ONO x Grisu Triumphs at the Grillup WBQA European Championships in Plancha Grilling
The ONO x Grisu team was delighted to win the Grillup WBQA Grand European Champion 2026 title.
Wild West BBQ (top) finished second overall, closely followed by BBQ aus Massen, who took third place.
What a barbecue weekend at the FIRE&FOOD BBQ WEEK in Cologne! In the first Grillup WBQA European Plancha Championship 2026, teams battled for points, category wins, and the overall victory on the hot plate on September 5th and 6th. A total of seven teams were judged in six categories. In the end, ONO x Grisu celebrated the title "WBQA Grand European Champion" with a total score of 294.450 points.
Wild West BBQ and BBQ aus Massen fiercely competed for the remaining podium spots. Wild West BBQ finished second overall with 288.200 points, closely followed by BBQ aus Massen, which secured third place with 280.300 points. The race was tight behind them as well: Black Perl BBQ Crew came in fourth with 279.450 points, and JKrainer Grill & BBQ Team followed in fifth place with 278.400 points. Fireabend Smoke Crew (268.550) and Grizzly Pandas (239.950) completed the field. Wim Vink, CEO of the World Barbecue Association (WBQA), together with Grillup jury chairman, Chef Chris Sandford, Grillup initiator Elmar Fetscher, and WBQA Chief Operating Officer Mona Sandford, presented the trophies and certificates to the newly crowned Plancha champions.
ONO x Grisu showcased its class in several categories. The team was particularly strong in Fish & Side Dish, where they took first place with 51.900 points. In the Poultry & Side Dish category, the Black Perl BBQ Crew was tied with an equally strong 49.050 points, but ONO x Grisu also remained in the top group for the other courses. For Vegetarian Dish (sweet), they achieved third place with 52.100 points, and for Lamb with Bone & Side Dish, they came in second with 50.050 points.
If any team challenged ONO x Grisu for the overall victory, it was Wild West BBQ. The title "WBQA Reserve Grand European Champion" was underpinned by strong performances in several disciplines. With 53.350 points, Wild West BBQ secured first place and thus the highest single score in the Vegetarian Dish (sweet) category. They also won a category for Lamb with Bone & Side Dish with 50.650 points. For Beef & Side Dish, the team came in third.
BBQ aus Massen also had reason to celebrate. The team not only secured third place overall but also won the Beef & Side Dish category with 46.150 points. BBQ aus Massen also demonstrated its class in the Vegetarian Dish (sweet) and finished second with 52.600 points. They took third place in the Lamb with Bone & Side Dish. The team diligently collected points throughout the competition and ultimately earned a deserved "WBQA 3rd Place European Champion" on the overall podium.
The JKrainer Grill & BBQ Team also snatched a category win. In the Pork without Bone & Side Dish, the team left the competition behind and scored 50.250 points. Black Perl BBQ Crew, Fireabend Smoke Crew, and Grizzly Pandas also intensely grilled for every point. The narrow margins in the midfield particularly show how fiercely contested the individual courses were. The complete results can be DOWNLOADED AS A PDF HERE.
Overview of Category Winners:
- Fish & Side Dish: ONO x Grisu – 51.900 points
- Poultry & Side Dish: ONO x Grisu (and Black Perl BBQ Crew) – 49.050 points each
- Vegetarian Dish (sweet): Wild West BBQ – 53.350 points
- Pork without Bone & Side Dish: JKrainer Grill & BBQ Team – 50.250 points
- Lamb with Bone & Side Dish: Wild West BBQ – 50.650 points
- Beef & Side Dish: BBQ aus Massen – 46.150 points
Overview of Category Runners-up:
- Fish & Side Dish: Black Perl BBQ Crew – 47.200 points
- Poultry & Side Dish: Black Perl BBQ Crew – 49.050 points
- Vegetarian Dish (sweet): BBQ aus Massen – 52.600 points
- Pork without Bone & Side Dish: Wild West BBQ – 49.900 points
- Lamb with Bone & Side Dish: ONO x Grisu – 50.050 points
- Beef & Side Dish: Fireabend Smoke Crew – 45.900 points
In the end, overall performance counts—and ONO x Grisu had a slight edge. With a 6.25-point lead, the team secured the overall victory over Wild West BBQ. A weekend that once again showed: on the plancha, it's not just about the heat—but primarily about who consistently delivers the best griddle goods across multiple courses.
