The Golden State Battle
2019-01-25 – 2019-01-26 · Santa Ynez, CA · 📍 Cachuma Lake · State championship
Prize money: $10,000.00
Grand Champion: Lady of Q (693.5996) · 48 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 2LiveQ
Entries
48
4 judged meats · 3 ancillary
Top score
693.5996
Winning margin
1.0624
GC over RC
Field average
664.59
median 664.18
Tightest race
Chicken
2.3088 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
682.2972
10th place overall
Field spread
69.1080
winner to last place
Prize money
$10,000.00
on the line
Double threats
3
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 76%
beats 24% of 1951 Master Series wins in the data
Traveled in
10%
of the 48 teams with a home region came from outside CA
Form held
Weak
ρ = -0.24 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1501
avg power rating going in · stronger than 4% of contests
Storylines
🪒 A razor-thin finish
The Grand Championship was decided by 1.0624 points — closer than 84% of every championship in the data.
📸 Photo finishes
Chicken places 7–8: RIDGE ROUTE BOYS BBQ and SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ tied on 173.1428 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 9–10: LADY OF Q and NUTIN2IT BUT2QIT tied on 173.1084 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 5–6: Smokey and the Pirate and 2LiveQ tied on 173.1544 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
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 | 177.1544 | 174.8456 | 173.1084 |
| Pork Ribs | 177.7372 | 173.1544 | 172.0000 |
| Pork | 180.0000 | 176.5600 | 174.2628 |
| Brisket | 176.5600 | 172.5944 | 170.8112 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
48 entries · top 693.5996 · median 664.1770
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LADY OF Q | |
| 2 | 2LiveQ | |
| 3 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 4 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 5 | TOOT & STINKY'S CALI-Q | |
| 6 | RIDGE ROUTE BOYS BBQ | |
| 7 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 8 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 9 | NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q | |
| 10 | The BBQ Yard | |
| 11 | OLD TOWN FRANKLIN BBQ | |
| 12 | RAD FONDO BBQ | |
| 13 | ROYAL SMOKIN' HOT | |
| 14 | Smokey and the Pirate | |
| 15 | MUDVILLE BBQ | |
| 16 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 17 | PART TIME BBQ | |
| 18 | BAR-B-Q'S-2GO | |
| 19 | SMOKED SEDUCTION | |
| 20 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 21 | 7-8-9 BBQ | |
| 22 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 23 | JET COATINGS - MONKEY STYLE | |
| 24 | Team Woodshed | |
| 25 | NUTIN2IT BUT2QIT | |
| 26 | WEST COAST SMOKE | |
| 27 | Smokin' Degenerates | |
| 28 | TWISTED BRISKET BBQ | |
| 29 | Smokeshow | |
| 30 | CHOWTOWN SMOKERS CALI | |
| 31 | CHUBBY AND TUBBY'S | |
| 32 | PIRATES OF THE PIG | |
| 33 | SMOKIN IT UP BBQ | |
| 34 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 35 | THE RIB DOCTOR LLC | |
| 36 | ROOSTER'S DOUBLE BARREL SMOKERS AND LENEXA RATTLER | |
| 37 | WILD SIDE BBQ | |
| 38 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 39 | FU MAN QUE CREW | |
| 40 | BULL MARKET BBQ | |
| 41 | TROPICAL HEAT BBQ | |
| 42 | RBQ | |
| 43 | Jack9 BBQ-CA | |
| 44 | Smoke-In-Law BBQ | |
| 45 | Four King BBQ | |
| 46 | WHEN PIGS FLY | |
| 47 | MYA&DJ'S BBQ | |
| 48 | HOLY SMOKERS |
Chicken
48 entries · top 177.1544 · median 169.1200
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TWISTED BRISKET BBQ | |
| 2 | ROYAL SMOKIN' HOT | |
| 3 | NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q | |
| 4 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 5 | SMOKIN IT UP BBQ | |
| 6 | Smokin' Degenerates | |
| 7 | RIDGE ROUTE BOYS BBQ | |
| 8 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 9 | LADY OF Q | |
| 10 | NUTIN2IT BUT2QIT | |
| 11 | ROOSTER'S DOUBLE BARREL SMOKERS AND LENEXA RATTLER | |
| 12 | SMOKED SEDUCTION | |
| 13 | TOOT & STINKY'S CALI-Q | |
| 14 | The BBQ Yard | |
| 15 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 16 | BAR-B-Q'S-2GO | |
| 17 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 18 | 2LiveQ | |
| 19 | FU MAN QUE CREW | |
| 20 | MUDVILLE BBQ | |
| 21 | WILD SIDE BBQ | |
| 22 | CHOWTOWN SMOKERS CALI | |
| 23 | JET COATINGS - MONKEY STYLE | |
| 24 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 25 | Smokey and the Pirate | |
| 26 | Jack9 BBQ-CA | |
| 27 | CHUBBY AND TUBBY'S | |
| 28 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 29 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 30 | PART TIME BBQ | |
| 31 | PIRATES OF THE PIG | |
| 32 | THE RIB DOCTOR LLC | |
| 33 | RAD FONDO BBQ | |
| 34 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 35 | WEST COAST SMOKE | |
| 36 | Smokeshow | |
| 37 | WHEN PIGS FLY | |
| 38 | Four King BBQ | |
| 39 | HOLY SMOKERS | |
| 40 | Team Woodshed | |
| 41 | 7-8-9 BBQ | |
| 42 | OLD TOWN FRANKLIN BBQ | |
| 43 | BULL MARKET BBQ | |
| 44 | RBQ | |
| 45 | Smoke-In-Law BBQ | |
| 46 | MYA&DJ'S BBQ | |
| 47 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 48 | TROPICAL HEAT BBQ |
Pork Ribs
48 entries · top 177.7372 · median 166.2514
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 2 | OLD TOWN FRANKLIN BBQ | |
| 3 | NUTIN2IT BUT2QIT | |
| 4 | RIDGE ROUTE BOYS BBQ | |
| 5 | Smokey and the Pirate | |
| 6 | 2LiveQ | |
| 7 | LADY OF Q | |
| 8 | 7-8-9 BBQ | |
| 9 | MUDVILLE BBQ | |
| 10 | TOOT & STINKY'S CALI-Q | |
| 11 | BAR-B-Q'S-2GO | |
| 12 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 13 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 14 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 15 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 16 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 17 | RBQ | |
| 18 | Team Woodshed | |
| 19 | The BBQ Yard | |
| 20 | PART TIME BBQ | |
| 21 | PIRATES OF THE PIG | |
| 22 | CHUBBY AND TUBBY'S | |
| 23 | ROYAL SMOKIN' HOT | |
| 24 | RAD FONDO BBQ | |
| 25 | NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q | |
| 26 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 27 | CHOWTOWN SMOKERS CALI | |
| 28 | WEST COAST SMOKE | |
| 29 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 30 | BULL MARKET BBQ | |
| 31 | SMOKIN IT UP BBQ | |
| 32 | Smokeshow | |
| 33 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 34 | Smoke-In-Law BBQ | |
| 35 | Four King BBQ | |
| 36 | FU MAN QUE CREW | |
| 37 | JET COATINGS - MONKEY STYLE | |
| 38 | TWISTED BRISKET BBQ | |
| 39 | WILD SIDE BBQ | |
| 40 | WHEN PIGS FLY | |
| 41 | THE RIB DOCTOR LLC | |
| 42 | TROPICAL HEAT BBQ | |
| 43 | MYA&DJ'S BBQ | |
| 44 | Smokin' Degenerates | |
| 45 | SMOKED SEDUCTION | |
| 46 | ROOSTER'S DOUBLE BARREL SMOKERS AND LENEXA RATTLER | |
| 47 | Jack9 BBQ-CA | |
| 48 | HOLY SMOKERS |
Pork
48 entries · top 180.0000 · median 167.7028 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2LiveQ | |
| 2 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 3 | LADY OF Q | |
| 4 | RAD FONDO BBQ | |
| 5 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 6 | Smokey and the Pirate | |
| 7 | SMOKED SEDUCTION | |
| 8 | PART TIME BBQ | |
| 9 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 10 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 11 | MUDVILLE BBQ | |
| 12 | Team Woodshed | |
| 13 | 7-8-9 BBQ | |
| 14 | RIDGE ROUTE BOYS BBQ | |
| 15 | TOOT & STINKY'S CALI-Q | |
| 16 | WEST COAST SMOKE | |
| 17 | ROYAL SMOKIN' HOT | |
| 18 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 19 | BAR-B-Q'S-2GO | |
| 20 | CHOWTOWN SMOKERS CALI | |
| 21 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 22 | HOLY SMOKERS | |
| 23 | NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q | |
| 24 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 25 | The BBQ Yard | |
| 26 | OLD TOWN FRANKLIN BBQ | |
| 27 | ROOSTER'S DOUBLE BARREL SMOKERS AND LENEXA RATTLER | |
| 28 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 29 | JET COATINGS - MONKEY STYLE | |
| 30 | THE RIB DOCTOR LLC | |
| 31 | Smokin' Degenerates | |
| 32 | FU MAN QUE CREW | |
| 33 | Smoke-In-Law BBQ | |
| 34 | Smokeshow | |
| 35 | Four King BBQ | |
| 36 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 37 | TWISTED BRISKET BBQ | |
| 38 | NUTIN2IT BUT2QIT | |
| 39 | TROPICAL HEAT BBQ | |
| 40 | RBQ | |
| 41 | BULL MARKET BBQ | |
| 42 | WHEN PIGS FLY | |
| 43 | SMOKIN IT UP BBQ | |
| 44 | Jack9 BBQ-CA | |
| 45 | WILD SIDE BBQ | |
| 46 | MYA&DJ'S BBQ | |
| 47 | PIRATES OF THE PIG | |
| 48 | CHUBBY AND TUBBY'S |
Brisket
48 entries · top 176.5600 · median 163.6742
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | OLD TOWN FRANKLIN BBQ | |
| 2 | The BBQ Yard | |
| 3 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 4 | TOOT & STINKY'S CALI-Q | |
| 5 | NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q | |
| 6 | CHUBBY AND TUBBY'S | |
| 7 | TROPICAL HEAT BBQ | |
| 8 | PIRATES OF THE PIG | |
| 9 | RAD FONDO BBQ | |
| 10 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 11 | SMOKED SEDUCTION | |
| 12 | Jack9 BBQ-CA | |
| 13 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 14 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 15 | LADY OF Q | |
| 16 | RIDGE ROUTE BOYS BBQ | |
| 17 | 2LiveQ | |
| 18 | JET COATINGS - MONKEY STYLE | |
| 19 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 20 | Smokin' Degenerates | |
| 21 | ROYAL SMOKIN' HOT | |
| 22 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 23 | PART TIME BBQ | |
| 24 | Smokeshow | |
| 25 | THE RIB DOCTOR LLC | |
| 26 | WILD SIDE BBQ | |
| 27 | MUDVILLE BBQ | |
| 28 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 29 | 7-8-9 BBQ | |
| 30 | BULL MARKET BBQ | |
| 31 | MYA&DJ'S BBQ | |
| 32 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 33 | SMOKIN IT UP BBQ | |
| 34 | WEST COAST SMOKE | |
| 35 | Smokey and the Pirate | |
| 36 | BAR-B-Q'S-2GO | |
| 37 | ROOSTER'S DOUBLE BARREL SMOKERS AND LENEXA RATTLER | |
| 38 | TWISTED BRISKET BBQ | |
| 39 | Team Woodshed | |
| 40 | NUTIN2IT BUT2QIT | |
| 41 | RBQ | |
| 42 | HOLY SMOKERS | |
| 43 | Smoke-In-Law BBQ | |
| 44 | CHOWTOWN SMOKERS CALI | |
| 45 | WHEN PIGS FLY | |
| 46 | FU MAN QUE CREW | |
| 47 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 48 | Four King 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 — Dessert
11 entries · top 180.0000 · median 174.2628 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 2 | SMOKED SEDUCTION | |
| 3 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 4 | TOOT & STINKY'S CALI-Q | |
| 5 | Smoke-In-Law BBQ | |
| 6 | 2LiveQ | |
| 7 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 8 | WHEN PIGS FLY | |
| 9 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 10 | TROPICAL HEAT BBQ | |
| 11 | PART TIME BBQ |