A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 7 tracked editions
IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ has won this contest 2 times across its 7 tracked editions.
- 2015
- 2016
Smokin In the Square
2018-03-16 – 2018-03-17 · Pensacola, FL · 📍 Seville SQ
Grand Champion: SMOKE ME SILLY (699.4176) · 49 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 HOT WACHULA'S
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.
545.25
median 678.73
699.42 🏆
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 180.00 🔥
99.94
180.00
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2019 — this edition picked out.
Entries
49
4 judged meats · 4 ancillary
Top score
699.4176
Winning margin
2.9264
GC over RC
Field average
673.10
545.25699.42
median 678.73 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Chicken
0.5600 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
689.0856
545.25699.42
10th place overall
Field spread
154.1716
winner to last place
Double threats
5
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 34%
beats 66% of 4707 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
63%
24 of 38 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.59 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1662
avg power rating going in · stronger than 97% 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.
A stacked field
1662
average power rating going in
Stronger than 97% of every rated contest
The field averaged a 1662 power rating going in — stronger than 97% of every contest tracked.
- top seed IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ (2045)
- 49 rated teams
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 16 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 1–2: BIG MO FROM AHO and HAULIN' BUTT BBQ tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 2–3: HAULIN' BUTT BBQ and IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 3–4: IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ and BULL RUSH BBQ tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 1–2 · tie
- Chicken 2–3 · tie
- Chicken 3–4 · tie
- Chicken 5–6 · tie
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
Organizer Portal won Pork Ribs, Pork — a double, and took the Grand Championship on top of it.
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 1st
How the title was won
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
Organizer Portal took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 2 outright wins — their weakest board was chicken at 37th.
- Chicken 37th
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 1st
- Brisket 6th
Back to defend
3
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ (won 2013), IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ (won 2015, 2016), SOUTH PORK (won 2017).
- CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ · 2013
- IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ · 2015, 2016
- SOUTH PORK · 2017
The biggest field yet
49
teams — a contest high
This contest usually draws about 42 teams
49 teams is the deepest field this contest has drawn in the data, against a typical 42.
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.
- BOB ROBERTS BBQ · Brisket
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-03-01 | Pensacola, FL | Pensacola, FL | 37 | 681.1424 | CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ | BAREKNUCKLES BBQ |
| 2014-03-07 | Pensacola, FL | Pensacola, FL 32570 | 46 | 698.2288 | THE BLUE BLOODS | WARREN COUNTY PORK CHOPPERS |
| 2015-03-06 | Pensacola, FL | Pensacola, FL 32570 | 48 | 699.9428 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | The Specialists |
| 2016-03-18 | Pensacola, FL | Pensacola, FL 32570 | 43 | 694.7656 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | CHECKERED PIG |
| 2017-03-17 | Pensacola, FL | Seville SQ | 38 | 698.2056 | SOUTH PORK | BOOTYQUE |
| 2018-03-16 ← this one | Pensacola, FL | Seville SQ | 49 | 699.4176 | SMOKE ME SILLY | HOT WACHULA'S |
| 2019-03-15 | Pensacola, FL | Seville SQ | 35 | 693.1084 | MIDNIGHT BURN | THE SPECIALISTS |
| 2021-03-19 | Pensacola, FL | — | — | — | — | — |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 177.7028 | 177.1428 | 175.4400 |
| Pork Ribs | 177.7144 | 175.4172 | 171.4172 |
| Pork | 177.7144 | 176.5600 | 174.2628 |
| Brisket | 180.0000 | 176.5600 | 174.8572 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
49 entries · top 699.4176 · median 678.7312
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Organizer Portal | |
| 2 | HOT WACHULA'S | |
| 3 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 4 | HAULIN' BUTT BBQ | |
| 5 | SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA | |
| 6 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 7 | UNCLE BUD'S BBQ | |
| 8 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 9 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | |
| 10 | FAT, DRUNK & STUPID | |
| 11 | SHEATS SMOKED MEATS | |
| 12 | BOOTYQUE | |
| 13 | WINK'S BARBEQUE | |
| 14 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 15 | MIDNIGHT BURN | |
| 16 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 17 | E.T.'S BBQ | |
| 18 | SHIG NINJA BBQ | |
| 19 | CHECKERED PIG | |
| 20 | BOOG-A-LOU SMOKE CREW | |
| 21 | THE PIT CREW GA | |
| 22 | IT'S 5 O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE | |
| 23 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 24 | SWINE AND SHINE BBQ | |
| 25 | BOB ROBERTS BBQ | |
| 26 | BULL RUSH BBQ | |
| 27 | THE SPECIALISTS | |
| 28 | SMOKE THIS | |
| 29 | COCHON 225 | |
| 30 | DEEZ GUYZ | |
| 31 | Crimson Q | |
| 32 | GENERAL LEE SMOKING | |
| 33 | WILD BUNCH BUTT BURNERS | |
| 34 | BUTTRUB.COM | |
| 35 | BIG MO FROM AHO | |
| 36 | LITTLE CREEK BAR B CUE COMPANY | |
| 37 | PATIO PEOPLE | |
| 38 | Double Deuce Smokin BBQ | |
| 39 | CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ | |
| 40 | 2 MEN AND A PIG | |
| 41 | RIBS WITHIN | |
| 42 | PIGGIN' OUT | |
| 43 | BUSH LEAGUE BBQ | |
| 44 | J & B'S BBQ | |
| 45 | PENSACOLA EGGFEST | |
| 46 | Pig Boss Man | |
| 47 | GREEN LIGHT | |
| 48 | SHOTGUN BBQ SAUCE, SPICES AND RUBS LLC | |
| 49 | SMOKIN JO |
Chicken
49 entries · top 177.7028 · median 171.9656
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BIG MO FROM AHO | |
| 2 | HAULIN' BUTT BBQ | |
| 3 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 4 | BULL RUSH BBQ | |
| 5 | UNCLE BUD'S BBQ | |
| 6 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 7 | THE PIT CREW GA | |
| 8 | Crimson Q | |
| 9 | HOT WACHULA'S | |
| 10 | E.T.'S BBQ | |
| 11 | SHEATS SMOKED MEATS | |
| 12 | IT'S 5 O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE | |
| 13 | FAT, DRUNK & STUPID | |
| 14 | MIDNIGHT BURN | |
| 15 | BUTTRUB.COM | |
| 16 | BOOTYQUE | |
| 17 | RIBS WITHIN | |
| 18 | SMOKE THIS | |
| 19 | CHECKERED PIG | |
| 20 | SWINE AND SHINE BBQ | |
| 21 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 22 | BOOG-A-LOU SMOKE CREW | |
| 23 | SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA | |
| 24 | WINK'S BARBEQUE | |
| 25 | DEEZ GUYZ | |
| 26 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | |
| 27 | THE SPECIALISTS | |
| 28 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 29 | SHIG NINJA BBQ | |
| 30 | GENERAL LEE SMOKING | |
| 31 | SHOTGUN BBQ SAUCE, SPICES AND RUBS LLC | |
| 32 | Double Deuce Smokin BBQ | |
| 33 | PIGGIN' OUT | |
| 34 | LITTLE CREEK BAR B CUE COMPANY | |
| 35 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 36 | PATIO PEOPLE | |
| 37 | Organizer Portal | |
| 38 | GREEN LIGHT | |
| 39 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 40 | 2 MEN AND A PIG | |
| 41 | CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ | |
| 42 | Pig Boss Man | |
| 43 | WILD BUNCH BUTT BURNERS | |
| 44 | BOB ROBERTS BBQ | |
| 45 | COCHON 225 | |
| 46 | BUSH LEAGUE BBQ | |
| 47 | J & B'S BBQ | |
| 48 | PENSACOLA EGGFEST | |
| 49 | SMOKIN JO |
Pork Ribs
49 entries · top 177.7144 · median 167.3944
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Organizer Portal | |
| 2 | SHEATS SMOKED MEATS | |
| 3 | MIDNIGHT BURN | |
| 4 | HOT WACHULA'S | |
| 5 | UNCLE BUD'S BBQ | |
| 6 | SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA | |
| 7 | FAT, DRUNK & STUPID | |
| 8 | CHECKERED PIG | |
| 9 | GENERAL LEE SMOKING | |
| 10 | BUTTRUB.COM | |
| 11 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 12 | E.T.'S BBQ | |
| 13 | Crimson Q | |
| 14 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 15 | WILD BUNCH BUTT BURNERS | |
| 16 | BOOTYQUE | |
| 17 | SHIG NINJA BBQ | |
| 18 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 19 | WINK'S BARBEQUE | |
| 20 | SMOKE THIS | |
| 21 | BIG MO FROM AHO | |
| 22 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 23 | HAULIN' BUTT BBQ | |
| 24 | COCHON 225 | |
| 25 | BOOG-A-LOU SMOKE CREW | |
| 26 | PATIO PEOPLE | |
| 27 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | |
| 28 | IT'S 5 O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE | |
| 29 | BOB ROBERTS BBQ | |
| 30 | Double Deuce Smokin BBQ | |
| 31 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 32 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 33 | THE PIT CREW GA | |
| 34 | CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ | |
| 35 | RIBS WITHIN | |
| 36 | THE SPECIALISTS | |
| 37 | SWINE AND SHINE BBQ | |
| 38 | DEEZ GUYZ | |
| 39 | LITTLE CREEK BAR B CUE COMPANY | |
| 40 | PIGGIN' OUT | |
| 41 | Pig Boss Man | |
| 42 | BULL RUSH BBQ | |
| 43 | BUSH LEAGUE BBQ | |
| 44 | J & B'S BBQ | |
| 45 | SHOTGUN BBQ SAUCE, SPICES AND RUBS LLC | |
| 46 | PENSACOLA EGGFEST | |
| 47 | 2 MEN AND A PIG | |
| 48 | GREEN LIGHT | |
| 49 | SMOKIN JO |
Pork
49 entries · top 177.7144 · median 169.6800
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Organizer Portal | |
| 2 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | |
| 3 | HOT WACHULA'S | |
| 4 | WINK'S BARBEQUE | |
| 5 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 6 | SWINE AND SHINE BBQ | |
| 7 | BOOG-A-LOU SMOKE CREW | |
| 8 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 9 | UNCLE BUD'S BBQ | |
| 10 | CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ | |
| 11 | THE SPECIALISTS | |
| 12 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 13 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 14 | WILD BUNCH BUTT BURNERS | |
| 15 | BOOTYQUE | |
| 16 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 17 | LITTLE CREEK BAR B CUE COMPANY | |
| 18 | BUTTRUB.COM | |
| 19 | PENSACOLA EGGFEST | |
| 20 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 21 | 2 MEN AND A PIG | |
| 22 | THE PIT CREW GA | |
| 23 | HAULIN' BUTT BBQ | |
| 24 | BUSH LEAGUE BBQ | |
| 25 | MIDNIGHT BURN | |
| 26 | SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA | |
| 27 | IT'S 5 O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE | |
| 28 | PATIO PEOPLE | |
| 29 | DEEZ GUYZ | |
| 30 | FAT, DRUNK & STUPID | |
| 31 | SHEATS SMOKED MEATS | |
| 32 | SHIG NINJA BBQ | |
| 33 | Crimson Q | |
| 34 | E.T.'S BBQ | |
| 35 | COCHON 225 | |
| 36 | GREEN LIGHT | |
| 37 | BOB ROBERTS BBQ | |
| 38 | BIG MO FROM AHO | |
| 39 | CHECKERED PIG | |
| 40 | Double Deuce Smokin BBQ | |
| 41 | BULL RUSH BBQ | |
| 42 | GENERAL LEE SMOKING | |
| 43 | Pig Boss Man | |
| 44 | J & B'S BBQ | |
| 45 | SHOTGUN BBQ SAUCE, SPICES AND RUBS LLC | |
| 46 | PIGGIN' OUT | |
| 47 | SMOKE THIS | |
| 48 | RIBS WITHIN | |
| 49 | SMOKIN JO |
Brisket
49 entries · top 180.0000 · median 168.5484 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BOB ROBERTS BBQ | |
| 2 | HAULIN' BUTT BBQ | |
| 3 | COCHON 225 | |
| 4 | SMOKE THIS | |
| 5 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 6 | Organizer Portal | |
| 7 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 8 | SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA | |
| 9 | SHIG NINJA BBQ | |
| 10 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | |
| 11 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 12 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 13 | BULL RUSH BBQ | |
| 14 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 15 | DEEZ GUYZ | |
| 16 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 17 | FAT, DRUNK & STUPID | |
| 18 | GENERAL LEE SMOKING | |
| 19 | THE SPECIALISTS | |
| 20 | BOOTYQUE | |
| 21 | E.T.'S BBQ | |
| 22 | THE PIT CREW GA | |
| 23 | IT'S 5 O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE | |
| 24 | CHECKERED PIG | |
| 25 | PIGGIN' OUT | |
| 26 | WINK'S BARBEQUE | |
| 27 | J & B'S BBQ | |
| 28 | 2 MEN AND A PIG | |
| 29 | HOT WACHULA'S | |
| 30 | SHEATS SMOKED MEATS | |
| 31 | BOOG-A-LOU SMOKE CREW | |
| 32 | WILD BUNCH BUTT BURNERS | |
| 33 | RIBS WITHIN | |
| 34 | UNCLE BUD'S BBQ | |
| 35 | LITTLE CREEK BAR B CUE COMPANY | |
| 36 | SWINE AND SHINE BBQ | |
| 37 | Double Deuce Smokin BBQ | |
| 38 | MIDNIGHT BURN | |
| 39 | BUSH LEAGUE BBQ | |
| 40 | PATIO PEOPLE | |
| 41 | Crimson Q | |
| 42 | BIG MO FROM AHO | |
| 43 | PENSACOLA EGGFEST | |
| 44 | CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ | |
| 45 | BUTTRUB.COM | |
| 46 | GREEN LIGHT | |
| 47 | Pig Boss Man | |
| 48 | SHOTGUN BBQ SAUCE, SPICES AND RUBS LLC | |
| 49 | SMOKIN JO |
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
21 entries · top 345.1316 · median 321.0856
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LEE LA Q | |
| 2 | TNT | |
| 3 | GULF COAST SMOKE SHOW | |
| 4 | SMOKIN BULLETS | |
| 5 | KC 2 BC | |
| 6 | GOULA Q | |
| 7 | HAMP'S ORIGINAL | |
| 8 | THE EMPTY NEST BAR & GRILL | |
| 9 | WOOD N BUTTS | |
| 10 | Brothers in BBQ | |
| 11 | BLOWIN' SMOKE | |
| 12 | FULTON AVENUE BBQ | |
| 13 | WILD BILL'S BBQ | |
| 14 | DADGUM GOOD BBQ | |
| 15 | BEERS FLY WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 16 | NOT READY FOR PRIME SWINE | |
| 17 | KROUX DE ROUX | |
| 18 | PACKIN' HEAT | |
| 19 | WHO DAT SMOKIN | |
| 20 | BERRY'S BBQ | |
| 21 | OUR LADY OF THE SEA-7272 |
Master Series — Backyard Chicken
21 entries · top 178.2972 · median 163.4056
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LEE LA Q | |
| 2 | BLOWIN' SMOKE | |
| 3 | DADGUM GOOD BBQ | |
| 4 | BEERS FLY WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 5 | GULF COAST SMOKE SHOW | |
| 6 | TNT | |
| 7 | SMOKIN BULLETS | |
| 8 | KC 2 BC | |
| 9 | Brothers in BBQ | |
| 10 | WOOD N BUTTS | |
| 11 | HAMP'S ORIGINAL | |
| 12 | FULTON AVENUE BBQ | |
| 13 | PACKIN' HEAT | |
| 14 | WHO DAT SMOKIN | |
| 15 | GOULA Q | |
| 16 | OUR LADY OF THE SEA-7272 | |
| 17 | BERRY'S BBQ | |
| 18 | THE EMPTY NEST BAR & GRILL | |
| 19 | WILD BILL'S BBQ | |
| 20 | NOT READY FOR PRIME SWINE | |
| 21 | KROUX DE ROUX |
Master Series — Backyard Ribs
21 entries · top 173.1316 · median 160.5484
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TNT | |
| 2 | THE EMPTY NEST BAR & GRILL | |
| 3 | WILD BILL'S BBQ | |
| 4 | GULF COAST SMOKE SHOW | |
| 5 | SMOKIN BULLETS | |
| 6 | LEE LA Q | |
| 7 | GOULA Q | |
| 8 | KROUX DE ROUX | |
| 9 | KC 2 BC | |
| 10 | HAMP'S ORIGINAL | |
| 11 | NOT READY FOR PRIME SWINE | |
| 12 | WOOD N BUTTS | |
| 13 | Brothers in BBQ | |
| 14 | FULTON AVENUE BBQ | |
| 15 | BLOWIN' SMOKE | |
| 16 | DADGUM GOOD BBQ | |
| 17 | BEERS FLY WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 18 | PACKIN' HEAT | |
| 19 | WHO DAT SMOKIN | |
| 20 | BERRY'S BBQ | |
| 21 | OUR LADY OF THE SEA-7272 |
Master Series — Seafood
15 entries · top 175.4744 · median 164.6400
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WHO DAT SMOKIN | |
| 2 | TNT | |
| 3 | HAMP'S ORIGINAL | |
| 4 | KROUX DE ROUX | |
| 5 | NOT READY FOR PRIME SWINE | |
| 6 | SMOKIN BULLETS | |
| 7 | WINK'S BARBEQUE | |
| 8 | LITTLE CREEK BAR B CUE COMPANY | |
| 9 | Brothers in BBQ | |
| 10 | LEE LA Q | |
| 11 | PENSACOLA EGGFEST | |
| 12 | GULF COAST SMOKE SHOW | |
| 13 | COCHON 225 | |
| 14 | BEERS FLY WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 15 | Crimson Q |