On Saturday, Chillicothe-based business SmokinGhost BBQ secured the top spot in the brisket category of the Kansas City Barbecue Society World Invitational Championship’s Wells Cup contest. The team received a perfect score of 180 in the category.
The 7th annual World Invitational Championship was held in Lebanon, Tennessee, from May 23 through May 25. SmokinGhost BBQ was among 106 championship teams which faced off in the Wells Cup Contest.
“The BBQ competition included cooking Chicken, Pork Ribs, Pork Butt and Beef Brisket,” a press release from the business noted. “Overall, (SmokinGhost BBQ) tied for first place over the four categories, however after the tiebreaking procedures SmokinGhostBBQ ended up in second place as Reserve Grand Champions.”
The top three teams each ended with a total score of 705.6800.
SmokinGhost BBQ earned 8th place in the pork category, 10th place in the pork ribs category and 66th place in the chicken category. In each category, the team received a score of 170.8228 or higher.
Earlier this year, SmokinGhost BBQ competed in the 2025 American Royal World Series of Barbecue Sauce Contest. The establishment finished in first place for the specialty sauce category – where its Haunted Heat sauce received a perfect score.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Chillicothe business earns first place in brisket category of BBQ competition
Reporting by Cassidy Waigand, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
