The WORST episodes of Tournament of Champions
Every episode of Tournament of Champions ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Tournament of Champions!
A culinary competition hosted by Guy Fieri where 16 of the nation's most celebrated chefs face off. During the five-part tournament, the chefs' skills will be pushed to the limit, as they go head-to-head in a single elimination bracket-style competition, where a randomizer machine determines the protein, produce, equipment, cooking style, and time for each of the cook-offs.
#1 - Don't Mess with the Randomizer
Season 7 - Episode 6 - Aired 4/5/2026
The second round heats up as Guy Fieri welcomes the final Super 16 chefs to battle for the remaining four spots in the Great 8. Who will head home to train for next year and who will keep their championship dreams alive and move closer to the belt, the coveted title, and $150,000?
#2 - Another Icon Is Revealed
Season 7 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/8/2026
Guy Fieri continues the first-round battles with four more intense sudden death matchups as Last Bite Hotel winner Nini Nguyen takes on pasta maestro Joe Sasto. Then, James Beard semifinalist Kevin Lee battles Chopped champion Adam Greenberg, and three-time Tournament of Champions semifinalist Britt Rescigno goes up against Michelin-starred Giuseppe Tentori. In the final battle of the night, the second mystery culinary icon is revealed to take on qualifier winner Katsuji Tanabe.
#3 - East Wild Card Play-In
Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/14/2021
Guy Fieri welcomes four of the best chefs from the East to vie for the 8th seed in the East bracket of the main tournament. The four chefs have to battle each other, face the dreaded Randomizer and survive the blind judging. The last chef standing makes it into the main bracket kick-off.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#4 - The Super 16 Survivors
Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 3/26/2023
Guy Fieri welcomes eight more Super 16 chefs to face off against each other in sudden death battles. The surf-and-turf randomizer continues as four winning chefs will move on into the Great Eight, and four will be sent packing.
#5 - The Super 16 Sudden Death
Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 4/3/2022
Guy Fieri welcomes eight more Super 16 chefs to face off against each other in sudden death battles. Four winning chefs will move on to the Great Eight round, and four will be sent packing.
#6 - Final Face-Offs of the First Round
Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/12/2023
Guy Fieri matches up the remaining eight chefs for the final round of jaw-dropping sudden death battles. Four culinary powerhouses will move onto the round of 16, while four losing chefs will head home to begin their training for next year.
Watch Now:Apple TV#7 - The World's Greatest Culinary Competition Returns
Season 6 - Episode 1 - Aired 3/2/2025
Host Guy Fieri kicks off the sixth year of the biggest and most intense competition in the culinary world. Top-scoring chefs from last year are back, and a handful of newcomers with the potential to win it all are stepping into the arena for the first time. Plus, now that all four TOC champs have hung up their aprons, there will be a guaranteed new champion this season! Who will win the belt, the coveted title and the $150,000?
#8 - Down to the Top Four
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/25/2020
Host Guy Fieri continues the tournament, with the battles growing fiercer. One promising chef learns the hard way that there's no margin for error. Only four chefs remain, setting the stage for a no-holds-barred finale where only one competitor will emerge victorious.
#9 - Round One Continues
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/11/2020
Guy Fieri presides over tense battles as six new chefs fight desperately to advance out of the first round of the Tournament of Champions. Friendships are tested, reputations are on the line, and rivals go head-to-head in a nail-biting clash for the ages.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#10 - The Tournament Kicks Off
Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 2/27/2022
Host Guy Fieri reveals the seeds and matchups to all 32 chefs before kicking off round one with four one-on-one sudden death battles. Four chefs will move on to round two, and four will be going home to train for next year.
#11 - The Biggest Culinary Tournament Is Back
Season 7 - Episode 1 - Aired 3/1/2026
The seventh year of the world's ultimate culinary competition kicks off! Host Guy Fieri welcomes 32 world-class chefs going head-to-head in kitchen combat, including returning warriors, fresh new fighters, and four top-seeded, intimidating culinary icons who remain a mystery until they enter the arena. Every spin of the randomizer, every dish, and every blind judging is make or break. Who will win the belt, the coveted Tournament of Champions VII title, and the $150,000?
#12 - A Champion is Crowned
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 4/1/2020
Host Guy Fieri concludes the Tournament of Champions with two stunning semifinal battles and an epic finale that rocks the food world and crowns an unforgettable new champion.
#13 - West Wild Card Play-In
Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 3/7/2021
Tournament of Champions is back! There were so many chefs clamoring to get into the bracket that Guy Fieri expanded the tournament to include two wild card play-in rounds. Four incredible chefs from the West compete in exciting sudden death culinary matches, and the last chef standing will win the coveted 8th seed in the West bracket.
#14 - The Great 8 Are Here
Season 7 - Episode 7 - Aired 4/12/2026
Guy Fieri welcomes the triumphant Great 8 back to the arena for the fiercest quarterfinals in Tournament of Champions history. In four sudden death battles, eight world-class chefs face an amped-up randomizer as the categories go international this round.
Watch Now:Apple TV#15 - The Super 16 Show Out
Season 7 - Episode 5 - Aired 3/29/2026
Guy Fieri kicks off the second round by welcoming the victorious Super 16 back to the arena for four unmissable matchups. The randomizer ramps up and pushes the chefs to their limits as four competitors advance closer to claiming the championship belt, the prestigious title, and the $150,000 prize, while four chefs are sent home to regroup and prepare for next season.
#16 - The Final Icon Is Revealed
Season 7 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/22/2026
In the final four first-round battles, Guy Fieri welcomes TOC VI semifinalist Lee Anne Wong to face off against Iron Chef Stephanie Izard. Then, 24 in 24 winner Marcel Vigneron takes on James Beard semifinalist David Viana, and TOC VI quarterfinalist Kaleena Bliss battles Michelin master Adam Sobel. In the last battle of the night, the fourth and final mystery culinary icon is revealed to take on qualifier winner Kenny Gilbert.
#17 - Just Win
Season 7 - Episode 3 - Aired 3/15/2026
Guy Fieri continues the first-round battles as James Beard nominee Dale Talde faces off against House of Knives winner Shirley Chung. Then, Tournament of Champions: All-Star Christmas winner Bryan Voltaggio takes on returning chef Carlos Anthony, and Tournament of Champions VI runner-up Sara Bradley goes toe-to-toe with qualifier winner Dan Jacobs. In the final battle of the night, the third mystery culinary icon is revealed to take on qualifier winner Viet Pham.
#18 - Surf & Turf Battles
Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 3/19/2023
Guy welcomes the 16 remaining chefs into the arena to congratulate them on making it out of the first round. After matching up eight chefs for the next round of battles, he reveals the randomizer twist -- double the proteins! The chefs will have to make surf-and-turf dishes in each round with the combination decided by the randomizer. As always, four chefs move one step closer to winning the championship belt, and four chefs head home.
#19 - Final Eight Revealed
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 3/18/2020
Host Guy Fieri takes the Tournament of Champions to the next level as an intense second round begins. Pressure mounts for the final eight chefs as the competition and judging get tougher, and a shocking result makes it clear that no chef is safe.
#20 - Round One Continues
Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/28/2021
Guy Fieri hosts as Tournament of Champions continues with first round battles. In one-on-one sudden death confrontations, three chefs conquer their opponents and the Randomizer to move on to the quarterfinals, and three chefs are eliminated and head home.
#21 - The Randomizer Strikes Back
Season 6 - Episode 6 - Aired 4/6/2025
The second-round battles continue as Guy Fieri invites the last of the Super 16 to fight for the remaining four spots in the Great 8. Who will continue their quest to win the belt, the coveted title and the $150,000, and who will be sent packing?
Watch Now:Apple TV
#22 - Leave It All on the Floor
Season 6 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/23/2025
In the final four battles of the first round, Guy Fieri welcomes revered Chopped judge Amanda Freitag to face off against qualifier winner Carlos Anthony. Then, James Beard nominated Dale Talde takes on Chopped Legend Sara Bradley, and newcomer Claudette Zepeda battles Last Bite Hotel winner Nini Nguyen. In the last first-round battle, qualifier winner David Viana attempts to take down former TOC finalist Tobias Dorzon.
#23 - And the Belt Goes To ...
Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 4/9/2023
Guy Fieri sets up four culinary titans for two epic semi-final battles, and the two chefs left standing will clash in a final head-to-head championship face-off. Only one contender will take home the belt, $100,000 in cash and, most importantly, the title of TOC Champion.
#24 - The Bracket Begins
Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 3/21/2021
Guy Fieri welcomes the final 16 chefs into the Tournament of Champions arena and reveals the new and returning chefs' seeds and matchups. The first round battles begin, and in three one-on-one sudden death battles, three chefs move on to the quarterfinals and three chefs are sent home.
#25 - If You Can't Take the Heat...
Season 6 - Episode 3 - Aired 3/16/2025
Guy Fieri continues the Tournament of Champions VI first-round battles with four more intense one-on-one sudden death matches. Superstar chef Joe Sasto faces off against seasoned veteran Fabio Viviani, and Top Chef all-star Lee Anne Wong takes on returning chef Chris Scott. Then, Karen Akunowicz goes toe-to-toe with fellow James Beard winner Jonathon Sawyer. In the final battle of the night, four-time finalist Jet Tila takes on qualifier winner Pyet DeSpain.