A razor-thin finish
0.0796
points between champion and reserve
Closer than 95% of the 4,710 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 0.0796 points — closer than 95% of every championship in the data.
- D.F.G.'S BBQ
- ONE2BBQ
Grill Games 2018
Aug 24–25, 2018 · Kenosha, WI · 📍 Lake Front 1st Ave& 56th st
D.F.G.'S BBQ won Grand Champion at the Grill Games on August 24, 2018 in Kenosha, WI at Lake Front 1st Ave& 56th st, scoring 686.3084 in a field of 42 teams. ONE2BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 686.2288. Category winners: Chicken — BURNIN BENJAMINS (176.5600); Pork Ribs — T-BAUM BBQ (173.1428); Pork — D.F.G.'S BBQ (177.7372); Brisket — BIG "E" BBQ (180.0000). This is the 6th of 6 editions of this contest on record; the 2017 edition was won by CHANNABILLY 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.
573.01
median 653.63
686.31 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 176.56
- Pork Ribs 173.14
- Pork 177.74
- Brisket 180 🔥
125.06
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2018 — this edition picked out.
Entries
42
4 judged meats · 2 ancillary
Top score
686.3084
Winning margin
0.0796
GC over RC
Field average
646.16
573.01686.31
median 653.63 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Chicken
2.2628 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
674.2168
573.01686.31
10th place overall
Field spread
113.3028
winner to last place
Double threats
7
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 79%
beats 21% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
56%
22 of 39 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.79 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,562
avg power rating going in · stronger than 48% of contests
Storylines (9 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
12-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 88 times in 100
D.F.G.'S BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, One2BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 12-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1570
- top seed 1920
A first Grand Championship
28
tracked contests to get there
This was D.F.G.'S BBQ's first Grand Championship in the data — it arrived at their 28th tracked contest.
A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 6 tracked editions
THE SMOKE HUNTERS has won this contest 2 times across its 6 tracked editions.
- 2013
- 2016
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 10 calls decided inside half a point
Pork Ribs places 7–8: iBQ'n and Steamboat BBQ tied on 168.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 2–3: BIG "E" BBQ and THE BBQ BUS tied on 174.2744 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Brisket places 3–4: TOPPGATOR BBQ and THE SMOKIN' C'S BBQ tied on 172.5828 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Pork Ribs 7–8 · tie
- Pork 2–3 · tie
- Brisket 3–4 · tie
- Brisket 8–9 · tie
How the title was won
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
D.F.G.'S BBQ took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was brisket at 17th.
- Chicken 3rd
- Pork Ribs 5th
- Pork 1st
- Brisket 17th
A contest record in brisket
180.0000
best brisket ever cooked here
BIG "E" BBQ turned in 180.0000 in brisket — past the 178.8572 that had stood across 5 earlier editions.
- old best 178.8572
- across 5 past editions
Back to defend
2
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: THE SMOKE HUNTERS (won 2013, 2016), CHANNABILLY BBQ (won 2017).
- THE SMOKE HUNTERS · 2013, 2016
- CHANNABILLY BBQ · 2017
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.
- BIG "E" 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 23, 2013 | Kenosha, WI | Kenosha, WI | 43 | 685.7488 | THE SMOKE HUNTERS | DUCE'S WILD |
| Aug 22, 2014 | Kenosha, WI | Kenosha, WI 53140 | 47 | 694.3200 | YELLOW RIVER BBQ | HILL-BILLY BBQ |
| Aug 28, 2015 | Kenosha, WI | Kenosha, WI 53140 | 49 | 686.2516 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | MUD'S BBQ |
| Aug 26, 2016 | Kenosha, WI | Larkefront, 1st Ave and 56th st | 37 | 692.5256 | THE SMOKE HUNTERS | ONE2BBQ |
| Aug 25, 2017 | Kenosha, WI | Lake Front 1st Ave& 56th st | 39 | 671.3256 | CHANNABILLY BBQ | DUCE'S WILD |
| Aug 24, 2018 ← this one | Kenosha, WI | Lake Front 1st Ave& 56th st | 42 | 686.3084 | D.F.G.'S BBQ | ONE2BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 176.5600 | 174.2972 | 170.8456 |
| Pork Ribs | 173.1428 | 170.8456 | 167.4172 |
| Pork | 177.7372 | 170.8456 | 167.9772 |
| Brisket | 180 | 170.8572 | 168.5600 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
42 entries · top 686.3084 · median 653.6344
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | D.F.G.'S BBQ | |
| 2 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 3 | THE SMOKE HUNTERS | |
| 4 | BIG "E" BBQ | |
| 5 | BILLY RAY BBQ | |
| 6 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 7 | TOPPGATOR BBQ | |
| 8 | THE SMOKIN' C'S BBQ | |
| 9 | T-BAUM BBQ | |
| 10 | CAPTAIN RON'S BREW-N-QUE | |
| 11 | THE REAL SMOKIN ACES | |
| 12 | iBQ'n | |
| 13 | BLUE ISLAND BBQ CO. | |
| 14 | Steamboat BBQ | |
| 15 | EF-Q | |
| 16 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 17 | HATFIELD AND MCCOY BARBECUE | |
| 18 | BURNIN BENJAMINS | |
| 19 | DUCE'S WILD | |
| 20 | QUE U | |
| 21 | CHANNABILLY BBQ | |
| 22 | MONSTERS OF THE RIBWAY | |
| 23 | HOLY SMOQUE BBQ | |
| 24 | KAVE DWELLERS | |
| 25 | HAZY BLUE BBQ | |
| 26 | ROLL THE BONES BBQ | |
| 27 | Smokey Woods | |
| 28 | CHOCOLATE CITY BBQ | |
| 29 | DU-LITTLE BBQ | |
| 30 | SMOKE 2 PULL | |
| 31 | BURNITA BAR-B-QUE | |
| 32 | Moose's BBQ | |
| 33 | TWO BREWS BBQ | |
| 34 | CARNIVORE'S PARADISE | |
| 35 | JD's Taste of Texas | |
| 36 | DISRUPTIVE Q | |
| 37 | Q-N WITH ATTITUDE | |
| 38 | 2 SKINNY COOKS | |
| 39 | SMOKIN ON THE WEEKENDS | |
| 40 | THE GOOD OLD BASTER BOYS | |
| 41 | JURASSIC PORK BBQ TEAM | |
| 42 | BUFFALO JAY'S "YEAH BUDDY" BBQ |
Chicken
42 entries · top 176.5600 · median 165.9600
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BURNIN BENJAMINS | |
| 2 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 3 | D.F.G.'S BBQ | |
| 4 | T-BAUM BBQ | |
| 5 | TOPPGATOR BBQ | |
| 6 | THE SMOKE HUNTERS | |
| 7 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 8 | BILLY RAY BBQ | |
| 9 | CAPTAIN RON'S BREW-N-QUE | |
| 10 | CHANNABILLY BBQ | |
| 11 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 12 | QUE U | |
| 13 | DU-LITTLE BBQ | |
| 14 | THE SMOKIN' C'S BBQ | |
| 15 | Smokey Woods | |
| 16 | BLUE ISLAND BBQ CO. | |
| 17 | HOLY SMOQUE BBQ | |
| 18 | HATFIELD AND MCCOY BARBECUE | |
| 19 | SMOKE 2 PULL | |
| 20 | MONSTERS OF THE RIBWAY | |
| 21 | iBQ'n | |
| 22 | Steamboat BBQ | |
| 23 | CHOCOLATE CITY BBQ | |
| 24 | HAZY BLUE BBQ | |
| 25 | ROLL THE BONES BBQ | |
| 26 | Moose's BBQ | |
| 27 | DISRUPTIVE Q | |
| 28 | BIG "E" BBQ | |
| 29 | THE REAL SMOKIN ACES | |
| 30 | JURASSIC PORK BBQ TEAM | |
| 31 | JD's Taste of Texas | |
| 32 | DUCE'S WILD | |
| 33 | BURNITA BAR-B-QUE | |
| 34 | EF-Q | |
| 35 | 2 SKINNY COOKS | |
| 36 | SMOKIN ON THE WEEKENDS | |
| 37 | KAVE DWELLERS | |
| 38 | TWO BREWS BBQ | |
| 39 | CARNIVORE'S PARADISE | |
| 40 | Q-N WITH ATTITUDE | |
| 41 | THE GOOD OLD BASTER BOYS | |
| 42 | BUFFALO JAY'S "YEAH BUDDY" BBQ |
Pork Ribs
42 entries · top 173.1428 · median 162.2686
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | T-BAUM BBQ | |
| 2 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 3 | EF-Q | |
| 4 | THE SMOKE HUNTERS | |
| 5 | D.F.G.'S BBQ | |
| 6 | CAPTAIN RON'S BREW-N-QUE | |
| 7 | iBQ'n | |
| 8 | Steamboat BBQ | |
| 9 | THE SMOKIN' C'S BBQ | |
| 10 | HATFIELD AND MCCOY BARBECUE | |
| 11 | SMOKE 2 PULL | |
| 12 | TOPPGATOR BBQ | |
| 13 | THE REAL SMOKIN ACES | |
| 14 | BIG "E" BBQ | |
| 15 | BILLY RAY BBQ | |
| 16 | BLUE ISLAND BBQ CO. | |
| 17 | ROLL THE BONES BBQ | |
| 18 | MONSTERS OF THE RIBWAY | |
| 19 | KAVE DWELLERS | |
| 20 | HAZY BLUE BBQ | |
| 21 | QUE U | |
| 22 | TWO BREWS BBQ | |
| 23 | CHANNABILLY BBQ | |
| 24 | Smokey Woods | |
| 25 | HOLY SMOQUE BBQ | |
| 26 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 27 | DUCE'S WILD | |
| 28 | BURNIN BENJAMINS | |
| 29 | Moose's BBQ | |
| 30 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 31 | DISRUPTIVE Q | |
| 32 | BURNITA BAR-B-QUE | |
| 33 | DU-LITTLE BBQ | |
| 34 | JD's Taste of Texas | |
| 35 | CHOCOLATE CITY BBQ | |
| 36 | CARNIVORE'S PARADISE | |
| 37 | 2 SKINNY COOKS | |
| 38 | BUFFALO JAY'S "YEAH BUDDY" BBQ | |
| 39 | THE GOOD OLD BASTER BOYS | |
| 40 | Q-N WITH ATTITUDE | |
| 41 | JURASSIC PORK BBQ TEAM | |
| 42 | SMOKIN ON THE WEEKENDS |
Pork
42 entries · top 177.7372 · median 162.2400
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | D.F.G.'S BBQ | |
| 2 | BIG "E" BBQ | |
| 3 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 4 | EF-Q | |
| 5 | CAPTAIN RON'S BREW-N-QUE | |
| 6 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 7 | BILLY RAY BBQ | |
| 8 | T-BAUM BBQ | |
| 9 | MONSTERS OF THE RIBWAY | |
| 10 | Steamboat BBQ | |
| 11 | DUCE'S WILD | |
| 12 | THE REAL SMOKIN ACES | |
| 13 | BLUE ISLAND BBQ CO. | |
| 14 | THE SMOKE HUNTERS | |
| 15 | THE SMOKIN' C'S BBQ | |
| 16 | iBQ'n | |
| 17 | CARNIVORE'S PARADISE | |
| 18 | CHANNABILLY BBQ | |
| 19 | TOPPGATOR BBQ | |
| 20 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 21 | HATFIELD AND MCCOY BARBECUE | |
| 22 | KAVE DWELLERS | |
| 23 | CHOCOLATE CITY BBQ | |
| 24 | HOLY SMOQUE BBQ | |
| 25 | HAZY BLUE BBQ | |
| 26 | ROLL THE BONES BBQ | |
| 27 | Smokey Woods | |
| 28 | TWO BREWS BBQ | |
| 29 | BURNITA BAR-B-QUE | |
| 30 | DISRUPTIVE Q | |
| 31 | QUE U | |
| 32 | JD's Taste of Texas | |
| 33 | DU-LITTLE BBQ | |
| 34 | BURNIN BENJAMINS | |
| 35 | Moose's BBQ | |
| 36 | Q-N WITH ATTITUDE | |
| 37 | SMOKIN ON THE WEEKENDS | |
| 38 | JURASSIC PORK BBQ TEAM | |
| 39 | 2 SKINNY COOKS | |
| 40 | SMOKE 2 PULL | |
| 41 | THE GOOD OLD BASTER BOYS | |
| 42 | BUFFALO JAY'S "YEAH BUDDY" BBQ |
Brisket
42 entries · top 180 · median 160.5256 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BIG "E" BBQ | |
| 2 | THE REAL SMOKIN ACES | |
| 3 | TOPPGATOR BBQ | |
| 4 | THE SMOKIN' C'S BBQ | |
| 5 | THE SMOKE HUNTERS | |
| 6 | BILLY RAY BBQ | |
| 7 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 8 | iBQ'n | |
| 9 | KAVE DWELLERS | |
| 10 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 11 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 12 | QUE U | |
| 13 | DUCE'S WILD | |
| 14 | CHOCOLATE CITY BBQ | |
| 15 | BLUE ISLAND BBQ CO. | |
| 16 | BURNIN BENJAMINS | |
| 17 | D.F.G.'S BBQ | |
| 18 | HOLY SMOQUE BBQ | |
| 19 | Steamboat BBQ | |
| 20 | EF-Q | |
| 21 | HAZY BLUE BBQ | |
| 22 | CAPTAIN RON'S BREW-N-QUE | |
| 23 | HATFIELD AND MCCOY BARBECUE | |
| 24 | T-BAUM BBQ | |
| 25 | ROLL THE BONES BBQ | |
| 26 | DU-LITTLE BBQ | |
| 27 | CHANNABILLY BBQ | |
| 28 | Smokey Woods | |
| 29 | BURNITA BAR-B-QUE | |
| 30 | Q-N WITH ATTITUDE | |
| 31 | MONSTERS OF THE RIBWAY | |
| 32 | THE GOOD OLD BASTER BOYS | |
| 33 | CARNIVORE'S PARADISE | |
| 34 | BUFFALO JAY'S "YEAH BUDDY" BBQ | |
| 35 | SMOKE 2 PULL | |
| 36 | TWO BREWS BBQ | |
| 37 | Moose's BBQ | |
| 38 | SMOKIN ON THE WEEKENDS | |
| 39 | JD's Taste of Texas | |
| 40 | 2 SKINNY COOKS | |
| 41 | DISRUPTIVE Q | |
| 42 | JURASSIC PORK BBQ TEAM |
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
12 entries · top 174.8456 · median 168.0344
Master Series — Dessert
11 entries · top 166.8800 · median 153.1200
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BIG "E" BBQ | |
| 2 | CAPTAIN RON'S BREW-N-QUE | |
| 3 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 4 | HAZY BLUE BBQ | |
| 5 | ROLL THE BONES BBQ | |
| 6 | CHOCOLATE CITY BBQ | |
| 7 | DU-LITTLE BBQ | |
| 8 | SMOKIN ON THE WEEKENDS | |
| 9 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 10 | 2 SKINNY COOKS | |
| 11 | DUCE'S WILD |