ACE OF DIAMONDS BBQ

At a glance (everything the results say about this team, in numbers)

Power ranking

#4086

of 6,413 rated · rankings

Rating

1481

peak 1481 · rated over 12 contests ⓘ

Contests

in the data

First seen

2013-10-18

latest 2019-06-28

Best ToY finish

#996

Master 2017

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

3 podiums

Overall top-10s

of 12 contests

Avg finish

top 67%

overall standings

Best overall

657.6572 / 720

Master · BBQ SmokeDown at Chicagoland

Perfect 180s

Current form

645.94 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 623.40 (+22.54)

Walk rate

67%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

177.7144

Chicken · BBQ SmokeDown at Chicagoland

Consistency

±49.42

std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Brisket

avg 160.40 · weakest Pork Ribs (156.67)

Road miles

1,253

mi across 12 mapped stops · furthest 193 mi

Schedule strength

56%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1571)

Purse competed for

$6K

listed at 1 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

GCs in 1 state-championship entries

Master avg

623.40 / 720

12 Master contests · 0 GCs

⚔ Compare with another team

Storylines (6 found in this team's record)

Each card leads with the number that made it a story — read straight out of their results, no editorialising.

They almost always walk

67% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 8 of 12 contests

A top-10 category call in 67% of their 12 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

BURNIN BENJAMINS has finished one call ahead of ACE OF DIAMONDS BBQ 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

A tough matchup

9–0 behind in the head-to-head

BIG "E" BBQ ahead in 100% of their meetings

BIG "E" BBQ has come out ahead in 9 of their 9 shared contests.

A strong matchup

4–1 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 80% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of WE WILL ROCK QUE in 4 of their 5 shared contests.

The comeback

2 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 2 years, then back at Central Illinois Bragging Rights (2015-10-09).

last seen 2013-10-18
back 2015-10-09

Brisket nemesis

8 of 9 shared brisket entries lost

BIG "E" BBQ ahead 89% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, BIG "E" BBQ has out-cooked them in 8 of 9 shared brisket entries.

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The nearest teams in the power rankings, with a different reason on each card — six teams on one rating are rarely on it for the same reason. Rating decides who makes the list; where teams tie on it, the ones this team has actually cooked against come first, then teams at a similar point in their own career. KCBS doesn’t publish where a team is from, so nothing here is inferred from geography.

133 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.

SMOKIN THE GOOD STUFF

#4096 of the rated field

1480 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 12
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1480

No shared contest yet.

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 12 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 12 contests
last seen 2024-10-04

⚔ Head-to-head

Smokin Trees BBQ

#4094 of the rated field

1481 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 13
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1516

No shared contest yet.

Careers of much the same size, 13 contests to 12, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 13 contests
last seen 2025-11-05

⚔ Head-to-head

OLD TRUCKERS BBQ

#4069 of the rated field

1481 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 13
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 8%
Peak: 1481

No shared contest yet.

13 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 8% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 13 contests
last seen 2022-05-14

⚔ Head-to-head

BLUEGRASS SMOKERS

#4084 of the rated field

1481 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 13
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 8%
Peak: 1506

No shared contest yet.

Level with ACE OF DIAMONDS BBQ on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 13 contests
last seen 2017-08-18

⚔ Head-to-head

TRI-Q DUTCH BBQ TEAM

#4088 of the rated field

1481 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 11
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 9%
Peak: 1504

No shared contest yet.

Careers of much the same size, 11 contests to 12, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 11 contests
last seen 2022-06-03

⚔ Head-to-head

V QUE

#4092 of the rated field

1481 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 14
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1503

No shared contest yet.

Both teams' first contest in the data came in 2013.

rated over 14 contests
last seen 2020-06-26

⚔ Head-to-head

Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
BIG "E" BBQ	9	0	9	0%	⚔ compare
CAPTAIN RON'S BREW-N-QUE	8	0	8	0%	⚔ compare
BLUE ISLAND BBQ CO.	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
D.F.G.'S BBQ	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare
TIM'S FULL BELLI DELI	6	0	6	0%	⚔ compare
JH OLD SCHOOL	6	0	6	0%	⚔ compare
One2BBQ	6	0	6	0%	⚔ compare
QUAU	6	0	6	0%	⚔ compare
WE WILL ROCK QUE	5	4	1	80%	⚔ compare
BURNIN BENJAMINS	5	3	2	60%	⚔ compare
Monsters of the Ribway	5	2	3	40%	⚔ compare
DESIGNATED SMOKIN' AREA	5	2	3	40%	⚔ compare
STRESS RELIEF BBQ	5	1	4	20%	⚔ compare
RACK MASTERS BBQ	5	0	5	0%	⚔ compare
CARNIVORE'S PARADISE	5	0	5	0%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	11	3	2	177.7144	144.5140	159.29	top 62%
Pork Ribs	12	0	0	167.4516	146.7888	156.67	top 65%
Pork	12	4	0	172.5716	150.2288	160.32	top 55%
Brisket	12	3	1	171.4172	149.1084	160.40	top 51%

“Calls” = top-10 category finishes (getting called to the stage). Scores here are the final weighted totals KCBS publishes; per-criterion appearance/taste/tenderness marks aren’t in the public results feed.

By state / province

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
IL	9	0	top 67%
WI	3	0	top 67%

By contest size

Field	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
Medium (20–39)	6	0	top 55%
Large (40+)	6	0	top 79%

Contest-by-contest record (recurring contests they've cooked twice or more)

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
*McHenry Rotary Blues Brews & BBQ	2	15	0	top 48%	2018-08-18
*Heritage Days BBQ Showdown	2	12	0	top 54%	2017-06-23

The story so far (17 numbers that describe this team)

On the trail 5.7 yrs 2013-10-18 → 2019-06-28

Busiest season 2017 4 contests

Contests a season 2 across 6 seasons in the data

Cooks most in IL 9 of 12 contests · 2 states/provinces in all

Contests visited 10 2 of them cooked more than once

Most-entered meat Pork Ribs 12 entries · 0 wins · 0 calls

Strongest meat Brisket averages 160.40 · weakest Pork Ribs (156.67)

Walk rate 67% a top-10 call in 8 of 12 contests

Overall top-10 rate 0% 0 of 12 contests

Master average 623.40 out of 720 · 12 contests · 0 GCs

Opponents faced 267 144–304 across every shared overall standing

Road miles 1,253 12 mapped stops · furthest 193 mi

Schedule strength 1571 average field rating faced — tougher than 56% of rated contests

Purse competed for $6,300 listed at 1 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships 0 from 1 state-championship entries

Longest layoff 2 yrs 2013-10-18 → 2015-10-09

Power rating 1481 peak 1481 · #4086 of 6,413 rated

Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)

2013
Oct 18 First tracked contest 8th Annual Lambs Farm Barn Burner Bar-B-Q (TEAMS FULL)
Oct 18 Peak power rating (1492) 8th Annual Lambs Farm Barn Burner Bar-B-Q (TEAMS FULL)
2016
May 6 First call Route 66 Smoke Out
Jun 24 First overall past 90% of a perfect score655.3376 Heritage Days BBQ Showdown
2018
Aug 18 10th tracked contest *McHenry Rotary Blues Brews & BBQ
2019
Jun 28 Career-best overall score657.6572 BBQ SmokeDown at Chicagoland
Jun 28 Career-best single call (Chicken)177.7144 BBQ SmokeDown at Chicagoland
Jun 28 Most recent contest BBQ SmokeDown at Chicagoland

Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+8.6	Heritage Days BBQ Showdown	2016-06-24
+6.4	*McHenry Rotary Blues Brews & BBQ	2017-08-19
+4.1	*McHenry Rotary Blues Brews & BBQ	2018-08-18
+2.4	7th Annual Smokin' In The Bogs	2017-09-01

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-13.4	Route 66 Smoke Out	2016-05-06
-8.5	8th Annual Lambs Farm Barn Burner Bar-B-Q (TEAMS FULL)	2013-10-18
-6.2	Central Illinois Bragging Rights	2015-10-09
-3.9	Badger Brews & Que	2017-08-04
-3	*Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Day 1	2018-06-22

Category scores over time

Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)

Where they finish (overall)

Best vs average (by meat)

How entries end (by meat)

Team of the Year rank by season

Season by season

Season	Contests	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2019	1	100%	top 69%	91.3%	91.3%
2018	3	67%	top 67%	89.7%	89.2%
2017	4	75%	top 60%	89.7%	88.7%
2016	2	100%	top 68%	91%	78%
2015	1	0%	top 77%	86.7%	86.7%
2013	1	0%	top 78%	82.5%	82.5%

Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
2019-06-28	BBQ SmokeDown at Chicagoland 🏅 Joliet, IL	29 / 42 (657.6572)	2 (177.7144)	28 (162.2400)	37 (154.2972)	29 (163.4056)
2018-08-31	Smokin in the Bogs Warrens, WI	18 / 25 (646.1256)	5 (170.2744)	16 (158.2056)	19 (157.6684)	13 (159.9772)
2018-08-18	*McHenry Rotary Blues Brews & BBQ McHenry, IL	16 / 30 (640.4460)	12 (163.3944)	17 (157.0744)	9 (164.5944)	21 (155.3828)
2018-06-22	*Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Day 1 Belvidere, IL	39 / 51 (639.3488)	47 (158.2400)	19 (167.4516)	45 (153.1200)	36 (160.5372)
2017-09-01	7th Annual Smokin' In The Bogs Warrens, WI	16 / 29 (646.1372)	28 (150.8000)	20 (156.5028)	10 (167.4172)	2 (171.4172)
2017-08-19	*McHenry Rotary Blues Brews & BBQ McHenry, IL	15 / 36 (646.1828)	18 (163.9772)	19 (159.3944)	5 (169.1772)	18 (153.6340)
2017-08-04	Badger Brews & Que Port Washington, WI	22 / 30 (628.4232)	26 (150.2288)	17 (156.5260)	18 (158.2512)	8 (163.4172)
2017-06-23	*Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Belvidere, IL	30 / 42 (634.1832)	39 (148.5488)	13 (166.8572)	22 (162.8572)	34 (155.9200)
2016-06-24	Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Belvidere, IL	12 / 33 (655.3376)	2 (177.1772)	29 (146.7888)	5 (172.5716)	18 (158.8000)
2016-05-06	Route 66 Smoke Out Dwight, IL	40 / 40 (468.4116)	—	38 (148.4800)	34 (150.2288)	6 (169.7028)
2015-10-09	Central Illinois Bragging Rights Arthur, IL	37 / 48 (624.4112)	47 (147.3484)	39 (153.6572)	34 (159.9656)	24 (163.4400)
2013-10-18	8th Annual Lambs Farm Barn Burner Bar-B-Q (TEAMS FULL) Libertyville, IL	42 / 54 (594.1480)	51 (144.5140)	45 (146.8228)	28 (153.7028)	37 (149.1084)

Career map (orange GC · green top-10 · grey the rest — tap a pin)

Team of the Year standings (rank per category by season — year links to the full board on kcbs.us)

Year	Series	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
2019 ↗	Master	#1955 (60 pts)	#1041 (260 pts)	#2026 (60 pts)	#2029 (60 pts)	#2010 (60 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#1069 (245 pts)	#916 (355 pts)	#1074 (280 pts)	#1060 (280 pts)	#1139 (245 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#996 (339 pts)	#1213 (264 pts)	#977 (384 pts)	#838 (479 pts)	#709 (559 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#1441 (183 pts)	#1255 (258 pts)	#2024 (118 pts)	#1314 (243 pts)	#1197 (268 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#2158 (60 pts)	#2209 (60 pts)	#2209 (60 pts)	#2225 (60 pts)	#2181 (65 pts)