A razor-thin finish
0.6060
points between champion and reserve
Closer than 87% of the 4,710 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 0.6060 points — closer than 87% of every championship in the data.
- OMF BBQ
- Kings BBQ Team
Swine At the Shrine 2022
Aug 5–6, 2022 · Savannah, GA · 📍 100 Eisenberg Dr. · State championship
Reps: Julie Cook, Rachel Harper, Rusty Cook, Wayne Harper · Prize money: $10,000
Blue Ribbon BBQ NC won Grand Champion at the Swine At the Shrine on August 5, 2022 in Savannah, GA at 100 Eisenberg Dr., scoring 702.2516 in a field of 49 teams. Kings BBQ Team took Reserve Grand Champion with 701.6456. Category winners: Chicken — CBF Que (180.0000); Pork Ribs — Bearded Monkeys Twisted Q (180.0000); Pork — BAD ROOSTER BBQ (178.8572); Brisket — ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN (180.0000). This is the 3rd of 4 editions of this contest on record; the 2021 edition was won by KINGS BBQ; 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.
501.69
median 682.16
702.25 🏆
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 180 🔥
- Pork 178.86
- Brisket 180 🔥
135.34
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2020 to 2022 — this edition picked out.
Entries
49
4 judged meats · 1 ancillary
Top score
702.2516
Winning margin
0.6060
GC over RC
Field average
676.22
501.69702.25
median 682.16 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
3 🔥
Tightest race
Pork
1.1544 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
694.7772
501.69702.25
10th place overall
Field spread
200.5596
winner to last place
Prize money
$10,000
on the line
Double threats
2
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 24%
beats 76% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
67%
18 of 27 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.69 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,589
avg power rating going in · stronger than 71% of contests
Storylines (7 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
9-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 91 times in 100
Blue Ribbon BBQ NC came in rated below the field's top team, Organizer Portal, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 9-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1549
- top seed 1940
Won without a category win
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
Blue Ribbon BBQ NC won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 3 calls from 4 boards, best of them 3rd. Consistency beat fireworks.
- Chicken 7th
- Pork Ribs 33rd
- Pork 4th
- Brisket 3rd
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.
- ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN · Brisket
- CBF Que · Chicken
- Bearded Monkeys Twisted Q · Pork Ribs
A knife fight at the top
3.4516
points across the top five
First to fifth in the overall standings covered just 3.4516 points — 2 teams sat within a single point of the lead.
- 1st Blue Ribbon BBQ NC
- 2nd Kings BBQ Team
- 3rd FALLOUT BBQ
- 4th COOL HAND QUE
- 5th ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 19 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 3–4: Kings BBQ Team and RGDBBQ tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 7–8: Blue Ribbon BBQ NC and Smoke Central BBQ tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 8–9: Smoke Central BBQ and Organizer Portal tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 3–4 · tie
- Chicken 7–8 · tie
- Chicken 8–9 · tie
- Pork Ribs 2–3 · tie
The biggest field yet
49
teams — a contest high
This contest usually draws about 32 teams
49 teams is the deepest field this contest has drawn in the data, against a typical 32.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 11, 2020 | Savannah, GA | 100 Eisenberg Dr. | 38 | 707.4060 | BACKYARD BRO'S BBQ | HOT WACHULA'S |
| Aug 6, 2021 | Savannah, GA | 100 Eisenberg Dr. | 25 | 699.9428 | KINGS BBQ | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ |
| Aug 5, 2022 ← this one | Savannah, GA | 100 Eisenberg Dr. | 49 | 702.2516 | OMF BBQ | Kings BBQ Team |
| Aug 5, 2022 | Savannah, GA | 100 Eisenberg Dr. | 24 | 177.1428 | SMOKE SHOW MAFIA | — |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180 | 176.5828 | 175.4172 |
| Pork Ribs | 180 | 177.1544 | 176.5600 |
| Pork | 178.8572 | 177.7028 | 174.8572 |
| Brisket | 180 | 177.7028 | 175.4172 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
49 entries · top 702.2516 · median 682.1600
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue Ribbon BBQ NC | |
| 2 | Kings BBQ Team | |
| 3 | FALLOUT BBQ | |
| 4 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 5 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 6 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 7 | Organizer Portal | |
| 8 | Cooters N Smoke | |
| 9 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 10 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 11 | SMOKE SHOW MAFIA | |
| 12 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 13 | ROLLIN KOLBZ | |
| 14 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 15 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 16 | Smoke Central BBQ | |
| 17 | YES, DEAR BBQ | |
| 18 | BACKYARD BROS | |
| 19 | Bearded Monkeys Twisted Q | |
| 20 | ZIP'S B.B.Q. | |
| 21 | SWEET DIXIE BBQ | |
| 22 | CBF Que | |
| 23 | MAYA JANE BBQ CO. | |
| 24 | POP'S SMOKE ON THE HILL | |
| 25 | RGDBBQ | |
| 26 | Willingham's | |
| 27 | Going Yard BBQ | |
| 28 | ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 29 | Peckerwood Country Club | |
| 30 | One Eyed Pig BBQ | |
| 31 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 32 | BALD HAWG BBQ | |
| 33 | HOLT BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 34 | BELLY UP BBQ | |
| 35 | SMOKIN SKULLIES | |
| 36 | QUENUT BBQ | |
| 37 | QMEISTERS | |
| 38 | Slapulator BBQ | |
| 39 | SMOKINRACK BBQ | |
| 40 | CUSTOM CABINETS | |
| 41 | PeachCoast BBQ | |
| 42 | Son of A Mitch | |
| 43 | DONE RIGHT SMOKIN | |
| 44 | RUM RUNNERS BBQ | |
| 45 | OLD HENRY'S BBQ | |
| 46 | K & E's Little Smokers | |
| 47 | HPO PIT TEAM | |
| 48 | SMOKE SLINGER'S | |
| 49 | Iron Head Barbeque |
Chicken
49 entries · top 180 · median 170.8112 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CBF Que | |
| 2 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 3 | Kings BBQ Team | |
| 4 | RGDBBQ | |
| 5 | ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 6 | Cooters N Smoke | |
| 7 | Blue Ribbon BBQ NC | |
| 8 | Smoke Central BBQ | |
| 9 | Organizer Portal | |
| 10 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 11 | FALLOUT BBQ | |
| 12 | ZIP'S B.B.Q. | |
| 13 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 14 | SMOKIN SKULLIES | |
| 15 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 16 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 17 | MAYA JANE BBQ CO. | |
| 18 | Slapulator BBQ | |
| 19 | One Eyed Pig BBQ | |
| 20 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 21 | ROLLIN KOLBZ | |
| 22 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 23 | DONE RIGHT SMOKIN | |
| 24 | QUENUT BBQ | |
| 25 | BACKYARD BROS | |
| 26 | Bearded Monkeys Twisted Q | |
| 27 | SWEET DIXIE BBQ | |
| 28 | HPO PIT TEAM | |
| 29 | QMEISTERS | |
| 30 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 31 | SMOKE SHOW MAFIA | |
| 32 | POP'S SMOKE ON THE HILL | |
| 33 | PeachCoast BBQ | |
| 34 | BELLY UP BBQ | |
| 35 | Going Yard BBQ | |
| 36 | BALD HAWG BBQ | |
| 37 | YES, DEAR BBQ | |
| 38 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 39 | CUSTOM CABINETS | |
| 40 | Willingham's | |
| 41 | HOLT BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 42 | Peckerwood Country Club | |
| 43 | SMOKINRACK BBQ | |
| 44 | K & E's Little Smokers | |
| 45 | Iron Head Barbeque | |
| 46 | Son of A Mitch | |
| 47 | RUM RUNNERS BBQ | |
| 48 | SMOKE SLINGER'S | |
| 49 | OLD HENRY'S BBQ |
Pork Ribs
49 entries · top 180 · median 171.9656 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bearded Monkeys Twisted Q | |
| 2 | Kings BBQ Team | |
| 3 | SWEET DIXIE BBQ | |
| 4 | Cooters N Smoke | |
| 5 | Going Yard BBQ | |
| 6 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 7 | Willingham's | |
| 8 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 9 | ROLLIN KOLBZ | |
| 10 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 11 | Slapulator BBQ | |
| 12 | SMOKE SHOW MAFIA | |
| 13 | RUM RUNNERS BBQ | |
| 14 | BACKYARD BROS | |
| 15 | QUENUT BBQ | |
| 16 | YES, DEAR BBQ | |
| 17 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 18 | Organizer Portal | |
| 19 | SMOKINRACK BBQ | |
| 20 | Iron Head Barbeque | |
| 21 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 22 | OLD HENRY'S BBQ | |
| 23 | Smoke Central BBQ | |
| 24 | MAYA JANE BBQ CO. | |
| 25 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 26 | CUSTOM CABINETS | |
| 27 | QMEISTERS | |
| 28 | Peckerwood Country Club | |
| 29 | BALD HAWG BBQ | |
| 30 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 31 | POP'S SMOKE ON THE HILL | |
| 32 | PeachCoast BBQ | |
| 33 | Blue Ribbon BBQ NC | |
| 34 | BELLY UP BBQ | |
| 35 | FALLOUT BBQ | |
| 36 | SMOKIN SKULLIES | |
| 37 | ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 38 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 39 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 40 | RGDBBQ | |
| 41 | CBF Que | |
| 42 | Son of A Mitch | |
| 43 | One Eyed Pig BBQ | |
| 44 | HOLT BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 45 | ZIP'S B.B.Q. | |
| 46 | DONE RIGHT SMOKIN | |
| 47 | SMOKE SLINGER'S | |
| 48 | K & E's Little Smokers | |
| 49 | HPO PIT TEAM |
Pork
48 entries · top 178.8572 · median 170.5428
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 2 | ZIP'S B.B.Q. | |
| 3 | YES, DEAR BBQ | |
| 4 | Blue Ribbon BBQ NC | |
| 5 | FALLOUT BBQ | |
| 6 | Smoke Central BBQ | |
| 7 | Willingham's | |
| 8 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 9 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 10 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 11 | MAYA JANE BBQ CO. | |
| 12 | SMOKE SHOW MAFIA | |
| 13 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 14 | BELLY UP BBQ | |
| 15 | K & E's Little Smokers | |
| 16 | One Eyed Pig BBQ | |
| 17 | Organizer Portal | |
| 18 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 19 | BACKYARD BROS | |
| 20 | DONE RIGHT SMOKIN | |
| 21 | ROLLIN KOLBZ | |
| 22 | SMOKINRACK BBQ | |
| 23 | RGDBBQ | |
| 24 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 25 | Peckerwood Country Club | |
| 26 | Bearded Monkeys Twisted Q | |
| 27 | Cooters N Smoke | |
| 28 | Kings BBQ Team | |
| 29 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 30 | SWEET DIXIE BBQ | |
| 31 | CBF Que | |
| 32 | POP'S SMOKE ON THE HILL | |
| 33 | BALD HAWG BBQ | |
| 34 | OLD HENRY'S BBQ | |
| 35 | ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 36 | Son of A Mitch | |
| 37 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 38 | HOLT BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 39 | QUENUT BBQ | |
| 40 | CUSTOM CABINETS | |
| 41 | SMOKIN SKULLIES | |
| 42 | Going Yard BBQ | |
| 43 | PeachCoast BBQ | |
| 44 | Slapulator BBQ | |
| 45 | RUM RUNNERS BBQ | |
| 46 | QMEISTERS | |
| 47 | HPO PIT TEAM | |
| 48 | SMOKE SLINGER'S |
Brisket
49 entries · top 180 · median 169.6800 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 2 | HOLT BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 3 | Blue Ribbon BBQ NC | |
| 4 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 5 | POP'S SMOKE ON THE HILL | |
| 6 | FALLOUT BBQ | |
| 7 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 8 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 9 | Kings BBQ Team | |
| 10 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 11 | SMOKE SHOW MAFIA | |
| 12 | Going Yard BBQ | |
| 13 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 14 | Peckerwood Country Club | |
| 15 | Organizer Portal | |
| 16 | BACKYARD BROS | |
| 17 | ZIP'S B.B.Q. | |
| 18 | Cooters N Smoke | |
| 19 | ROLLIN KOLBZ | |
| 20 | QMEISTERS | |
| 21 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 22 | CBF Que | |
| 23 | YES, DEAR BBQ | |
| 24 | Iron Head Barbeque | |
| 25 | ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 26 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 27 | Son of A Mitch | |
| 28 | BALD HAWG BBQ | |
| 29 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 30 | Bearded Monkeys Twisted Q | |
| 31 | SWEET DIXIE BBQ | |
| 32 | SMOKIN SKULLIES | |
| 33 | One Eyed Pig BBQ | |
| 34 | RGDBBQ | |
| 35 | QUENUT BBQ | |
| 36 | Smoke Central BBQ | |
| 37 | PeachCoast BBQ | |
| 38 | RUM RUNNERS BBQ | |
| 39 | CUSTOM CABINETS | |
| 40 | BELLY UP BBQ | |
| 41 | Willingham's | |
| 42 | MAYA JANE BBQ CO. | |
| 43 | OLD HENRY'S BBQ | |
| 44 | Slapulator BBQ | |
| 45 | SMOKINRACK BBQ | |
| 46 | K & E's Little Smokers | |
| 47 | HPO PIT TEAM | |
| 48 | DONE RIGHT SMOKIN | |
| 49 | SMOKE SLINGER'S |
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.
Kids-Q — Kid'S Que Ages 6-10
8 entries · top 176.0116 · median 166.8514
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MINI QNUT | |
| 2 | K&E LIITTLE LITTLE SMOKERS | |
| 3 | BELLY UP JR | |
| 4 | ATOMIC CITY JR TOO | |
| 5 | HOLT BROTHERS JR. | |
| 6 | K&E LITTLEST SMOKER | |
| 7 | ATOMIC CITY JR | |
| 8 | RUM RUNNERS JR |