A new contest record
714.2628
highest overall ever cooked here
714.2628 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 701.7260 UNDER THE RADAR set in 2016.
- old record 701.7260
- set 2016 by UNDER THE RADAR
Big BBQ Bash 2023
Jun 23–24, 2023 · Maryville, TN · 📍 2003 E. Broadway Avenue · State championship
Reps: Connie Amidei, Jonathan Amidei · Prize money: $10,000
SWIG-N-PIG won Grand Champion at the Big BBQ Bash on June 23, 2023 in Maryville, TN at 2003 E. Broadway Avenue, scoring 714.2628 in a field of 36 teams. ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN took Reserve Grand Champion with 702.8000. Category winners: Chicken — SWIG-N-PIG (180.0000); Pork Ribs — HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ (177.7144); Pork — ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN (178.8572); Brisket — SWIG-N-PIG (180.0000). This is the 3rd of 6 editions of this contest on record; the 2022 edition was won by Bad Rooster BBQ; the next was held in 2024.
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.
594.09
median 678.72
714.26 🏆
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 177.71
- Pork 178.86
- Brisket 180 🔥
140.49
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2016 to 2026 — this edition picked out.
Entries
36
4 judged meats
Top score
714.2628
Winning margin
11.4628
GC over RC
Field average
671.18
594.09714.26
median 678.72 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Pork
2.2972 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
686.7772
594.09714.26
10th place overall
Field spread
120.1716
winner to last place
Prize money
$10,000
on the line
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 1%
beats 99% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
48%
14 of 29 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.75 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,621
avg power rating going in · stronger than 88% of contests
Storylines (12 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
17-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 83 times in 100
SWIG-N-PIG came in rated below the field's top team, ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 17-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1644
- top seed 1925
A first Grand Championship
69
tracked contests to get there
This was Swig-N-Pig's first Grand Championship in the data — it arrived at their 69th tracked contest.
A statement win
11.4628
points clear of the field
Wider than 91% of the 4,710 championships in the data
The champion won by 11.4628 points — a wider margin than 91% of championships in the data.
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.
- SWIG-N-PIG · Brisket
- SWIG-N-PIG · Chicken
- ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN · Chicken
A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 6 tracked editions
Alpine Smoke Works has won this contest 2 times across its 6 tracked editions.
- 2025
- 2026
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 13 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 1–2: SWIG-N-PIG and ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN tied on 180.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 3–4: One Eyed Pig BBQ and Glamping Grillers tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 4–5: Glamping Grillers and Smoke Central BBQ tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 1–2 · tie
- Chicken 3–4 · tie
- Chicken 4–5 · tie
- Chicken 5–6 · tie
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
SWIG-N-PIG won Chicken, Brisket — a double, and took the Grand Championship on top of it.
- Chicken 1st
- Brisket 1st
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
SWIG-N-PIG took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 2 outright wins — their weakest board was pork ribs at 4th.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork Ribs 4th
- Pork 2nd
- Brisket 1st
A contest record in chicken
180.0000
best chicken ever cooked here
SWIG-N-PIG turned in 180.0000 in chicken — past the 178.8572 that had stood across 2 earlier editions.
- old best 178.8572
- across 2 past editions
Back to defend
2
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: UNDER THE RADAR (won 2016), Bad Rooster BBQ (won 2022).
- UNDER THE RADAR · 2016
- Bad Rooster BBQ · 2022
The biggest field yet
36
teams — a contest high
This contest usually draws about 30 teams
36 teams is the deepest field this contest has drawn in the data, against a typical 30.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 24, 2016 | Maryville, TN | Maryville, TN | 31 | 701.7260 | UNDER THE RADAR | CONTAGIOUS Q |
| Jun 24, 2022 | Maryville, TN | 2003 E. Broadway Avenue | 29 | 700.5028 | Bad Rooster BBQ | Organizer Portal |
| Jun 23, 2023 ← this one | Maryville, TN | 2003 E. Broadway Avenue | 36 | 714.2628 | Swig-N-Pig | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN |
| Jun 21, 2024 | Maryville, TN | 2003 E. Broadway Avenue | 33 | 705.0856 | Rooters-N-Tooters TN | Glamping Grillers |
| Jun 20, 2025 | Maryville, TN | 2003 E. Broadway Ave. | 26 | 707.4056 | Alpine Smoke Works | DANG GOOD BBQ |
| Sep 25, 2026 | Townsend, TN | 7930 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy | 30 | 701.1088 | Alpine Smoke Works | Bad Rooster BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180 | 176.5600 | 173.1316 |
| Pork Ribs | 177.7144 | 174.2628 | 173.1200 |
| Pork | 178.8572 | 176.5600 | 173.1316 |
| Brisket | 180 | 177.7028 | 174.2628 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
36 entries · top 714.2628 · median 678.7198
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 2 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 3 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 4 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 5 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 6 | One Eyed Pig BBQ | |
| 7 | SMOKIN SKULLIES | |
| 8 | Smoke Central BBQ | |
| 9 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 10 | FIREHOUSE SMOKERS TN | |
| 11 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 12 | ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 13 | BROTHER IN LAW BBQ TEAM - NC | |
| 14 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 15 | TASTE OF GRACE | |
| 16 | RIVER ROAD GRILLBILLIES | |
| 17 | Glamping Grillers | |
| 18 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 19 | TENNESSEE SMOKE SHOWIN | |
| 20 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 21 | Pappy & Roleys | |
| 22 | K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 23 | MUDVILLE BBQ | |
| 24 | HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS | |
| 25 | Willingham's | |
| 26 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 27 | THIRD SWINES CHARM | |
| 28 | Denso | |
| 29 | Big Alz BBQ | |
| 30 | Chairman of the Boar | |
| 31 | Barger-Que | |
| 32 | Corr-Tenn | |
| 33 | Bad Brad's BBQ | |
| 34 | Bunny's BBQ | |
| 35 | Praise the Lord BBQ | |
| 36 | BBQ865 |
Chicken
36 entries · top 180 · median 169.6800 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 2 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 3 | One Eyed Pig BBQ | |
| 4 | Glamping Grillers | |
| 5 | Smoke Central BBQ | |
| 6 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 7 | BROTHER IN LAW BBQ TEAM - NC | |
| 8 | Denso | |
| 9 | RIVER ROAD GRILLBILLIES | |
| 10 | SMOKIN SKULLIES | |
| 11 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 12 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 13 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 14 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 15 | Pappy & Roleys | |
| 16 | TASTE OF GRACE | |
| 17 | K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 18 | THIRD SWINES CHARM | |
| 19 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 20 | FIREHOUSE SMOKERS TN | |
| 21 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 22 | HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS | |
| 23 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 24 | ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 25 | Big Alz BBQ | |
| 26 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 27 | Chairman of the Boar | |
| 28 | MUDVILLE BBQ | |
| 29 | Willingham's | |
| 30 | Corr-Tenn | |
| 31 | Praise the Lord BBQ | |
| 32 | TENNESSEE SMOKE SHOWIN | |
| 33 | Bad Brad's BBQ | |
| 34 | Barger-Que | |
| 35 | Bunny's BBQ | |
| 36 | BBQ865 |
Pork Ribs
36 entries · top 177.7144 · median 168.5256
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 2 | SMOKIN SKULLIES | |
| 3 | ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 4 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 5 | FIREHOUSE SMOKERS TN | |
| 6 | BROTHER IN LAW BBQ TEAM - NC | |
| 7 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 8 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 9 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 10 | Big Alz BBQ | |
| 11 | Smoke Central BBQ | |
| 12 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 13 | TASTE OF GRACE | |
| 14 | One Eyed Pig BBQ | |
| 15 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 16 | MUDVILLE BBQ | |
| 17 | RIVER ROAD GRILLBILLIES | |
| 18 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 19 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 20 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 21 | TENNESSEE SMOKE SHOWIN | |
| 22 | K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 23 | Pappy & Roleys | |
| 24 | HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS | |
| 25 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 26 | Glamping Grillers | |
| 27 | Denso | |
| 28 | Bunny's BBQ | |
| 29 | Bad Brad's BBQ | |
| 30 | Corr-Tenn | |
| 31 | THIRD SWINES CHARM | |
| 32 | Willingham's | |
| 33 | Chairman of the Boar | |
| 34 | Barger-Que | |
| 35 | BBQ865 | |
| 36 | Praise the Lord BBQ |
Pork
36 entries · top 178.8572 · median 169.9714
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 2 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 3 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 4 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 5 | FIREHOUSE SMOKERS TN | |
| 6 | Barger-Que | |
| 7 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 8 | Smoke Central BBQ | |
| 9 | Willingham's | |
| 10 | Glamping Grillers | |
| 11 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 12 | TENNESSEE SMOKE SHOWIN | |
| 13 | SMOKIN SKULLIES | |
| 14 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 15 | MUDVILLE BBQ | |
| 16 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 17 | One Eyed Pig BBQ | |
| 18 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 19 | BROTHER IN LAW BBQ TEAM - NC | |
| 20 | TASTE OF GRACE | |
| 21 | HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS | |
| 22 | K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 23 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 24 | Pappy & Roleys | |
| 25 | ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 26 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 27 | RIVER ROAD GRILLBILLIES | |
| 28 | THIRD SWINES CHARM | |
| 29 | Chairman of the Boar | |
| 30 | Big Alz BBQ | |
| 31 | Denso | |
| 32 | Corr-Tenn | |
| 33 | Bunny's BBQ | |
| 34 | Bad Brad's BBQ | |
| 35 | Praise the Lord BBQ | |
| 36 | BBQ865 |
Brisket
36 entries · top 180 · median 168.5256 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 2 | THIRD SWINES CHARM | |
| 3 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 4 | Willingham's | |
| 5 | TENNESSEE SMOKE SHOWIN | |
| 6 | One Eyed Pig BBQ | |
| 7 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 8 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 9 | RIVER ROAD GRILLBILLIES | |
| 10 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 11 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 12 | ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 13 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 14 | HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS | |
| 15 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 16 | MUDVILLE BBQ | |
| 17 | TASTE OF GRACE | |
| 18 | Pappy & Roleys | |
| 19 | SMOKIN SKULLIES | |
| 20 | K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 21 | Chairman of the Boar | |
| 22 | Glamping Grillers | |
| 23 | FIREHOUSE SMOKERS TN | |
| 24 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 25 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 26 | BROTHER IN LAW BBQ TEAM - NC | |
| 27 | Smoke Central BBQ | |
| 28 | Barger-Que | |
| 29 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 30 | Denso | |
| 31 | Corr-Tenn | |
| 32 | Bad Brad's BBQ | |
| 33 | Big Alz BBQ | |
| 34 | Bunny's BBQ | |
| 35 | BBQ865 | |
| 36 | Praise the Lord BBQ |