A razor-thin finish
0.5712
points between champion and reserve
Closer than 91% of the 4,710 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 0.5712 points — closer than 91% of every championship in the data.
- SLAPS BBQ
- HIGH i QUE
Nevada Chamber Low and Slow Barbecue cook off 2020
Aug 28–29, 2020 · Nevada, MO · State championship
Reps: Bunny Tuttle, Rich Tuttle · Prize money: $4,220
SLAPS BBQ won Grand Champion at the Nevada Chamber Low and Slow Barbecue cook off on August 28, 2020 in Nevada, MO, scoring 701.6800 in a field of 37 teams. HIGH i QUE took Reserve Grand Champion with 701.1088. Category winners: Chicken — 4 LEGS UP BBQ (180.0000); Pork Ribs — HIGH i QUE (178.8572); Pork — KEEP CALM & SAUCE ON (179.4400); Brisket — T-N-T QUE CREW (180.0000). This is the 1st of 2 editions of this contest on record; the next was held in 2022.
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.
633.09
median 682.78
701.68 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 180 🔥
- Pork Ribs 178.86
- Pork 179.44
- Brisket 180 🔥
150.86
180
Entries
37
4 judged meats
Top score
701.6800
Winning margin
0.5712
GC over RC
Field average
680.16
633.09701.68
median 682.78 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Chicken
2.2972 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
691.3372
633.09701.68
10th place overall
Field spread
68.5940
winner to last place
Prize money
$4,220
on the line
Double threats
3
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 26%
beats 74% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.68 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,676
avg power rating going in · stronger than 98% 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.
Won without a category win
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
SLAPS BBQ won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 3 calls from 4 boards, best of them 3rd. Consistency beat fireworks.
- Chicken 3rd
- Pork Ribs 6th
- Pork 11th
- Brisket 10th
A knife fight at the top
4.5944
points across the top five
First to fifth in the overall standings covered just 4.5944 points — 2 teams sat within a single point of the lead.
- 1st SLAPS BBQ
- 2nd HIGH i QUE
- 3rd Heavy Smoke BBQ
- 4th GETTIN' BASTED
- 5th 4 LEGS UP BBQ
A stacked field
1676
average power rating going in
Stronger than 98% of every rated contest
The field averaged a 1676 power rating going in — stronger than 98% of every contest tracked.
- top seed BOOMERANG BBQ (1969)
- 37 rated teams
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 12 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 8–9: RIO VALLEY MEAT BBQ and UNCLE J'S tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 5–6: AMERICAN FIRE BBQ and SLAPS BBQ tied on 175.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 5–6: TEXAS OIL DUST and RIO VALLEY MEAT BBQ tied on 175.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 8–9 · tie
- Pork Ribs 5–6 · tie
- Pork 5–6 · tie
- Pork 6–7 · tie
A perfect score on the table
2
perfect 180s
2 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- T-N-T QUE CREW · Brisket
- 4 LEGS UP BBQ · Chicken
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 28, 2020 ← this one | Nevada, MO | Nevada, MO 64772 | 37 | 701.6800 | SLAPS BBQ | HIGH i QUE |
| Aug 27, 2022 | Nevada, MO | — | — | — | — | — |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180 | 177.7028 | 175.4288 |
| Pork Ribs | 178.8572 | 175.4172 | 173.1428 |
| Pork | 179.4400 | 175.4172 | 174.2628 |
| Brisket | 180 | 174.8572 | 173.7028 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
37 entries · top 701.6800 · median 682.7772
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 2 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 3 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 4 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 5 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 6 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 7 | KEEP CALM & SAUCE ON | |
| 8 | Land Locked BBQ | |
| 9 | RIO VALLEY MEAT BBQ | |
| 10 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY O.G | |
| 11 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 12 | DOUBLE BARREL BBQ - OK | |
| 13 | T-N-T QUE CREW | |
| 14 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 15 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 16 | BOOMERANG BBQ | |
| 17 | BUILDERS BBQ | |
| 18 | TEXAS OIL DUST | |
| 19 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | |
| 20 | WABASH BBQ | |
| 21 | CHICKEN FRIED BBQ | |
| 22 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 23 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 24 | CAVEMAN CUISINE | |
| 25 | UNCLE J'S | |
| 26 | SMOKE RINGERS | |
| 27 | The Boys in Que | |
| 28 | Hog Diesel BBQ | |
| 29 | BOXER Q BBQ | |
| 30 | FULL THROTTLE BBQ | |
| 31 | BONES BRIGADE KC | |
| 32 | TAILGATE GUYS BBQ | |
| 33 | REDMULE'S BBQ | |
| 34 | HOGZILLA | |
| 35 | Go Pig or Go Home | |
| 36 | KC MEAT SWEATS | |
| 37 | FLAMIN' M&M |
Chicken
37 entries · top 180 · median 171.4172 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 2 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 3 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 4 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 5 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 6 | KEEP CALM & SAUCE ON | |
| 7 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 8 | RIO VALLEY MEAT BBQ | |
| 9 | UNCLE J'S | |
| 10 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 11 | CAVEMAN CUISINE | |
| 12 | BUILDERS BBQ | |
| 13 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | |
| 14 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 15 | TEXAS OIL DUST | |
| 16 | Hog Diesel BBQ | |
| 17 | BOOMERANG BBQ | |
| 18 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY O.G | |
| 19 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 20 | FULL THROTTLE BBQ | |
| 21 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 22 | Land Locked BBQ | |
| 23 | SMOKE RINGERS | |
| 24 | WABASH BBQ | |
| 25 | DOUBLE BARREL BBQ - OK | |
| 26 | CHICKEN FRIED BBQ | |
| 27 | The Boys in Que | |
| 28 | FLAMIN' M&M | |
| 29 | Go Pig or Go Home | |
| 30 | BONES BRIGADE KC | |
| 31 | HOGZILLA | |
| 32 | BOXER Q BBQ | |
| 33 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 34 | TAILGATE GUYS BBQ | |
| 35 | T-N-T QUE CREW | |
| 36 | REDMULE'S BBQ | |
| 37 | KC MEAT SWEATS |
Pork Ribs
37 entries · top 178.8572 · median 170.2744
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 2 | SMOKE RINGERS | |
| 3 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 4 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 5 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 6 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 7 | Land Locked BBQ | |
| 8 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 9 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 10 | CHICKEN FRIED BBQ | |
| 11 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY O.G | |
| 12 | HOGZILLA | |
| 13 | BOOMERANG BBQ | |
| 14 | T-N-T QUE CREW | |
| 15 | CAVEMAN CUISINE | |
| 16 | DOUBLE BARREL BBQ - OK | |
| 17 | BUILDERS BBQ | |
| 18 | The Boys in Que | |
| 19 | REDMULE'S BBQ | |
| 20 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 21 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | |
| 22 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 23 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 24 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 25 | BOXER Q BBQ | |
| 26 | WABASH BBQ | |
| 27 | BONES BRIGADE KC | |
| 28 | Hog Diesel BBQ | |
| 29 | UNCLE J'S | |
| 30 | KEEP CALM & SAUCE ON | |
| 31 | RIO VALLEY MEAT BBQ | |
| 32 | TEXAS OIL DUST | |
| 33 | Go Pig or Go Home | |
| 34 | FULL THROTTLE BBQ | |
| 35 | FLAMIN' M&M | |
| 36 | TAILGATE GUYS BBQ | |
| 37 | KC MEAT SWEATS |
Pork
37 entries · top 179.4400 · median 171.9656
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | KEEP CALM & SAUCE ON | |
| 2 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 3 | Land Locked BBQ | |
| 4 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 5 | TEXAS OIL DUST | |
| 6 | RIO VALLEY MEAT BBQ | |
| 7 | DOUBLE BARREL BBQ - OK | |
| 8 | WABASH BBQ | |
| 9 | SMOKE RINGERS | |
| 10 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 11 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 12 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 13 | TAILGATE GUYS BBQ | |
| 14 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 15 | BUILDERS BBQ | |
| 16 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 17 | T-N-T QUE CREW | |
| 18 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY O.G | |
| 19 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 20 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 21 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 22 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | |
| 23 | KC MEAT SWEATS | |
| 24 | CHICKEN FRIED BBQ | |
| 25 | BOOMERANG BBQ | |
| 26 | FULL THROTTLE BBQ | |
| 27 | BOXER Q BBQ | |
| 28 | UNCLE J'S | |
| 29 | BONES BRIGADE KC | |
| 30 | The Boys in Que | |
| 31 | REDMULE'S BBQ | |
| 32 | CAVEMAN CUISINE | |
| 33 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 34 | Hog Diesel BBQ | |
| 35 | HOGZILLA | |
| 36 | Go Pig or Go Home | |
| 37 | FLAMIN' M&M |
Brisket
37 entries · top 180 · median 169.1316 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | T-N-T QUE CREW | |
| 2 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 3 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 4 | BOOMERANG BBQ | |
| 5 | RIO VALLEY MEAT BBQ | |
| 6 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 7 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 8 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY O.G | |
| 9 | DOUBLE BARREL BBQ - OK | |
| 10 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 11 | TEXAS OIL DUST | |
| 12 | KEEP CALM & SAUCE ON | |
| 13 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 14 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 15 | Land Locked BBQ | |
| 16 | CHICKEN FRIED BBQ | |
| 17 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | |
| 18 | The Boys in Que | |
| 19 | FULL THROTTLE BBQ | |
| 20 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 21 | WABASH BBQ | |
| 22 | BUILDERS BBQ | |
| 23 | CAVEMAN CUISINE | |
| 24 | Hog Diesel BBQ | |
| 25 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 26 | UNCLE J'S | |
| 27 | BOXER Q BBQ | |
| 28 | Go Pig or Go Home | |
| 29 | TAILGATE GUYS BBQ | |
| 30 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 31 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 32 | BONES BRIGADE KC | |
| 33 | KC MEAT SWEATS | |
| 34 | REDMULE'S BBQ | |
| 35 | SMOKE RINGERS | |
| 36 | HOGZILLA | |
| 37 | FLAMIN' M&M |