| 24 | PRODIGAL REDNECK | |
| 25 | DOUBLE DUECE SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 26 | BREWBQUE | |
| 27 | Hunni Lovins | |
| 28 | Knights of the Holey Grill | |
| 29 | BIG "J" AND THE BUTTS |
Brisket
29 entries · top 179.4400 · median 168.5372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uncle Kenny's Take-Away | |
| 2 | FYC BARBEQUE | |
| 3 | BALD HAWG BBQ | |
| 4 | Organizer Portal | |
| 5 | CHATTAHOOCHEE QUE | |
| 6 | YES, DEAR BBQ | |
| 7 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 8 | Willingham's | |
| 9 | KILLER B'S BBQ | |
| 10 | SLAYTON'S BARBEQUE COMPANY | |
| 11 | QMEISTERS | |
| 12 | WAYLON'S WICKEDLY GOOD Q | |
| 13 | ANGRY JACK BBQ | |
| 14 | THE PIT CREW GA | |
| 15 | ROAST BEAST BBQ | |
| 16 | DOUBLE DUECE SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 17 | BALLS OUT BBQ | |
| 18 | CARTER-QUE-ING | |
| 19 | HOOTIE-Q | |
| 20 | SPRAT BOY BARBEQUE | |
| 21 | LANG BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 22 | BREWBQUE | |
| 23 | BIG "J" AND THE BUTTS | |
| 24 | RIVERSIDE SMOKE | |
| 25 | REAL SOUTH BBQ | |
| 26 | PRODIGAL REDNECK | |
| 27 | Hunni Lovins | |
| 28 | Knights of the Holey Grill | |
| 29 | BABY CJ'S RIB SHACK |
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 — Backyard Championship
7 entries · top 334.3316 · median 293.6684
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fat Daddy P's | |
| 2 | BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 3 | Big Poppa BBQ | |
| 4 | Dude With the Food | |
| 5 | Summer's Backyard BBQ | |
| 6 | Farm Dawgs Bar-B-Que | |
| 7 | ADS Security |
Master Series — Backyard Chicken
7 entries · top 173.7372 · median 148.5028
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fat Daddy P's | |
| 2 | Big Poppa BBQ | |
| 3 | BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 4 | Summer's Backyard BBQ | |
| 5 | Dude With the Food | |
| 6 | Farm Dawgs Bar-B-Que | |
| 7 | ADS Security |
Master Series — Backyard Ribs
7 entries · top 164.0344 · median 150.8456
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 2 | Fat Daddy P's | |
| 3 | Big Poppa BBQ | |
| 4 | Dude With the Food | |
| 5 | Summer's Backyard BBQ | |
| 6 | Farm Dawgs Bar-B-Que | |
| 7 | ADS Security |
Master Series — Sauce
21 entries · top 158.2744 · median 138.8344