One Smoking Moment
A QUICK NOTE FROM THE WRITER: Throughout the tournament, thousands of votes were cast and dozens upon dozes of messages were received. A lot of it was barbeque debate and re-shares but the most common question was, “Where can I get that bracket?”, and the answer is RIGHT HERE. But, as I dug deeper, I realized that people just wanted what I always did, a checklist of Kansas City BBQ joints. Luckily, a complete Kansas City barbeque checklist (CLICK HERE), a KC BBQ map (CLICK HERE), and the BBQ Bible (CLICK HERE) - the most comprehensive order guide to Kansas City BBQ ever assembled - all exist. So go forth, add to your barbeque numbers, and spread the gospel of KCQ. Godspeed!
68 pits entered. One emerged with the KCQ Crown. IMAGE CREDIT - disKCovery
Published April 1, 2026
I’m not foolin’.
The smoke has settled and Kansas City barbeque has a new king!
It began 16 days ago with the first-ever, 68-pit March Madness-style bracket of KC ‘que; seeded by me (a guy who’s spent an irresponsible amount of time, money, and personal dignity eating my way through more Kansas City BBQ joints than anyone) and voted on by the subjects of the World’s BBQ capital.
It quickly got out of hand - in the best possible way.
What was supposed to be a bracket became a full-on referendum on barbeque. Blue bloods fell. New bloods rose. Lines were drawn. Votes were tallied.
March is known for its madness. This lived up to it.
As much as I know Kansas City ‘que - and as little as I know college hoops - both my brackets ended up the same way:
In. Absolute. Shambles.
This was no mere game. Upsets piled up. Debate escalated. Kansas City showed up.
And as KC scrolled and tapped their favorites, they stepped into the arena - stanning for their favorites, campaigning for the crown, and making their voices heard.
So, where did we end up?
How did we get there?
Let’s take a look.
The BBQ Bubble
IMAGE CREDIT - disKCovery
Every great meal begins with an appetizer. You know, the food you eat before you get to eat your food.
In basketball, they have the First Four.
Our version? The BBQ Bubble.
Played the day after the bracket dropped, these four play-in contests decided who earned the final seats at the table.
Their scores are as follows. [1]
Vinegar Region
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
(16) Taste of Kansas City BBQ & Grill, 70 vs. (16) Sierra BBQ, 30
Tomato Region
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
(11) Smoke ‘n’ Seoul, 74 vs. (11) Low-N-Slow Midwest BBQ 26
Molasses Region
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
(11) Shawnee’s Bates City BBQ, 54 vs. (11) Bates City BBQ 46
Sugar & Spice Region
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
(16) Rosedale Bar-B-Q, 58 vs. (16) Zarda Hickory Pit BBQ 42
Que Review
No Sweat Bet:
Taste of Kansas City BBQ & Grill jumped out early, slammed the door, and never gave Lenexa’s Sierra BBQ a chance. A wire-to-wire win that earned them a date with the #1 overall seed, Harp Barbecue.
Backdoor Cover:
Rosedale Bar-B-Q - the oldest continually operated BBQ joint in town - showed its veteran prowess early and reminded us all exactly who they are. A late rally and a decisive finish sent Zarda packing.
Main Event:
YOU wanted it. WE wanted it. And it absolutely delivered. Shawnee’s Bates City BBQ vs. Bates City BBQ: the “family feud”. Same roots, different paths, and in the end? Little brother landed the knockout punch.
The First Round
Grab that roll of paper towels at the end of the table! In barbeque, things were always going to get messy.
The Round of 64 gave us a four-day feast. Established favorites. Up-and-comers. Kansas City traditionalists. Craft purveyors. Elevated restaurants. Grungy order counters. To-go stands, trucks, trailers, and pop-ups. Competition-born eateries and innovative barbeque fusion spots. Places from all over the metro, on both sides of Stateline.
It was a full-on blitz of barbeque battles.
Somewhere in the madness, I lost myself in the matchups.
I never had control of this train once it left the station. But hey, that was always the point.
This is the recap of how quickly a field of 64, dwindled down to 32.
Vinegar Region
Thursday, March 19, 2026
(1) Harp Barbecue, 84 vs. (16) Taste of Kansas City BBQ & Grill, 16
(2) Jack Stack Barbecue, 71 vs. (15) Smoke Box BBQ Cafe, 29
(3) Scott’s Kitchen & Catering, 84 vs. (14) Smoke Brewing Company, 16
(4) Q39, 84 vs. (13) Quentin’s BBQ & Sides, 16
(5) Hawg Jaw Que & Brew, 80 vs. (12) Dunn Deal BBQ, 20
(6) Louisburg BBQ + Brews, 49 vs. (11) Crazy Good Barbeque, 51
(7) Smoak Craft BBQ, 85 vs. (10) Ate1Six BBQ, 15
(8) Jones Bar-B-Q, 64 vs. (9) Wyandot Bar-B-Q, 36
Tomato Region
Friday, March 20, 2026
(1) Slap’s BBQ, 93 vs. (16) F325 BBQ, 7
(2) Meat Mitch, 63 vs. (15) Night Goat Barbecue, 37
(3) The BBQ Shack, 52 vs. (14) KC Turkey Leggman, 48
(4) Hayward’s Pit BBQ, 69 vs. (13) K & M Bar-B-Q, 31
(5) Kansas City Smoked, 72 vs. (12) McGonigle’s KC BBQ, 28
(6) Buck Tui BBQ, 38 vs. (11) Smoke ‘n’ Seoul, 62
(7) Snead’s Bar-B-Q, 59 vs. (10) A Little BBQ Joint, 41
(8) LC’s Bar-B-Q, 79 vs. (9) Big T’s Bar-B-Q, 21
Molasses Region
Saturday, March 21, 2026
(1) Chef J BBQ, 77 vs. (16) J’s BBQ & Smokehouse, 23
(2) Wolfpack BBQ & Burgers, 78 vs. (15) Roscoe’s Barbeque, 32
(3) Woodyard Bar-B-Que, 39 vs. (14) Moose’s BBQ, 61
(4) Blind Box BBQ, 70 vs. (13) Burnt End BBQ, 30
(5) Brobecks Barbeque, 47 vs. (12) Off the Hook BBQ, 53
(6) Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque, 48 vs. (11) Shawnee’s Bates City BBQ, 52
(7) B.B.’s Lawnside BBQ, 51 vs. (10) Gates Bar-B-Q, 49
(8) Holy Smoke BBQ, 37 vs. (9) Smoke Town BBQ, 63
Sugar & Spice Region
Sunday, March 22, 2026
(1) Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que, 89 vs. (16) Rosedale Bar-B-Q, 11
(2) Char Bar, 83 vs. (15) The Rub Bar-B-Que, 17
(3) 3Halves Brew Pub & BBQ, 59 vs. (14) Jousting Pigs BBQ, 41
(4) Jazzy B’s, 58 vs. (13) Tin Kitchen, 42
(5) Point & Flat BBQ, 59 vs. (12) Burn Theory Fire Kitchen, 41
(6) Porky’s Blazin’ Bar-B-Q, 40 vs. (11) RJ’s Bob-Be-Que Shack, 60
(7) Wabash BBQ, 69 vs. (10) Branding Iron BBQ, 31
(8) Smokehouse Barbecue, 54 vs. (9) Fritz’s Smoked Meats and Superior Sausage, 46
Que Review
No Sweat Bet:
No Siena scares here! The 1 seeds crushed the opposition, without even a bead of perspiration. Slap’s BBQ took the opening round domination a step further, running F325 out of the tournament with 93% of the vote.
Underdog Hits:
A 12 over a 5 is practically bracket tradition, so while Off the Hook BBQ’s win over Brobecks was impressive, it wasn’t the shock of the round. That honor belongs to #14 Moose’s BBQ who dropped 61% of the vote on Woodyard Bar-B-Que. For Woodyard, it was time to follow that yellow brick smoker home.
Backdoor Cover:
Crazy Good Barbeque - Bar & Eats pulled off the first upset of the tourney, knocking off #6 Louisburg BBQ. In true High Point fashion, it was a crazy good comeback, with a single vote at the buzzer sending them on.
Public Money:
It was a brutal day to be a 6 seed. None of them advanced. This round saw a lot of chalk, but #11s ruled the day, with multiple upsets shaking the bracket early.
House Money:
The 11s came to play! Perhaps, none more than Shawnee’s Bates City BBQ. The play-in winner kept the dream alive knocking off KCQ O.G. Arthur Bryant’s in a nail-biter that won’t soon be forgotten.
Main Event:
For the BBQ community, the 3 / 14 matchup in the Sugar & Spice Region was absolute cinema. 3Halves Brew Pub & BBQ vs. Jousting Pigs BBQ (the ones who first brought the smoke to the brewery). Plenty of lead changes, back-and-forth all the way, until 3Halves pulled ahead late, leaving Jousting Pigs in the rearview; which is quite a fitting metaphor, all things considered.
The Second Round
The difference between good barbeque and great barbeque is consistency.
Any restaurant can make one great meal. Doing it every time? That’s how the best BBQ joints separate themselves.
In the Round of 32, everyone was already a winner. But as the stakes rose, the question was no longer, “Can you win?”, it became:
“Can you do it again?”
Vinegar Region
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
(1) Harp Barbecue, 77 vs. (8) Jones Bar-B-Q, 23
(2) Jack Stack Barbecue, 49 vs. (7) Smoak Craft BBQ, 51
(3) Scott’s Kitchen & Catering, 70 vs. (11) Crazy Good Barbeque, 30
(4) Q39, 62 vs.(5) Hawg Jaw Que & Brew, 38
Tomato Region
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
(1) Slap’s BBQ, 66 vs. (8) LC’s Bar-B-Q, 34
(2) Meat Mitch, 73 vs. (7) Snead’s Bar-B-Q, 27
(3) The BBQ Shack, 37 vs. (11) Smoke ‘n’ Seoul, 63
(4) Hayward’s Pit BBQ, 49 vs. (5) Kansas City Smoked, 51
Molasses Region
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
(1) Chef J BBQ, 72 vs. (9) Smoke Town BBQ, 28
(2) Wolfpack BBQ & Burgers, 62 vs. (7) B.B.’s Lawnside BBQ, 38
(4) Blind Box BBQ, 75 vs. (12) Off the Hook BBQ, 25
(11) Shawnee’s Bates City BBQ, 41 vs. (14) Moose’s BBQ, 59
Sugar & Spice Region
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
(1) Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que, 81 vs. (8) Smokehouse Barbecue, 19
(2) Char Bar, 73 vs. (7) Wabash BBQ, 27
(3) 3Halves Brew Pub & BBQ, 54 vs. (11) RJ’s Bob-Be-Que Shack, 46
(4) Jazzy B’s, 29 vs. (5) Point & Flat BBQ, 59
Que Review
No Sweat Bet:
Out of all the BBQ joints in all the towns in all the world, only Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que made Anthony Bourdain’s 13 Places to Eat Before You Die. They were always going to be a factor in this tournament. Smokehouse Barbecue learned that the hard way, managing just 19% of the vote.
Underdog Hits:
When Cinderella takes Cinderella to the ball, someone’s glass slipper is bound to fall off early. Moose’s BBQ made sure it wasn’t theirs, knocking off Shawnee’s Bates City BBQ with 59% of the vote.
Backdoor Cover:
Kansas City Smoked - the craft barbeque trailer and pop-up - has been building momentum for the past year in KC’s ‘que scene. This time, they rode it into a furious late rally, knocking off longtime Kansas City favorite, Hayward’s, by the narrowest of margins.
Public Money:
Oh, we got trouble right here, right here in Kansas City. With a capital T - and in this bracket, that stands for Texas. In a fight for Kansas City’s crown, the appetites have shifted decidedly Texan. After 7/9 of the craft pits in the bracket advanced to this round, all seven of them punched their tickets to the Saucy Sixteen. The highlight was Smoak Craft’s stunning upset of #2 Jack Stack Barbecue. KC’s scene is shifting.
House Money:
In a battle of Kansan BBQ trucks, Smoke ‘n’ Seoul had the final word. With their victory over BBQ shack, the play-in darlings became the first KCQ Crown competitor to rack up three wins.
Main Event:
The number of messages we got about this matchup - forcing people to choose between Q39 and Hawg Jaw - was surprising at first, then quickly turned comical. This is Kansas City barbeque. Who expected there to be easy choices? This isn’t for the faint of heart. But in the end, the crowd made themselves heard, squealing, “Wee! Wee! Wee!” for Q39, and sending Hawg Jaw to the market.
The Saucy Sixteen
This is where the bracket finally began to tighten.
At this point, with three-quarters of the field eliminated, there were no flukes. No easy outs. Everyone’s a contender.
This was the round where the KCQ Crown stopped being a game, and things got very real.
Making the Saucy Sixteen is, in itself, an accomplishment, worthy of celebration. But, at this level, nobody was popping champagne. For BBQ joints of this caliber, it was never enough to be Top 16, when the Elite Ate was only one win away.
The Saucy Sixteen is where the bracket tightened. IMAGE CREDIT - disKCovery
Vinegar Region
Thursday, March 26, 2026
(1) Harp Barbecue, 45 vs. (4) Q39, 55
(3) Scott’s Kitchen & Catering, 54 vs. (7) Smoak Craft BBQ, 46
Tomato Region
Thursday, March 26, 2026
(1) Slap’s BBQ, 63 vs. (5) Kansas City Smoked, 37
(2) Meat Mitch, 48 vs. (11) Smoke ‘n’ Seoul, 52
Molasses Region
Thursday, March 26, 2026
(1) Chef J BBQ, 63 vs. (4) Blind Box BBQ, 37
(2) Wolfpack BBQ & Burgers, 55 vs.(14) Moose’s BBQ, 45
Sugar & Spice Region
Thursday, March 26, 2026
(1) Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que, 63 vs. (5) Point & Flat BBQ, 37
(2) Char Bar, 61 vs. (3) 3Halves Brew Pub & BBQ, 39
Que Review
No Sweat Bet:
Chef J never flinched. The margin of victory kept shrinking, but the pressure never really rose; Kansas City Magazine’s Top BBQ Joint of 2023 was always in control. Blind Box kept looking for a window for victory that just wasn’t there.
Underdog Hits:
“DOWN GOES HARP! DOWN GOES HARP!” A 1 vs. 4 isn’t exactly an all-time upset spot, but when the top overall seed of the tourney falls this early; it’s news. Harp’s recent Westport pop-ups may be making some noise, but Q39 still runs that neighborhood.
Backdoor Cover:
Moose’s BBQ had us thinking they had it in the first half; not gonna lie. But then, Wolfpack BBQ rallied the troops, and the clock finally struck midnight for the Cinderella from Gardner.
Public Money:
There’s a youth movement in one of Kansas City’s most storied traditions. Of the 16 pits in this round, only one existed before Facebook. Most aren’t even teenagers! And just like that, Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que went from young, righteous dude to established veteran. Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while… you could miss it.
House Money:
Something special is happening in Gardner, Kansas, where a pair of BBQ trucks were the early story of the tournament. But in the town “where the trails divide”, Moose’s path led back home, while Smoke ‘n’ Seoul kept chugging into the Elite Ate.
Main Event:
Typically, familiarity breeds contempt - but not here. Former partners at Kauffman Stadium, Scott’s Kitchen and Smoak Craft brought nothing but respect into a highly anticipated matchup. Scott’s was happy to get the W, but stayed humble, knowing exactly who they had to beat to advance.
The Elite Ate
The Elite Ate brought some tough matchups. IMAGE CREDIT - disKCovery
By the quarterfinals, the players were well-established. The storylines were known.
Maybe you had your hero - the pit that you had backed every step of the way. Or, perhaps your attention was stolen by a scrappy underdog, or a place you had cast as the villain. At this point, you may have been voting because of who you didn’t want to win.
Regardless, the voters of Kansas City were invested. And as a result, a new crisis arose.
The top pits - the ones our voters had supported - were now facing off against each other. For some, it was a real Sophie’s Choice.
Who moves on? Who should go home? There was no margin for error.
A trip to the Fiery Four was on the line. So close to the crown, but oh, so far away!
Vinegar Region
Friday, March 27, 2026
(4) Q39, 32 vs. (3) Scott’s Kitchen & Catering, 68
Tomato Region
Friday, March 27, 2026
(1) Slap’s BBQ, 48 vs. (11) Smoke ‘n’ Seoul, 52
Molasses Region
Friday, March 27, 2026
(1) Chef J BBQ, 41vs. (2) Wolfpack BBQ & Burgers, 59
Sugar & Spice Region
Friday, March 27, 2026
(1) Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que, 67 vs. (2) Char Bar, 33
Que Review
No Sweat Bet:
The KCQ Crown may be new, but it just felt like Joe’s has been here before. A championship pedigree, forged on the competition circuit; Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que continued their impressive run, winning every matchup so far by at least 25% of the vote.
Underdog Hits:
So much for the stories being already written - this one kept writing itself. How much does Smoke ‘n’ Seoul’s barbeque slap if Smoke ‘n’ Seoul just slapped Slap’s? Another perennial power fell! Like George Mason over UConn in 2006, we’ll remember this 11-seed triumph for some time.
Public Money:
After a tighter regional semifinal, the expectation was that matchups would only get closer. Instead, the opposite happened. Relative to the round: these were blowouts. The only exception? That scrappy 11-seed squeaking out a 2% margin for the second straight round.
Main Event:
The KCQ Crown may be new, but it just felt like Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que had been here before. A championship pedigree, forged on the competition circuit, showed in this matchup. Meeting up with the ever-popular face of a new generation of KCQ, the hype was there, but Joe’s dominance continued.
The Fiery Four
"Oh God. Is the Fiery Four going to end in a pair of ties?"
The Fiery Four, somehow, exceeded the hype. IMAGE CREDIT - disKCovery
I texted my brother on Monday night as that round came to a close.
The nature of the voting made ties a possibility the whole way. But now, not one, but two ties were on the table - and in the semifinals no less! [2]
With about 15 minutes left, both matchups sat at exactly 50/50.
Votes kept coming. The lines kept moving. But no one could create separation.
I was on pins and needles, watching it shift in real time. Lead change after lead change. Every time one BBQ spot pulled ahead, the other answered.
There was no room to breathe.
No margin for error.
There were only moments - and the uncertainty of an invisible clock.
Those in the heat of competition, and those watching at home, could feel the pressure mounting.
One even called on me to "blow the whistle".
All four competitors continued to hang around, but Wolfpack BBQ and Smoke 'n' Seoul weren't satisfied to "hang around".
They came to win.
And in the final minutes of the matchup, both made their move.
Like Braylon Mullins, they pulled up from the logo, draining it at the buzzer and punching their tickets to the Final.
Vinegar Region vs. Molasses Region
Sunday, March 29, 2026
(3) Scott’s Kitchen, 48 vs. (2) Wolfpack BBQ & Burgers, 52
Tomato Region vs. Sugar & Spice Region
Sunday, March 29, 2026
(11) Smoke ‘n’ Seoul, 51 vs. (1) Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que, 49
Que Review
No Sweat Bet:
There was no “No Sweat Bet”. We sweated all of these.
Backdoor Cover:
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: Smoke ’n’ Seoul walks into a KCQ Crown matchup, storms back from an early deficit, and edges out a #1 seed. From playing in the tournament’s first contest to securing a spot in its last, the Seoul Survivors struck again - pulling off a stunner in dramatic fashion.
Main Event:
In one corner, we had Wolfpack BBQ - Los Lobos, the craft ’que kids of Columbus Park! In the other, the Northland Knockout, the Pride of Platte County, the Yelp! King - Scott’s Kitchen! Two champions of a new generation. Two relative newcomers. Both ready to rumble. But only one hand (or in this case, paw) could be raised. A brutal back-and-forth, but when the final bell rang: Wolfpack stood tall.
The Crown Final
This was a championship that no one saw coming. IMAGE CREDIT - disKCovery
“Who the hell is Smoke ‘n’ Seoul?”
In the last week, I had to answer that question more times than I could count. disKCovery’s Instagram was overwhelmed with DMs. Friends and family texted. Coworkers asked. Strangers commented.
My brother Ryan even compared the meteoric rise of the Cardiac Kimchi Kids to #VoteOmar in 2015.
But, a statement like that assumes they didn’t deserve to be here.
Slaying one giant might be luck.
Two? That’s definitely a trend.
Named Kansas City Magazine’s Best BBQ Food Truck in 2025, Smoke ‘n’ Seoul operates out of Gardner, Kansas, popping up all across the metro. What makes them unique is how they blend traditional Korean flavors with Kansas City barbeque staples to create something that truly stands alone.
On the other hand, from a stylistic perspective, Wolfpack BBQ hardly stands alone.
They’re part of a new wave of Central Texas-inspired barbeque that represents a small, but growing, slice of the city’s scene. What sets Wolfpack apart is their pedigree. With direct influence from early adopters like Scott’s Kitchen, Jousting Pigs, and Fox & Fire, they represent the culmination of a community raising the bar for a new generation.
While Smoke ‘n’ Seoul was making headlines, Wolfpack quietly stacked wins on the other side of the bracket. They stood on business, biding their time, ready to emerge as one of the city’s elite.
If Smoke ‘n’ Seoul’s story needed telling, Wolfpack’s was already canon.
So, what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?
Turns out, the object doesn’t budge.
The Final
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
(2) Wolfpack BBQ & Burgers, 66 vs. (11) Smoke ‘n’ Seoul, 34
Que Review: The Entire Bracket
No Sweat Bet:
In the history of March Madness, no team has ever won a seventh game. The same held true for the KCQ Crown. Smoke 'n' Seoul were looking to do just that, but the little yellow food truck finally ran out of gas. After an epic Fiery Four, the Final was almost anticlimactic. Wolfpack BBQ jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, dispatching the tournament's giant slayers to claim the crown.
Underdog Hits:
The 13s and 15s went winless - not exactly shocking. What was surprising? The 6 seeds rounding out that unfortunate trio. All four fell in the opening round, as the 11s came to play and flipped the bracket early.
Backdoor Cover:
While many blue bloods fell early, it took everything to beat them. Gates Bar-B-Que went down by the narrowest possible margin. Arthur Bryant's followed in a similarly tight finish. Jack Stack, J
Joe's, and Slap's all saw their title hopes fade in agonizingly close contests. But as any racer will tell you, "It don't matter if you win by an inch or a mile. Winning's winning."
House Money:
In the words of Anthony Edwards, it might be time to "bring ya ass" to Gardner, Kansas. Or better yet, let Gardner come to you. A truck and trailer out of Garnder became the Cinderella stories of the KCQ Crown. Moose's BBQ danced all the way to the Saucy Sixteen. Smoke 'n' Seoul well all the way to the Final. Turns out in both cases, the only thing that could stop a Gardnerella... was a pack of wolves.
Public Money:
Craft is king. That much was clear prior to Wolfpack's coronation. Of the nine Texas-inspired craft spots in the field, seven reached the Saucy Sixteen. One-third of that round wasn't brick and mortar. Even the "old guard" in later rounds were the competition spots that, not long ago, were considered the new kids in 'que. The face of Kansas City barbeque is changing, and the legacies felt it.
Main Event:
As is often the case in March, the semifinals outshone the championship. Thousands of votes poured in, but no round matched the energy, or participation, of the Fiery Four. Both matchups were nailbiters, decided by 1 or 2 percentage points in the final moments. It was everything you could've asked for in a primetime event, and more.
68 pits entered, but only Wolfpack BBQ could wear the KCQ Crown. IMAGE CREDIT - disKCovery
Well, there you have it.
For the first time in 86 years, Kansas City barbeque has a new king.
Chosen not by proclamation, but by the only type of consensus that matters this time of year: survival in a single-elimination bracket.
When I seeded this thing, I didn’t know what to expect. I just knew Kansas City would make itself heard; and it did.
But what exactly did we hear?
Was the youth movement - and the struggle of legacy spots - just March madness?
A referendum on barbeque?
A commentary on who uses Instagram?
A reflection of fan base passion?
An exercise in open democracy?
A measure of the best pit in Kansas City?
Or, was it all of the above?
Regardless, Kansas City.
BEHOLD YOUR NEW KING! Wolfpack BBQ & Burgers, the inaugural victors of the KCQ Crown, have claimed the BBQ Capital’s throne.
But, here’s the thing about monarchies.
They’re fickle.
When you play games for thrones, you either win or lose. There is no middle ground. And, if this tournament proved anything, it’s that there’s no shortage of challengers.
Ultimately, that’s why we love March.
Because, when you give every deserving pit a true shot at the crown - ANYTHING can happen.
Those Pesky Endnotes I Often Insist Upon
I was told that someone I respect, who shall remain nameless, was confused by the voting protocol. They wondered why I was shutting down each contest at 100 votes. To which the other person had to point out the obvious: the scores shown are by percentage. Thousands of votes were cast throughout the KCQ Crown.
CLICK HERE TO RESUME READINGWhile tie-breaking protocols had been put in place prior to the tournament, I had no desire to enact them. Nobody wanted to see that - especially to determine both spots playing for the Crown.
CLICK HERE TO RESUME READING
What was your favorite matchup of the tourney? How’d your favorite spot do? What result still has you heartbroken? Let me hear it in the comments!
