Key Takeaways
- Your total score is the sum of category averages across all ratings you received
- 1st tiebreaker: the participant with more ratings received wins
- 2nd tiebreaker: a deterministic system ID ensures there's always a clear winner
- Top 3 receive gold, silver, and bronze medals on the leaderboard
- The winner receives 85% of the total entry fees; 15% covers platform costs
In most Dine With Me competitions, there's a clear winner. But sometimes two (or more) participants end up with identical total scores. When that happens, the platform uses a transparent, automated tiebreaker system to determine the final ranking.
Here's exactly how it works.
How Scores Are Calculated
Before we get to tiebreakers, let's quickly recap the scoring process. If you want the full details, check out our guide on how rating categories work.
- Each participant rates every other competitor's dish on each category (1–5 stars)
- The platform calculates the average score per category for each participant
- All category averages are summed to produce a total score
- Participants are ranked by total score, highest to lowest
For example, if a competition has 3 categories and a participant receives average scores of 4.2 (Taste), 3.8 (Presentation), and 4.5 (Creativity), their total score would be 12.5.
You can't rate your own dish. This keeps the scores fair and prevents self-inflation.
The Tiebreaker System
When two or more participants have the same total score, Dine With Me applies tiebreakers in order until the tie is resolved:
Total Score (Primary Ranking)
The participant with the highest sum of category averages wins. This is the primary ranking metric, not a tiebreaker per se, but the first thing the system checks.
If scores are different, ranking is clear. If they're identical, we move to tiebreaker #1.
Number of Ratings Received
The participant who received more individual ratings wins the tie. The logic: if more people rated your dish, your score is based on a larger sample size, which makes it statistically more reliable.
This tiebreaker rewards engagement — being present, participating fully, and having your dish tasted by more people.
Deterministic System ID
In the extremely rare case where both total score and number of ratings are identical, the system falls back to the participant's internal system ID. This is a deterministic value (not random) that ensures there is always a definitive winner.
This final tiebreaker exists so the platform never shows an unresolved tie. In practice, it almost never activates because the first two tiebreakers resolve the vast majority of cases.
Want to see this scoring system in action?
Create a CompetitionAn Example in Action
Scenario
A competition with 5 participants and 3 rating categories (Taste, Presentation, Creativity). After all ratings are submitted:
Ana: Total score = 12.8 (received 4 ratings)
Bruno: Total score = 12.8 (received 3 ratings)
Carla: Total score = 11.5 (received 4 ratings)
Result: Ana and Bruno are tied at 12.8. The system applies tiebreaker #1 (number of ratings). Ana received 4 ratings vs. Bruno's 3, so Ana finishes 1st and Bruno finishes 2nd. Carla takes 3rd.
The entire process is automatic. Participants see the final leaderboard with medals and positions — no manual intervention needed.
Medals & Podium
The top 3 participants in every competition receive medals on the leaderboard:
Gold
1st Place
Silver
2nd Place
Bronze
3rd Place
Medals are displayed on the competition results page and also appear on participants' profiles, building a visible track record of their achievements over time.
Beyond the overall medals, the platform also recognizes the top scorer in each individual category. So even if you don't make the overall podium, you might still earn the "Best Taste" or "Most Creative" award for that competition.
Prize Distribution
When a competition has entry fees, the prize pool is distributed as follows:
- 85% of the total entry fees go to the 1st place winner
- 15% covers platform and payment processing costs
If the competition is set to Charity mode, the 85% goes to the charity organization of the winner's choice instead.
For free competitions (entry fee set to zero), there's no prize pool — just bragging rights, medals, and the satisfaction of a great evening with friends.
Prize distribution is fully automated. Winners receive their payout within 24 hours via Stripe. You never have to handle money or calculate splits manually.
Whether you're competing for a prize or just for fun, the tiebreaker system ensures every competition ends with a clear and fair result.
Ready to put your cooking (or creativity, or presentation) to the test? Create your first competition and let the scoring begin.