Decided by a tiebreaker
Tie
identical totals at the top
The top two teams finished on identical totals — the Grand Championship came down to the KCBS tiebreaker rules.
Twin Valley Fire and Smoke (Day 2) 2026
May 16–17, 2026 · Morgantown, PA · 📍 6180 Morgantown Rd · State championship
Reps: Regina Bodnar, Robert McKee · Prize money: $8,700
The Fat is Where It's At won Grand Champion at the Twin Valley Fire and Smoke (Day 2) on May 16, 2026 in Morgantown, PA at 6180 Morgantown Rd, scoring 703.9428 in a field of 17 teams. B'S QUE took Reserve Grand Champion with 703.9428. Category winners: Chicken — Piggy & Swine BBQ (180.0000); Pork Ribs — BIG BOB'S SMOKIN QUE (175.4288); Pork — The Fat is Where It's At (180.0000); Brisket — HotMess BBQ (178.8572). The Backyard Series standings were won by Stroked Out Cooking Team with 345.1088. This is the 12th of 14 editions of this contest on record; the 2026 edition was won by HotMess BBQ; the next is scheduled for May 14, 2027.
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.
650.16
median 680.50
703.94 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Master Series — Chicken 180 🔥
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 175.43
- Master Series — Pork 180 🔥
- Master Series — Brisket 178.86
- Backyard Series — Chicken 180 🔥
- Backyard Series — Pork Ribs 173.13
155.35
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2017 to 2026 — this edition picked out.
Entries
19
6 judged meats
Top score
703.9428
Winning margin
Tie
identical totals — KCBS tiebreaker
Field average
680.57
650.16703.94
median 680.50 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
3 🔥
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
1.1544 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
678.1716
650.16703.94
10th place overall
Field spread
53.7820
winner to last place
Prize money
$8,700
on the line
Double threats
6
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 19%
beats 81% of 4723 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
77%
36 of 47 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.66 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,592
avg power rating going in · stronger than 73% 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 new contest record
703.9428
highest overall ever cooked here
703.9428 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 702.2516 The Fat is Where It's At set in 2024.
- old record 702.2516
- set 2024 by The Fat is Where It's At
A day of perfect scores
3
perfect 180s
3 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- Leaning Jowler BBQ · Chicken
- Piggy & Swine BBQ · Chicken
- The Fat is Where It's At · Pork
A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 12 tracked editions
Chunky BBQ has won this contest 2 times across its 12 tracked editions.
- 2024
- 2025
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 20 calls decided inside half a point
Master Series — Chicken places 2–3: B'S QUE and HotMess BBQ tied on 178.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 6–7: BIG BOB'S SMOKIN QUE and Buckeye Blue Smoke BBQ tied on 175.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Pork Ribs places 6–7: PHILLY BLIND PIG BBQ and UP IN SMOKERS tied on 170.2744 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Master Series — Chicken 2–3 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 6–7 · tie
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 6–7 · tie
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 9–10 · tie
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
The Fat is Where It's At took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was chicken at 8th.
- Chicken 8th
- Pork Ribs 4th
- Pork 1st
- Brisket 2nd
Back to defend
2
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: The Fat is Where It's At (won 2024), HotMess BBQ (won 2026).
- The Fat is Where It's At · 2024
- HotMess BBQ · 2026
They keep coming back
77%
of last edition’s field returned
36 of 47 teams from 2026-05-15 came back
36 of the 47 teams that cooked the previous edition came back for this one — a contest people put on the calendar.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 19, 2017 | Morgantown, PA | Friendship Park North St | 53 | 690.8232 | DANTE'S INFERNO | PORKS & REC |
| May 18, 2018 | Morgantown, PA | 3287 North Street | 47 | 689.1428 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | MOON RIVER BARBEQUE |
| May 17, 2019 | Morgantown, PA | 3287 North Street | 44 | 693.7260 | Drilling and Grilling | PRIORVILLE BBQ |
| May 14, 2021 | Morgantown, PA | 3287 North Street | 46 | 688.5716 | Pig's Pajamas BBQ | Rogue Hog BBQ |
| May 13, 2022 | Morgantown, PA | 3287 North Street | 39 | 697.0512 | Uncle Pigs BBQ Pit | THE PIG'S PAJAMAS |
| May 19, 2023 | Morgantown, PA | 6180 Morgantown Rd | 37 | 699.9772 | Uncle Pig's Barbeque Pit | The Fat is Where It's At |
| May 17, 2024 | Morgantown, PA | 6180 Morgantown Rd | 37 | 692.5028 | Chunky BBQ | BOGGS HOG BBQ |
| May 18, 2024 | Morgantown, PA | 6180 Morgantown Rd | 26 | 702.2516 | The Fat is Where It's At | CHUNKY BBQ |
| May 16, 2025 | Morgantown, PA | 6180 Morgantown Rd | 28 | 701.0972 | Pig Candy Barbeque Co. | BEER TIME BBQ |
| May 17, 2025 | Morgantown, PA | 6180 Morgantown Rd | 21 | 695.9316 | Chunky BBQ | House of Que |
| May 15, 2026 | Morgantown, PA | 6180 Morgantown Rd | 25 | 693.0628 | HotMess BBQ | BEER TIME BBQ |
| May 16, 2026 ← this one | Morgantown, PA | 6180 Morgantown Rd | 17 | 703.9428 | The Fat is Where It's At | B'S QUE |
| May 14, 2027 | Morgantown, PA | — | — | — | — | — |
| May 15, 2027 | Morgantown, PA | — | — | — | — | — |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 180 | 176.5600 | 173.1200 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 175.4288 | 171.9656 | 169.1316 |
| Master Series — Pork | 180 | 174.2628 | 170.8228 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 178.8572 | 174.2628 | 169.6800 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 180 | 174.2744 | 170.2744 |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 173.1316 | 171.9772 | 167.4060 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
17 entries · top 703.9428 · median 680.5028
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Fat is Where It's At | |
| 2 | B'S QUE | |
| 3 | HotMess BBQ | |
| 4 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 5 | Buckeye Blue Smoke BBQ | |
| 6 | Ain't That Rich | |
| 7 | DIG'N N PIG'N | |
| 8 | Smokestack Redemption | |
| 9 | Piggy & Swine BBQ | |
| 10 | SUSQUEHANNA SMOKERS | |
| 11 | UP IN SMOKERS | |
| 12 | BIG BOB'S SMOKIN QUE | |
| 13 | Team BS BBQ | |
| 14 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 15 | PHILLY BLIND PIG BBQ | |
| 16 | 4 BOXERS Q | |
| 17 | PJ's Magic Smoke |
Chicken
17 entries · top 180 · median 173.1316 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Piggy & Swine BBQ | |
| 2 | B'S QUE | |
| 3 | HotMess BBQ | |
| 4 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 5 | DIG'N N PIG'N | |
| 6 | BIG BOB'S SMOKIN QUE | |
| 7 | Buckeye Blue Smoke BBQ | |
| 8 | The Fat is Where It's At | |
| 9 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 10 | Ain't That Rich | |
| 11 | Smokestack Redemption | |
| 12 | PHILLY BLIND PIG BBQ | |
| 13 | SUSQUEHANNA SMOKERS | |
| 14 | UP IN SMOKERS | |
| 15 | 4 BOXERS Q | |
| 16 | Team BS BBQ | |
| 17 | PJ's Magic Smoke |
Pork Ribs
17 entries · top 175.4288 · median 169.1316
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BIG BOB'S SMOKIN QUE | |
| 2 | B'S QUE | |
| 3 | Ain't That Rich | |
| 4 | The Fat is Where It's At | |
| 5 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 6 | PHILLY BLIND PIG BBQ | |
| 7 | UP IN SMOKERS | |
| 8 | HotMess BBQ | |
| 9 | DIG'N N PIG'N | |
| 10 | Team BS BBQ | |
| 11 | PJ's Magic Smoke | |
| 12 | Smokestack Redemption | |
| 13 | SUSQUEHANNA SMOKERS | |
| 14 | Buckeye Blue Smoke BBQ | |
| 15 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 16 | 4 BOXERS Q | |
| 17 | Piggy & Swine BBQ |
Pork
17 entries · top 180 · median 170.8344 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Fat is Where It's At | |
| 2 | HotMess BBQ | |
| 3 | Smokestack Redemption | |
| 4 | B'S QUE | |
| 5 | Buckeye Blue Smoke BBQ | |
| 6 | UP IN SMOKERS | |
| 7 | Team BS BBQ | |
| 8 | DIG'N N PIG'N | |
| 9 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 10 | SUSQUEHANNA SMOKERS | |
| 11 | Piggy & Swine BBQ | |
| 12 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 13 | BIG BOB'S SMOKIN QUE | |
| 14 | Ain't That Rich | |
| 15 | PJ's Magic Smoke | |
| 16 | PHILLY BLIND PIG BBQ | |
| 17 | 4 BOXERS Q |
Brisket
17 entries · top 178.8572 · median 169.7028
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HotMess BBQ | |
| 2 | The Fat is Where It's At | |
| 3 | Piggy & Swine BBQ | |
| 4 | Ain't That Rich | |
| 5 | B'S QUE | |
| 6 | SUSQUEHANNA SMOKERS | |
| 7 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 8 | Buckeye Blue Smoke BBQ | |
| 9 | Team BS BBQ | |
| 10 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 11 | 4 BOXERS Q | |
| 12 | PHILLY BLIND PIG BBQ | |
| 13 | DIG'N N PIG'N | |
| 14 | UP IN SMOKERS | |
| 15 | Smokestack Redemption | |
| 16 | BIG BOB'S SMOKIN QUE | |
| 17 | PJ's Magic Smoke |
Backyard Series
Overall
19 entries · top 345.1088 · median 335.9432
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stroked Out Cooking Team | |
| 2 | Leaning Jowler BBQ | |
| 3 | Castleton Q | |
| 4 | MRC_Barbecue | |
| 5 | Pinky Out BBQ | |
| 6 | FIRE & SHINE BBQ | |
| 7 | Backwooder BBQ | |
| 8 | Shaky Swine | |
| 9 | All About the Wood | |
| 10 | Capt. Blue BBQ | |
| 11 | Tame the Flame BBQ | |
| 12 | Brewski's BBQ Competition Team | |
| 13 | Clean Smoke BBQ Team | |
| 14 | Gizzard Check BBQ | |
| 15 | Yardogs BBQ | |
| 16 | COAL CRACKER BBQ | |
| 17 | Coulbourn Creek Q | |
| 18 | Santo Smokes | |
| 19 | Estancia |
Chicken
19 entries · top 180 · median 170.2744 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leaning Jowler BBQ | |
| 2 | FIRE & SHINE BBQ | |
| 3 | Capt. Blue BBQ | |
| 4 | Castleton Q | |
| 5 | Backwooder BBQ | |
| 6 | Stroked Out Cooking Team | |
| 7 | Brewski's BBQ Competition Team | |
| 8 | MRC_Barbecue | |
| 9 | Pinky Out BBQ | |
| 10 | Yardogs BBQ | |
| 11 | Shaky Swine | |
| 12 | Clean Smoke BBQ Team | |
| 13 | Gizzard Check BBQ | |
| 14 | All About the Wood | |
| 15 | Tame the Flame BBQ | |
| 16 | COAL CRACKER BBQ | |
| 17 | Santo Smokes | |
| 18 | Coulbourn Creek Q | |
| 19 | Estancia |
Pork Ribs
19 entries · top 173.1316 · median 167.4060
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tame the Flame BBQ | |
| 2 | All About the Wood | |
| 3 | Stroked Out Cooking Team | |
| 4 | MRC_Barbecue | |
| 5 | Shaky Swine | |
| 6 | Pinky Out BBQ | |
| 7 | COAL CRACKER BBQ | |
| 8 | Coulbourn Creek Q | |
| 9 | Estancia | |
| 10 | Backwooder BBQ | |
| 11 | Castleton Q | |
| 12 | Leaning Jowler BBQ | |
| 13 | Santo Smokes | |
| 14 | FIRE & SHINE BBQ | |
| 15 | Gizzard Check BBQ | |
| 16 | Brewski's BBQ Competition Team | |
| 17 | Clean Smoke BBQ Team | |
| 18 | Yardogs BBQ | |
| 19 | Capt. Blue BBQ |