Getting a 4 out of 9 on your first try at a big comp like the Royal stings, I bet. But man, having a judge walk you through exactly what went wrong is worth more than the score. Most people just get a number back and never learn a thing. That feedback is gold if you actually use it. First brisket is always rough, nobody nails it out of the gate. Take those notes, tweak your cook, and run it back next time.