Tournament of Champions is making history—one woman at a time

In the high-stakes world of food competition shows, one trend is stirring the pot—Tournament of Champions is quietly rewriting history. Since its debut in 2020, the Food Network series has had five seasons, dozens of top-tier chefs, and countless culinary curveballs. But one record keeps repeating: every season finale has featured two women—and no man has ever won. Not once.

When Maneet Chauhan clinched the Season 5 crown—becoming the first two-time Tournament of Champions winner—chefs and viewers alike couldn’t ignore the pattern. From blind judging to unpredictable ingredient pairings, this show has created a level playing field unlike any other.

And while the Tournament of Champions is all about skills under pressure, it's also giving women chefs long-overdue recognition.

“Judge us on our food, not on who we are,”

Chauhan said. On this show, that’s not just possible—it’s the rule.

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What makes the Tournament of Champions different

The Tournament of Champions was born out of Guy Fieri’s desire to create a cooking show without the drama.

“This is the UFC of culinary,”

Fieri said.

“I want to cut the (BS) and just see the best of the best going through the most.”

There’s a spinning wheel that decides the protein, vegetable, equipment, cooking style, and time limit. No chef can prep ahead. One moment, they’re grilling octopus; the next, they’re sautéing cabbage with a pasta roller.

But what really sets the Tournament of Champions apart is its blind judging format. Judges have zero knowledge of who cooked the dish. They're kept away from the kitchen and only taste food after the chefs have left. The food speaks for itself—and that’s changing the game.

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The blind judging makes a big impact

Blind judging on Tournament of Champions isn’t just a gimmick—it’s a game-changer. Fieri insisted on it from the start.

“I want it to be fair,”

he said. Judges don’t see the contestants. They don’t hear their stories. They just taste the food and score it.

This levels the playing field in an industry known for its biases. James Beard Award winner Tiffani Faison, who won Season 3, called it a huge shift.

“It completely removes implicit bias. It’s just the food.”

she said.

That kind of setup is rare in televised competitions. Other shows often showcase the chefs’ personalities, backstories, and presentation styles. Here, the only thing that counts is execution. That’s helped Tournament of Champions become a space where skill wins—no matter the chef’s gender, fame, or background.

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Women are shining in professional kitchens

In the real world, professional kitchens still lean heavily toward males. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 23.3% of chefs and head cooks in the U.S. in 2023 were women. Globally, fewer than 6% of Michelin-starred restaurants are run by women. TV hasn’t been much better.

Mei Lin, Season 4 winner, thinks it’s partly about focus.

“We’re a lot more organized in the kitchen,”

she said.

“We just put our heads down and work.”

With the distractions gone and the judging blind, the playing field finally feels level—and women are seizing that moment.

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Even the underdogs can take the crown

One of the most exciting things about the Tournament of Champions is how often the underdog wins. Brooke Williamson, who won the very first season, wasn’t a household name at the time. She ended up beating well-known chefs like Jet Tila and Amanda Freitag.

“I went in with very few expectations, and having everyone else have low expectations of me helped. I was the only one putting pressure on myself,”

Williamson said.

That seems to be the show’s magic. Lesser-known chefs often surprise the veterans. There’s no safety net, no favoritism, and no telling what ingredients you’ll get. That unpredictability helps level the field—and it keeps viewers guessing.

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Why it matters for the next generation

Representation isn’t just a buzzword—it matters. Seeing women win on Tournament of Champions sends a strong message to the next generation of chefs, especially girls who don’t often see themselves in top kitchen roles.

Chauhan, who graduated top of her class in India and later beat 40 men for a head chef role, knows the power of visibility.

“What really makes a big difference is when there are young girls who look like me, who reach out and say, ‘You did it. I can do it too,’”

she said.

Winning once was powerful. Winning twice made history. But for Chauhan and others, it’s not just about the trophy—it’s about who sees it. And with Season 6 of Tournament of Champions now airing, the legacy is still unfolding.

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Who has won the Tournament of Champions so far?

Let’s recap the champions. Each season, a woman has taken the title:

• Season 1: Brooke Williamson
• Season 2: Maneet Chauhan
• Season 3: Tiffani Faison
• Season 4: Mei Lin
• Season 5: Maneet Chauhan (again)

That makes five-for-five. The only question now is: Will Season 6 keep the streak going? With the Tournament of Champions, anything can happen. But one thing’s clear: in this kitchen, women aren’t just competing—they’re dominating.