A new contest record
691.3368
highest overall ever cooked here
691.3368 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 671.9656 SMOKIN MO'S BBQ set in 2017.
- old record 671.9656
- set 2017 by SMOKIN MO'S BBQ
Gilroy Garli-Que Challenge 2018
Jul 28–29, 2018 · Gilroy, CA · 📍 7050 Miller Av
SON OF SMOKE won Grand Champion at the Gilroy Garli-Que Challenge on July 28, 2018 in Gilroy, CA at 7050 Miller Av, scoring 691.3368 in a field of 34 teams. BIG POPPA SMOKERS took Reserve Grand Champion with 686.2748. Category winners: Chicken — SON OF SMOKE (176.0000); Pork Ribs — SON OF SMOKE (175.4056); Pork — Sharpe's Woodshed (177.7028); Brisket — BAR-B-CUDA BBQ (178.2972). This is the 2nd of 2 editions of this contest on record; the 2017 edition was won by SMOKIN MO'S BBQ.
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.
567.91
median 660.23
691.34 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 176
- Pork Ribs 175.41
- Pork 177.70
- Brisket 178.30
128.50
178.30
Entries
34
4 judged meats · 1 ancillary
Top score
691.3368
Winning margin
5.0620
GC over RC
Field average
653.85
567.91691.34
median 660.23 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
3.9656 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
670.7996
567.91691.34
10th place overall
Field spread
123.4280
winner to last place
Double threats
3
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 68%
beats 32% of 4714 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
42%
11 of 26 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.69 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,575
avg power rating going in · stronger than 60% 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
25-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 75 times in 100
SON OF SMOKE came in rated below the field's top team, BIG POPPA SMOKERS, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 25-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1776
- top seed 1968
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 9 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 5–6: NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q and Los Mexi-Q"-tioners tied on 170.8456 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 9–10: CHUBBY AND TUBBY'S edged BLUE EYED BBQ by 0.0112. Brisket places 4–5: Sharpe's Woodshed edged RIDGE ROUTE BOYS BBQ by 0.0116.
- Chicken 5–6 · tie
- Pork 9–10 · 0.0112
- Brisket 4–5 · 0.0116
- Chicken 9–10 · 0.0116
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
SON OF SMOKE won Chicken, Pork Ribs — a double, and took the Grand Championship on top of it.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork Ribs 1st
How the title was won
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
SON OF SMOKE took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 2 outright wins — their weakest board was brisket at 13th.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 4th
- Brisket 13th
A contest record in pork
177.7028
best pork ever cooked here
Sharpe's Woodshed turned in 177.7028 in pork — past the 173.2000 that had stood across 1 earlier editions.
- old best 173.2000
- across 1 past editions
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 28, 2017 | Gilroy, CA | 7050 Miller Av | 26 | 671.9656 | SMOKIN MO'S BBQ | BIG POPPA SMOKERS |
| Jul 28, 2018 ← this one | Gilroy, CA | 7050 Miller Av | 34 | 691.3368 | SON OF SMOKE | BIG POPPA SMOKERS |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 176 | 170.8456 | 169.6684 |
| Pork Ribs | 175.4056 | 171.4400 | 169.1316 |
| Pork | 177.7028 | 173.7028 | 171.4172 |
| Brisket | 178.2972 | 170.2512 | 165.7028 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
34 entries · top 691.3368 · median 660.2288
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SON OF SMOKE | |
| 2 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 3 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 4 | RIDGE ROUTE BOYS BBQ | |
| 5 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 6 | BAR-B-Q'S-2GO | |
| 7 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 8 | FU MAN QUE CREW | |
| 9 | RBQ | |
| 10 | BAR-B-CUDA BBQ | |
| 11 | JIMMY'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 12 | TEAM WOODSHED | |
| 13 | GRILLIN' THE SHED | |
| 14 | BULL MARKET BBQ | |
| 15 | ROYAL SMOKIN' HOT | |
| 16 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 17 | Casanova Barbecue Company | |
| 18 | Los Mexi-Q"-tioners | |
| 19 | NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q | |
| 20 | NUTIN2IT BUT2QIT | |
| 21 | Ric & Rub's Righteous Ribs | |
| 22 | CHUBBY AND TUBBY'S | |
| 23 | PETE'S MEAT BBQ | |
| 24 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 25 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 26 | Pops BBQ 22 | |
| 27 | HELLO BBQ | |
| 28 | lord of the ribs bbq | |
| 29 | ROCKIN' BAR-B SMOKERS | |
| 30 | SMOKIN' AXE BBQ | |
| 31 | PorkDeploy | |
| 32 | Rib Shots BBQ | |
| 33 | My Brothers Ribs | |
| 34 | CaddyShack BBQ |
Chicken
34 entries · top 176 · median 166.5600
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SON OF SMOKE | |
| 2 | RIDGE ROUTE BOYS BBQ | |
| 3 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 4 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 5 | NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q | |
| 6 | Los Mexi-Q"-tioners | |
| 7 | RBQ | |
| 8 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 9 | BAR-B-Q'S-2GO | |
| 10 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 11 | BAR-B-CUDA BBQ | |
| 12 | FU MAN QUE CREW | |
| 13 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 14 | JIMMY'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 15 | Pops BBQ 22 | |
| 16 | TEAM WOODSHED | |
| 17 | CHUBBY AND TUBBY'S | |
| 18 | NUTIN2IT BUT2QIT | |
| 19 | BULL MARKET BBQ | |
| 20 | GRILLIN' THE SHED | |
| 21 | Rib Shots BBQ | |
| 22 | Casanova Barbecue Company | |
| 23 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 24 | ROYAL SMOKIN' HOT | |
| 25 | lord of the ribs bbq | |
| 26 | HELLO BBQ | |
| 27 | Ric & Rub's Righteous Ribs | |
| 28 | PETE'S MEAT BBQ | |
| 29 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 30 | PorkDeploy | |
| 31 | SMOKIN' AXE BBQ | |
| 32 | My Brothers Ribs | |
| 33 | ROCKIN' BAR-B SMOKERS | |
| 34 | CaddyShack BBQ |
Pork Ribs
34 entries · top 175.4056 · median 165.1486
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SON OF SMOKE | |
| 2 | Los Mexi-Q"-tioners | |
| 3 | ROYAL SMOKIN' HOT | |
| 4 | CHUBBY AND TUBBY'S | |
| 5 | JIMMY'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 6 | FU MAN QUE CREW | |
| 7 | Ric & Rub's Righteous Ribs | |
| 8 | GRILLIN' THE SHED | |
| 9 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 10 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 11 | RIDGE ROUTE BOYS BBQ | |
| 12 | BAR-B-Q'S-2GO | |
| 13 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 14 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 15 | lord of the ribs bbq | |
| 16 | Casanova Barbecue Company | |
| 17 | BULL MARKET BBQ | |
| 18 | NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q | |
| 19 | ROCKIN' BAR-B SMOKERS | |
| 20 | NUTIN2IT BUT2QIT | |
| 21 | TEAM WOODSHED | |
| 22 | RBQ | |
| 23 | PorkDeploy | |
| 24 | HELLO BBQ | |
| 25 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 26 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 27 | PETE'S MEAT BBQ | |
| 28 | Pops BBQ 22 | |
| 29 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 30 | BAR-B-CUDA BBQ | |
| 31 | Rib Shots BBQ | |
| 32 | SMOKIN' AXE BBQ | |
| 33 | My Brothers Ribs | |
| 34 | CaddyShack BBQ |
Pork
34 entries · top 177.7028 · median 168
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 2 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 3 | TEAM WOODSHED | |
| 4 | SON OF SMOKE | |
| 5 | Casanova Barbecue Company | |
| 6 | BULL MARKET BBQ | |
| 7 | RIDGE ROUTE BOYS BBQ | |
| 8 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 9 | CHUBBY AND TUBBY'S | |
| 10 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 11 | RBQ | |
| 12 | NUTIN2IT BUT2QIT | |
| 13 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 14 | GRILLIN' THE SHED | |
| 15 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 16 | ROYAL SMOKIN' HOT | |
| 17 | lord of the ribs bbq | |
| 18 | NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q | |
| 19 | BAR-B-Q'S-2GO | |
| 20 | PETE'S MEAT BBQ | |
| 21 | JIMMY'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 22 | BAR-B-CUDA BBQ | |
| 23 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 24 | FU MAN QUE CREW | |
| 25 | HELLO BBQ | |
| 26 | Ric & Rub's Righteous Ribs | |
| 27 | Rib Shots BBQ | |
| 28 | SMOKIN' AXE BBQ | |
| 29 | Pops BBQ 22 | |
| 30 | Los Mexi-Q"-tioners | |
| 31 | PorkDeploy | |
| 32 | ROCKIN' BAR-B SMOKERS | |
| 33 | CaddyShack BBQ | |
| 34 | My Brothers Ribs |
Brisket
34 entries · top 178.2972 · median 163.1028
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BAR-B-CUDA BBQ | |
| 2 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 3 | BAR-B-Q'S-2GO | |
| 4 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 5 | RIDGE ROUTE BOYS BBQ | |
| 6 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 7 | PETE'S MEAT BBQ | |
| 8 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 9 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 10 | FU MAN QUE CREW | |
| 11 | BULL MARKET BBQ | |
| 12 | RBQ | |
| 13 | SON OF SMOKE | |
| 14 | GRILLIN' THE SHED | |
| 15 | JIMMY'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 16 | SMOKIN' AXE BBQ | |
| 17 | ROCKIN' BAR-B SMOKERS | |
| 18 | Ric & Rub's Righteous Ribs | |
| 19 | ROYAL SMOKIN' HOT | |
| 20 | Los Mexi-Q"-tioners | |
| 21 | TEAM WOODSHED | |
| 22 | Casanova Barbecue Company | |
| 23 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 24 | Pops BBQ 22 | |
| 25 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 26 | CaddyShack BBQ | |
| 27 | NUTIN2IT BUT2QIT | |
| 28 | NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q | |
| 29 | HELLO BBQ | |
| 30 | My Brothers Ribs | |
| 31 | PorkDeploy | |
| 32 | CHUBBY AND TUBBY'S | |
| 33 | lord of the ribs bbq | |
| 34 | Rib Shots 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.
Master Series — Anything Goes With Garlic
16 entries · top 178.8572 · median 172.5486
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SON OF SMOKE | |
| 2 | CHUBBY AND TUBBY'S | |
| 3 | BAR-B-CUDA BBQ | |
| 4 | Los Mexi-Q"-tioners | |
| 5 | ROYAL SMOKIN' HOT | |
| 6 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 7 | CaddyShack BBQ | |
| 8 | Ric & Rub's Righteous Ribs | |
| 9 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 10 | PorkDeploy | |
| 11 | Pops BBQ 22 | |
| 12 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 13 | PETE'S MEAT BBQ | |
| 14 | RBQ | |
| 15 | ROCKIN' BAR-B SMOKERS | |
| 16 | HELLO BBQ |