A razor-thin finish
0.0108
points between champion and reserve
Closer than 99% of the 4,714 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 0.0108 points — closer than 99% of every championship in the data.
- SMOKE FREAKS
- ONE2BBQ
CIBR-BBQ Central Illinois Bragging Right BBQ 2017
Oct 13–14, 2017 · Arthur, IL · 📍 Downtown Arthur IL
SMOKE FREAKS won Grand Champion at the CIBR-BBQ Central Illinois Bragging Right BBQ on October 13, 2017 in Arthur, IL at Downtown Arthur IL, scoring 688.5140 in a field of 41 teams. ONE2BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 688.5032. Category winners: Chicken — ONE2BBQ (175.4172); Pork Ribs — THE BBQ BUS (174.2972); Pork — MANTUCKY MAYHEM (179.4400); Brisket — HIGH ON THE HAWG (177.7028). This is the 2nd of 3 editions of this contest on record; the 2016 edition was won by ALL IN QUE; 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.
514.13
median 653.55
688.51 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 175.42
- Pork Ribs 174.30
- Pork 179.44
- Brisket 177.70
20
179.44
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2016 to 2018 — this edition picked out.
Entries
41
4 judged meats
Top score
688.5140
Winning margin
0.0108
GC over RC
Field average
647.34
514.13688.51
median 653.55 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
2.8800 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
666.1368
514.13688.51
10th place overall
Field spread
174.3884
winner to last place
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 75%
beats 25% of 4715 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
49%
27 of 55 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.51 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,562
avg power rating going in · stronger than 47% of contests
Storylines (6 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
26-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 74 times in 100
SMOKE FREAKS came in rated below the field's top team, One2BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 26-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1711
- top seed 1897
Won without a category win
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
SMOKE FREAKS 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 2nd
- Pork 14th
- Brisket 6th
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 10 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 9–10: HEFTY LEFTY BBQ and CLUCK , OINK & MOO BARBECUE tied on 169.7144 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Brisket places 7–8: IT'S 5 O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE and HATFIELD AND MCCOY BARBECUE tied on 170.8228 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Brisket places 8–9: HATFIELD AND MCCOY BARBECUE and EXTRA MILE BBQ tied on 170.8228 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 9–10 · tie
- Brisket 7–8 · tie
- Brisket 8–9 · tie
- Chicken 6–7 · 0.0116
A contest record in pork
179.4400
best pork ever cooked here
MANTUCKY MAYHEM turned in 179.4400 in pork — past the 177.7028 that had stood across 1 earlier editions.
- old best 177.7028
- across 1 past editions
Back to defend
1
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: ALL IN QUE (won 2016).
- ALL IN QUE · 2016
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 14, 2016 | Authur, IL | 106 S Vine St | 55 | 696.5144 | ALL IN QUE | ONE2BBQ |
| Oct 13, 2017 ← this one | Arthur, IL | Downtown Arthur IL | 41 | 688.5140 | SMOKE FREAKS | ONE2BBQ |
| Oct 12, 2018 | Arthur, IL | Downtown Arthur IL | 45 | 689.0632 | GILLY'S BBQ | OUTSIDERS BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 175.4172 | 171.9884 | 169.7144 |
| Pork Ribs | 174.2972 | 171.4172 | 168 |
| Pork | 179.4400 | 172.5716 | 168.5828 |
| Brisket | 177.7028 | 173.1200 | 169.6684 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
41 entries · top 688.5140 · median 653.5540
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKE FREAKS | |
| 2 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 3 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 4 | OUTSIDERS BBQ | |
| 5 | MANTUCKY MAYHEM | |
| 6 | PORK PARADISE | |
| 7 | HIGH ON THE HAWG | |
| 8 | TWISTED SMOKE | |
| 9 | SMOKIN' WET BBQ | |
| 10 | ALL IN QUE | |
| 11 | IT'S 5 O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE | |
| 12 | SMOKIN GOOD TIME BBQ | |
| 13 | SMOKEY'S Q | |
| 14 | HATFIELD AND MCCOY BARBECUE | |
| 15 | THE CHILLY WATER SMOKERS | |
| 16 | CLUCK , OINK & MOO BARBECUE | |
| 17 | BOURBON SMOKE BBQ | |
| 18 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 19 | OUI OUI OUI BBQ | |
| 20 | NUTTHIN BUT PORK | |
| 21 | CHOCOLATE CITY BBQ | |
| 22 | FIDDLIN' FATBACK | |
| 23 | PLOWBOYZ BBQ | |
| 24 | QUAU | |
| 25 | CARROL LOU'S SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 26 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 27 | MONSTERS OF THE RIBWAY | |
| 28 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 29 | VETERANS Q | |
| 30 | Big Bad Hawg's | |
| 31 | Rub Runners | |
| 32 | RACK MASTERS BBQ | |
| 33 | RUB IT, SMOKE IT, LOVE IT | |
| 34 | JACK'S GOOD OLE' BBQ | |
| 35 | 2 SKINNY COOKS | |
| 36 | HIGH ON THE HOG CATLIN, IL | |
| 37 | LOADED-N-ROLLIN BBQ | |
| 38 | 4 D'S BBQ | |
| 39 | Papa Sean's BBQ | |
| 40 | S&G's Smoked Meat's | |
| 41 | EXTRA MILE BBQ |
Chicken
41 entries · top 175.4172 · median 165.6800
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 2 | SMOKE FREAKS | |
| 3 | MANTUCKY MAYHEM | |
| 4 | NUTTHIN BUT PORK | |
| 5 | FIDDLIN' FATBACK | |
| 6 | SMOKIN GOOD TIME BBQ | |
| 7 | TWISTED SMOKE | |
| 8 | SMOKIN' WET BBQ | |
| 9 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 10 | CLUCK , OINK & MOO BARBECUE | |
| 11 | RACK MASTERS BBQ | |
| 12 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 13 | VETERANS Q | |
| 14 | PORK PARADISE | |
| 15 | PLOWBOYZ BBQ | |
| 16 | OUTSIDERS BBQ | |
| 17 | CHOCOLATE CITY BBQ | |
| 18 | Big Bad Hawg's | |
| 19 | BOURBON SMOKE BBQ | |
| 20 | ALL IN QUE | |
| 21 | HIGH ON THE HAWG | |
| 22 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 23 | HATFIELD AND MCCOY BARBECUE | |
| 24 | QUAU | |
| 25 | THE CHILLY WATER SMOKERS | |
| 26 | SMOKEY'S Q | |
| 27 | Rub Runners | |
| 28 | OUI OUI OUI BBQ | |
| 29 | LOADED-N-ROLLIN BBQ | |
| 30 | JACK'S GOOD OLE' BBQ | |
| 31 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 32 | 2 SKINNY COOKS | |
| 33 | MONSTERS OF THE RIBWAY | |
| 34 | IT'S 5 O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE | |
| 35 | HIGH ON THE HOG CATLIN, IL | |
| 36 | CARROL LOU'S SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 37 | RUB IT, SMOKE IT, LOVE IT | |
| 38 | S&G's Smoked Meat's | |
| 39 | Papa Sean's BBQ | |
| 40 | 4 D'S BBQ | |
| 41 | EXTRA MILE BBQ |
Pork Ribs
41 entries · top 174.2972 · median 161.6456
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 2 | SMOKE FREAKS | |
| 3 | SMOKIN' WET BBQ | |
| 4 | IT'S 5 O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE | |
| 5 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 6 | SMOKEY'S Q | |
| 7 | PORK PARADISE | |
| 8 | BOURBON SMOKE BBQ | |
| 9 | ALL IN QUE | |
| 10 | CHOCOLATE CITY BBQ | |
| 11 | OUTSIDERS BBQ | |
| 12 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 13 | Rub Runners | |
| 14 | THE CHILLY WATER SMOKERS | |
| 15 | Big Bad Hawg's | |
| 16 | HATFIELD AND MCCOY BARBECUE | |
| 17 | SMOKIN GOOD TIME BBQ | |
| 18 | 2 SKINNY COOKS | |
| 19 | VETERANS Q | |
| 20 | RUB IT, SMOKE IT, LOVE IT | |
| 21 | FIDDLIN' FATBACK | |
| 22 | CLUCK , OINK & MOO BARBECUE | |
| 23 | OUI OUI OUI BBQ | |
| 24 | MANTUCKY MAYHEM | |
| 25 | HIGH ON THE HOG CATLIN, IL | |
| 26 | HIGH ON THE HAWG | |
| 27 | TWISTED SMOKE | |
| 28 | QUAU | |
| 29 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 30 | MONSTERS OF THE RIBWAY | |
| 31 | RACK MASTERS BBQ | |
| 32 | EXTRA MILE BBQ | |
| 33 | NUTTHIN BUT PORK | |
| 34 | 4 D'S BBQ | |
| 35 | CARROL LOU'S SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 36 | S&G's Smoked Meat's | |
| 37 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 38 | Papa Sean's BBQ | |
| 39 | PLOWBOYZ BBQ | |
| 40 | LOADED-N-ROLLIN BBQ | |
| 41 | JACK'S GOOD OLE' BBQ |
Pork
41 entries · top 179.4400 · median 162.8228
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MANTUCKY MAYHEM | |
| 2 | PLOWBOYZ BBQ | |
| 3 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 4 | RUB IT, SMOKE IT, LOVE IT | |
| 5 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 6 | OUTSIDERS BBQ | |
| 7 | CARROL LOU'S SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 8 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 9 | TWISTED SMOKE | |
| 10 | HIGH ON THE HOG CATLIN, IL | |
| 11 | MONSTERS OF THE RIBWAY | |
| 12 | HIGH ON THE HAWG | |
| 13 | SMOKIN' WET BBQ | |
| 14 | SMOKE FREAKS | |
| 15 | THE CHILLY WATER SMOKERS | |
| 16 | PORK PARADISE | |
| 17 | EXTRA MILE BBQ | |
| 18 | IT'S 5 O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE | |
| 19 | ALL IN QUE | |
| 20 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 21 | HATFIELD AND MCCOY BARBECUE | |
| 22 | JACK'S GOOD OLE' BBQ | |
| 23 | SMOKEY'S Q | |
| 24 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 25 | SMOKIN GOOD TIME BBQ | |
| 26 | Rub Runners | |
| 27 | QUAU | |
| 28 | CLUCK , OINK & MOO BARBECUE | |
| 29 | NUTTHIN BUT PORK | |
| 30 | FIDDLIN' FATBACK | |
| 31 | OUI OUI OUI BBQ | |
| 32 | RACK MASTERS BBQ | |
| 33 | BOURBON SMOKE BBQ | |
| 34 | 4 D'S BBQ | |
| 35 | CHOCOLATE CITY BBQ | |
| 36 | VETERANS Q | |
| 37 | Big Bad Hawg's | |
| 38 | 2 SKINNY COOKS | |
| 39 | LOADED-N-ROLLIN BBQ | |
| 40 | Papa Sean's BBQ | |
| 41 | S&G's Smoked Meat's |
Brisket
41 entries · top 177.7028 · median 165.1428
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HIGH ON THE HAWG | |
| 2 | OUI OUI OUI BBQ | |
| 3 | OUTSIDERS BBQ | |
| 4 | CARROL LOU'S SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 5 | PORK PARADISE | |
| 6 | SMOKE FREAKS | |
| 7 | IT'S 5 O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE | |
| 8 | HATFIELD AND MCCOY BARBECUE | |
| 9 | EXTRA MILE BBQ | |
| 10 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 11 | SMOKIN GOOD TIME BBQ | |
| 12 | CLUCK , OINK & MOO BARBECUE | |
| 13 | TWISTED SMOKE | |
| 14 | QUAU | |
| 15 | SMOKEY'S Q | |
| 16 | BOURBON SMOKE BBQ | |
| 17 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 18 | NUTTHIN BUT PORK | |
| 19 | ALL IN QUE | |
| 20 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 21 | MANTUCKY MAYHEM | |
| 22 | THE CHILLY WATER SMOKERS | |
| 23 | CHOCOLATE CITY BBQ | |
| 24 | FIDDLIN' FATBACK | |
| 25 | JACK'S GOOD OLE' BBQ | |
| 26 | MONSTERS OF THE RIBWAY | |
| 27 | VETERANS Q | |
| 28 | PLOWBOYZ BBQ | |
| 29 | Big Bad Hawg's | |
| 30 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 31 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 32 | SMOKIN' WET BBQ | |
| 33 | Rub Runners | |
| 34 | 2 SKINNY COOKS | |
| 35 | RACK MASTERS BBQ | |
| 36 | RUB IT, SMOKE IT, LOVE IT | |
| 37 | Papa Sean's BBQ | |
| 38 | 4 D'S BBQ | |
| 39 | S&G's Smoked Meat's | |
| 40 | LOADED-N-ROLLIN BBQ | |
| 41 | HIGH ON THE HOG CATLIN, IL |