I believe Tournament of Champions’ bracket format limits the chefs more than it challenges them

Tournament of Champions season 6 ended on April 20, 2025, with Antonia Lofaso winning the title after defeating Sara Bradley in the final round. Hosted by Guy Fieri, the show followed its usual single-elimination bracket format, pairing chefs based on their seed rankings and subjecting them to challenges determined by the Randomizer.

As always, the judging remained blind, with chefs unaware of which judge reviewed their dish. The season featured close calls and narrow margins. One of the tightest matches came in the semifinals when Antonia Lofaso edged past Britt Rescigno by just one point.

Throughout the competition, several experienced chefs were eliminated early due to Randomizer combinations and one-time execution errors.

**Disclaimer: This Tournament of Champions article is based on the writer's opinion. Readers' discretion is advised.**

In my opinion, while the format adds excitement, it also creates limitations — especially for chefs who may need more than one opportunity to demonstrate their full range in the kitchen. The single-elimination setup means that even a highly skilled chef can be sent home due to one unlucky Randomizer draw, a minor technical error, or a slight miscalculation.

This not only cuts their journey short but also prevents viewers from seeing the depth of what they’re capable of. When the goal is to find the best among some of the most accomplished culinary professionals, a format that offers no second chances may not be the most effective way to do it.

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The bracket format of Tournament of Champions often reduces consistency to chance

The current single-elimination bracket rewards survival but leaves no space for recovery. A chef can enter as a top seed and exit after one loss, even if their performance across the season would have otherwise shown consistency. In my opinion, this format favors immediate results over a holistic view of culinary talent.

During season 6, chefs like Mei Lin and Shirley Chung were eliminated early, despite past successes and strong reputations. Britt Rescagno reflected on her finale loss,

“This is the hardest thing.You put everything into it, and sometimes it doesn't work out. It just felt like it this year, it really felt like it,” she shared.

Jet Tila, who has consistently reached the semifinals in multiple seasons of Tournament of Champions, reflected on his experiences in a 2024 interview with Reality Blurred,

“Well, I think I’m a true expert at losing in the final four. There’s always a scar, you know what I mean?” he shared.

That quote reflects the pressure of single-round elimination. Even slight timing issues or unfamiliarity with ingredients can make the difference between advancing and going home.

In such a system, it’s not uncommon for chefs to play it safe instead of pushing creativity. With only one shot per round, most can’t afford risks. In my opinion, this discourages experimentation — something that’s essential to showcasing true mastery in a cooking competition.

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A multi-round or group format could better showcase talent

In my opinion, Tournament of Champions could benefit from adopting a more forgiving format in the early rounds. A group stage, where each chef competes in multiple battles before entering a knockout phase, would offer a more balanced assessment. This way, one unexpected Randomizer combo or technical error wouldn’t determine an entire season’s fate.

A double-elimination bracket is another alternative. This would still preserve the intensity of direct competition but allow for one mistake — something even the best chefs occasionally make. In an exclusive interview with Parade in 2022, Guy Fieri explained that winning on Tournament of Champions isn’t entirely in the chefs’ hands.

“It’s cook your best dish, put it on the plate, and it’s out of your hands,” he said.

This season saw unexpected eliminations and razor-thin victories. Viewers watched talented chefs exit early despite showing promise. If the format gave them another opportunity, the overall competition could become more layered — with evolving rivalries, strategic adjustments, and consistent storytelling across episodes.

In my opinion, the bracket format isn’t unfair — but it’s limited. As the show grows in popularity and the pool of talent deepens, it might be time for Tournament of Champions to evolve. By doing so, it can continue to celebrate excellence in cooking while allowing chefs the space to fully demonstrate it.

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All the episodes of Tournament of Champions are streaming on Food Network.