Grand American Barbecue World Championship Invitational (COMPETITOR SERIES)
2026-05-01 – 2026-05-02 · New Paltz, NY · 📍 Ulster County Fairgrounds
Reps: BILL WRIGHT, JEFF CHAMBERS, KIM WRIGHT, REGINA BODNAR · Prize money: $40,000.00
Grand Champion: Chunky BBQ (706.8344) · 43 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 B'S QUE
Entries
43
4 judged meats · 2 ancillary
Top score
706.8344
Winning margin
1.7488
GC over RC
Field average
683.22
median 685.04
Perfect 180s
6 🔥
B'S QUE (Brisket), DRILLING & GRILLING (Pork), B'S QUE (Pork Ribs), SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA (Pork Ribs), CHICKEN CHOKERS BBQ (Pork Ribs), 73-BBQ (Pork Ribs)
Tightest race
Chicken
0.0116 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
693.6344
10th place overall
Field spread
112.6632
winner to last place
Prize money
$40,000.00
on the line
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 14%
beats 86% of 58 Competitor Series wins in the data
Traveled in
93%
of the 43 teams with a home region came from outside NY
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.59 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1614
avg power rating going in · stronger than 95% of contests
Storylines
🧳 Out-of-towners took the title
CHUNKY BBQ took the Grand Championship home to NJ.
🔥 A day of perfect scores
6 perfect 180s were scored at this contest.
🧹 A double category winner
B'S QUE won Pork Ribs, Brisket — a double.
📸 Photo finishes
Chicken places 1–2: SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA and New Pigs on the Block tied on 177.7144 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 3–4: FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY and GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 4–5: GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS and Bourbon & Blues BBQ tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
🏟️ A stacked field
The field averaged a 1614 power rating going in — stronger than 95% of every contest tracked.
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)
Where the field came from (home regions on file)
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 177.7144 | 177.7028 | 175.4172 |
| Pork Ribs | 180.0000 | 178.8572 | 174.3088 |
| Pork | 180.0000 | 177.7028 | 176.5600 |
| Brisket | 180.0000 | 177.7028 | 175.4172 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Competitor Series
Overall
43 entries · top 706.8344 · median 685.0400
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 2 | B'S QUE | |
| 3 | Ain't That Rich | |
| 4 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 5 | BOGGS HOG BBQ | |
| 6 | SUSQUEHANNA SMOKERS | |
| 7 | Phantom Smoke & BBQ | |
| 8 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 9 | BLUE & GRAY BBQ | |
| 10 | PADDY MCQ'S | |
| 11 | The Fat is Where It's At | |
| 12 | FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY | |
| 13 | ALL FIRED UP BBQ | |
| 14 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 15 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 16 | ELJEFE SMOKE | |
| 17 | HOG WASH BBQ | |
| 18 | 73-BBQ | |
| 19 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 20 | Brookside BBQ | |
| 21 | Smoke Central BBQ | |
| 22 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 23 | CHICKEN CHOKERS BBQ | |
| 24 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ | |
| 25 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 26 | STICKS & STONES BBQ | |
| 27 | House of Que | |
| 28 | Buckeye Blue Smoke BBQ | |
| 29 | Dirt Bag Barbeque | |
| 30 | Titans of BBQ | |
| 31 | New Pigs on the Block | |
| 32 | DIG'N N PIG'N | |
| 33 | Grandpa Val's BBQ | |
| 34 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 35 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 36 | Meat Monarchy | |
| 37 | smoKINGBATKO BBQ | |
| 38 | CANYON RIDERS BBQ | |
| 39 | HUMPHREY'S BBQ | |
| 40 | Bear's Den BBQ | |
| 41 | Q Shanty | |
| 42 | PHILLY BLIND PIG BBQ | |
| 43 | Smokin' Pasta BBQ |
Chicken
43 entries · top 177.7144 · median 173.1084
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 2 | New Pigs on the Block | |
| 3 | FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY | |
| 4 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 5 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ | |
| 6 | ALL FIRED UP BBQ | |
| 7 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 8 | BOGGS HOG BBQ | |
| 9 | STICKS & STONES BBQ | |
| 10 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 11 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 12 | BLUE & GRAY BBQ | |
| 13 | Ain't That Rich | |
| 14 | Buckeye Blue Smoke BBQ | |
| 15 | Titans of BBQ | |
| 16 | ELJEFE SMOKE | |
| 17 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 18 | Grandpa Val's BBQ | |
| 19 | Phantom Smoke & BBQ | |
| 20 | Brookside BBQ | |
| 21 | House of Que | |
| 22 | B'S QUE | |
| 23 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 24 | SUSQUEHANNA SMOKERS | |
| 25 | The Fat is Where It's At | |
| 26 | Smoke Central BBQ | |
| 27 | Meat Monarchy | |
| 28 | CANYON RIDERS BBQ | |
| 29 | DIG'N N PIG'N | |
| 30 | 73-BBQ | |
| 31 | Q Shanty | |
| 32 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 33 | PADDY MCQ'S | |
| 34 | Bear's Den BBQ | |
| 35 | HOG WASH BBQ | |
| 36 | smoKINGBATKO BBQ | |
| 37 | HUMPHREY'S BBQ | |
| 38 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 39 | CHICKEN CHOKERS BBQ | |
| 40 | PHILLY BLIND PIG BBQ | |
| 41 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 42 | Dirt Bag Barbeque | |
| 43 | Smokin' Pasta BBQ |
Pork Ribs
43 entries · top 180.0000 · median 171.4056 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B'S QUE | |
| 2 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 3 | CHICKEN CHOKERS BBQ | |
| 4 | 73-BBQ | |
| 5 | PADDY MCQ'S | |
| 6 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 7 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 8 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 9 | DIG'N N PIG'N | |
| 10 | House of Que | |
| 11 | BOGGS HOG BBQ | |
| 12 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 13 | SUSQUEHANNA SMOKERS | |
| 14 | New Pigs on the Block | |
| 15 | ELJEFE SMOKE | |
| 16 | Bear's Den BBQ | |
| 17 | Ain't That Rich | |
| 18 | The Fat is Where It's At | |
| 19 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 20 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 21 | Phantom Smoke & BBQ | |
| 22 | STICKS & STONES BBQ | |
| 23 | Meat Monarchy | |
| 24 | ALL FIRED UP BBQ | |
| 25 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 26 | CANYON RIDERS BBQ | |
| 27 | Smoke Central BBQ | |
| 28 | HOG WASH BBQ | |
| 29 | PHILLY BLIND PIG BBQ | |
| 30 | FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY | |
| 31 | Dirt Bag Barbeque | |
| 32 | Brookside BBQ | |
| 33 | Grandpa Val's BBQ | |
| 34 | BLUE & GRAY BBQ | |
| 35 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 36 | Buckeye Blue Smoke BBQ | |
| 37 | HUMPHREY'S BBQ | |
| 38 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ | |
| 39 | Q Shanty | |
| 40 | Titans of BBQ | |
| 41 | smoKINGBATKO BBQ | |
| 42 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 43 | Smokin' Pasta BBQ |
Pork
43 entries · top 180.0000 · median 171.9772 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 2 | Phantom Smoke & BBQ | |
| 3 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 4 | BOGGS HOG BBQ | |
| 5 | Ain't That Rich | |
| 6 | HOG WASH BBQ | |
| 7 | Dirt Bag Barbeque | |
| 8 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 9 | BLUE & GRAY BBQ | |
| 10 | SUSQUEHANNA SMOKERS | |
| 11 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 12 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 13 | smoKINGBATKO BBQ | |
| 14 | Titans of BBQ | |
| 15 | The Fat is Where It's At | |
| 16 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ | |
| 17 | CHICKEN CHOKERS BBQ | |
| 18 | Buckeye Blue Smoke BBQ | |
| 19 | 73-BBQ | |
| 20 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 21 | B'S QUE | |
| 22 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 23 | DIG'N N PIG'N | |
| 24 | Smoke Central BBQ | |
| 25 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 26 | ALL FIRED UP BBQ | |
| 27 | HUMPHREY'S BBQ | |
| 28 | House of Que | |
| 29 | FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY | |
| 30 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 31 | Brookside BBQ | |
| 32 | PADDY MCQ'S | |
| 33 | STICKS & STONES BBQ | |
| 34 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 35 | Bear's Den BBQ | |
| 36 | New Pigs on the Block | |
| 37 | PHILLY BLIND PIG BBQ | |
| 38 | Grandpa Val's BBQ | |
| 39 | Q Shanty | |
| 40 | Meat Monarchy | |
| 41 | ELJEFE SMOKE | |
| 42 | CANYON RIDERS BBQ | |
| 43 | Smokin' Pasta BBQ |
Brisket
43 entries · top 180.0000 · median 170.8344 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B'S QUE | |
| 2 | Ain't That Rich | |
| 3 | Dirt Bag Barbeque | |
| 4 | PADDY MCQ'S | |
| 5 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 6 | SUSQUEHANNA SMOKERS | |
| 7 | Phantom Smoke & BBQ | |
| 8 | Brookside BBQ | |
| 9 | ELJEFE SMOKE | |
| 10 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 11 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 12 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 13 | Smoke Central BBQ | |
| 14 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 15 | BLUE & GRAY BBQ | |
| 16 | Titans of BBQ | |
| 17 | Grandpa Val's BBQ | |
| 18 | HOG WASH BBQ | |
| 19 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 20 | FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY | |
| 21 | BOGGS HOG BBQ | |
| 22 | The Fat is Where It's At | |
| 23 | ALL FIRED UP BBQ | |
| 24 | smoKINGBATKO BBQ | |
| 25 | STICKS & STONES BBQ | |
| 26 | Buckeye Blue Smoke BBQ | |
| 27 | HUMPHREY'S BBQ | |
| 28 | CHICKEN CHOKERS BBQ | |
| 29 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ | |
| 30 | House of Que | |
| 31 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 32 | Q Shanty | |
| 33 | CANYON RIDERS BBQ | |
| 34 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 35 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 36 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 37 | Meat Monarchy | |
| 38 | New Pigs on the Block | |
| 39 | DIG'N N PIG'N | |
| 40 | 73-BBQ | |
| 41 | PHILLY BLIND PIG BBQ | |
| 42 | Bear's Den BBQ | |
| 43 | Smokin' Pasta BBQ |
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.
Ancillary — Cocktails
11 entries · top 177.1428 · median 170.2972
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sauce Em & Toss Em BBQ | |
| 2 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 3 | A-Que BBQ | |
| 4 | B'S QUE | |
| 5 | Buckeye Blue Smoke BBQ | |
| 6 | Phantom Smoke & BBQ | |
| 7 | Bear's Den BBQ | |
| 8 | Q Shanty | |
| 9 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 10 | Corey's Sugar Shack | |
| 11 | Grandpa Val's BBQ |
Ancillary — Made With Maple
16 entries · top 177.7028 · median 170.8400
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grandpa Val's BBQ | |
| 2 | Phantom Smoke & BBQ | |
| 3 | Titans of BBQ | |
| 4 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 5 | Q Shanty | |
| 6 | ALL FIRED UP BBQ | |
| 7 | Sauce Em & Toss Em BBQ | |
| 8 | A-Que BBQ | |
| 9 | B'S QUE | |
| 10 | Bear's Den BBQ | |
| 11 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 12 | Bearded Boys BBQ | |
| 13 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 14 | CIDER BOYS BBQ | |
| 15 | Corey's Sugar Shack | |
| 16 | BBQ Blokes |