Key Takeaways
- Your total score is the sum of category averages across all ratings you received
- 1st tiebreaker: the participant with higher individual category scores wins
- 2nd tiebreaker: the participant who hosted their dinner first wins
- 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.
Per-Category Scores
The system compares scores category by category, in the order defined by the competition (e.g., Taste first, then Presentation, then Creativity). The participant who scored higher in the first differing category wins.
This tiebreaker rewards well-rounded excellence — excelling in one category can make the difference when total scores are identical.
Dinner Date
In the rare case where total score and every category score are identical, the system checks who hosted their dinner first. The participant with the earliest dinner date and time wins the tiebreaker.
This ensures there is always a definitive winner, even in the rarest of cases where scores are completely identical across every category.
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 = 12.8 (Taste 4.5, Presentation 4.3, Creativity 4.0)
Bruno: Total = 12.8 (Taste 4.3, Presentation 4.5, Creativity 4.0)
Carla: Total = 11.5 (Taste 4.0, Presentation 3.5, Creativity 4.0)
Result: Ana and Bruno are tied at 12.8. The system compares category by category: Taste is checked first — Ana scored 4.5 vs. Bruno's 4.3, 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.