Based on feedback and ideas received, we are pleased to announce some exciting new elements into the Kansas City Barbeque Society Master Series Team of the Year program. Beginning at the launch of the 2021 KCBS Team of the Year season on November 1, 2020, we will add three new “Chases” within the Master Series. These new KCBS Master Series Chases will run alongside the annual KCBS Master Series Team of the Year program to create more opportunity for teams to compete on a similar level. The Chases will allow KCBS Master Series teams who may not be able to compete throughout the entire Team of the Year season to get a piece of the action during a given Chase. Chases were based on time periods with relatively equivalent numbers of contests in a typical year.
 
The KCBS Master Series Chases will be during these periods:
November 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021                             KCBS Master Series Chase 1
May 1, 2021 to July 31, 2021                                             KCBS Master Series Chase 2
August 1, 2021 to October 31, 2021                             KCBS Master Series Chase 3
 
Within each Chase prizes will be awarded to the top ten teams in the Master Series in each of the four main meat categories and overall. Points will accumulate in the same way as they do for the annual KCBS Team of the Year program, but only the top five scores within each KCBS Master Series Chase count for that chase’s prize pool. For example, during KCBS Master Series Chase 2, there are fourteen weekends to compete and a KCBS Master Series cook team’s five best scores during Chase 2 count toward awarding that Chase’s prizes. The annual KCBS Team of Year World Champion title will still count a Master Series team’s top 10 scores throughout the entire 2021 barbeque Team of the Year season.  “Winners for each Chase will receive their prize payouts along with the winning teams from the annual Team of the Year program at the KCBS Banquet, planned for November.”
 
“We look forward to a full year of competitions and feel these new “Chases” will provide more excitement throughout the year for all of the KCBS Master Series Teams. If you look at double-headers and potential Master Series single meat events, there may be even more opportunities to score points,” stated Emily Detwiler, CEO of KCBS. Cook teams must be KCBS members in good standing. Check your status at www.kcbs.us or call 816-765-5891.
 
Note: The overall 2021 KCBS Team of the Year programs for both Master Series and the newly added Backyard Series remain the same, with the winners being crowned in November of 2021. These chases will not impact the KCBS Backyard Team of the Year program, since it is still in its infancy and we are working to ensure it is successful on its own before adding more elements.