World's Best Barbeque Pitmasters Compete for Champion Title in KC
The best of the best barbeque pitmasters went head-to-head during the 2020 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) World Invitational on Nov. 13-14. Todd Smith of Smoking Butt Heads from Wellford, S.C., earned bragging rights this year as the 2020 KCBS Master Series World Champion.
The KCBS World Invitational, presented by Smithfield, took place at the Prairie Band Casino & Resort in Mayetta, Kan. According to a release, this was an invitation-only competition of qualifying Master Series division pitmasters who have won Grand Champion or Reserve Grand Champion at a KCBS-sanctioned barbeque contest between Jan. 1, 2019 and July 31, 2020. Pitmasters competed for cash, bragging rights and amazing trophies from partners Old World Spices & Seasonings, custom Solo Stoves and a Snake River Farms branded Gateway Drum.
"We love the competition in the sport of barbeque and challenges to always be better at the next contest. The great people we have become friends with are a special bonus. The willingness of everyone to help each other is something most people never get to experience in sports. There is no better sport that has all these aspects,” Smith said in a release.
The KCBS World Invitational Master Series Reserve Grand Championship was awarded to Darren Warth of Iowa’s Smokey D’s BBQ in Des Moines, Iowa. Champions were also recognized in the individual meat categories; chicken, pork ribs, pork and brisket. Additional contests over the weekend sponsored by Solo Foods and Jack Daniel’s allowed teams to show-off their barbeque creativity.
A new division, the Backyard Series, allowed amateur pitmasters to compete for the title of KCBS Overall Backyard Series World Champion. Dennis Bowman of Bowman’s Butt & BBQ from Christiansburg, Va., came out the winner overall with David Puckett of Puckdaddy’s Killer Q of Athens, Ala., earning reserve champion honors.
A socially-distanced awards ceremony recognized the 2020 KCBS Team of the Year points chase champions. Over 2,800 pitmasters from across the U.S. and in 42 countries competed in this program for cash prizes and recognition as some of the best barbeque pitmasters in the world.
Just two points separated World Champion Brad Leighninger of Gettin’ Basted from Springfield, Mo., from Reserve Grand World Champion Joe Pearce of Slap’s BBQ from Kansas City, Kan., the release noted.
“We are so proud of all of the KCBS pitmasters who qualified and competed for a World Champion title in our World Invitational and year-round Team of the Year points chase,” said Emily Detwiler, Chief Executive Officer of KCBS. “We congratulate the Master Series pitmasters demonstrating they are at the top of their game and welcome the Backyard Series teams who continue to prove they are accomplished pitmasters on the road to becoming Masters, too.”
Learn more at www.kcbs.us.
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