'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Tournament of Champions is a cooking competition on Food Network in which top chefs compete in high-pressure challenges. The show began in 2020, and Brooke Williamson won the first season by defeating Amanda Freitag in a close finale. Her win showed how skilled and focused she was under pressure.
Disclaimer: This Tournament of Champions article is based on the writer's opinion. Readers' discretion is advised.
But even with that history, her journey in later seasons was not easy. In season 2, she reached the semifinals but lost to Maneet Chauhan, who went on to win the title. In season 3, she advanced to the quarterfinals. By season 5, Brooke returned once again, but her run was unfortunately cut short.
In season 5, she was eliminated early, losing in the second round to Kevin Lee by just one point, 88–87. The episode aired in February 2024, and the result surprised many viewers.
Trending
Brooke Williamson’s early exit after her season 1 win highlights just how unpredictable Tournament of Champions can be. The show’s format—featuring blind judging and random cooking challenges—means that even past winners are never guaranteed a win.
Brooke Williamson’s season 1 win in Tournament of Champions
Brooke Williamson made history by becoming the first-ever champion of Tournament of Champions in 2020. She entered the competition as a known chef but wasn’t considered a frontrunner by many. Throughout the season, she won over viewers and judges alike with her calm focus, creativity, and strong execution under pressure.
She defeated Jet Tila in the semifinals and faced Amanda Freitag in the final round. The finale was one of the closest in the show’s history, ending with a score of 88–87 in Brooke’s favor. In an article published by AP News in February 2025, Brooke Williamson’s journey on the show was highlighted.
“I went into it with very few expectations, and I think that probably helped me in a lot of ways. Having everyone else have low expectations of me as well made it so that I was the only one putting pressure on myself,” Brooke said.
Host Guy Fieri also admitted to being surprised by her performance, noting that he didn’t know her and she just "knocked it out.”
In my view, Brooke’s victory set a new tone for the show’s format. It proved that reputation alone doesn’t determine the outcome. Even without much fanfare, a chef could walk in and win it all — if the food was good enough. That’s part of what made Tournament of Champions feel different from other cooking competitions right from the beginning.
Season 5: An unexpected early departure
Brooke Williamson returned in season 5, and many thought she had a good chance to go far in the competition. However, in a surprising result, she was eliminated in the second round by Kevin Lee, an 8th seed who had advanced through the qualifiers. Their match was very close, and Lee won by just one point, 88–87.
"I didn't think I had a chance today," Lee told after winning.
This result was unexpected, especially since Brooke had done well in previous seasons. It showed how unpredictable Tournament of Champions can be. Even chefs who have won before can lose early because of the show’s format. With blind judging and random cooking challenges, each round presents a new challenge for everyone, regardless of their experience.
These types of results demonstrate that chefs must be prepared for anything. They have to stay sharp every time they cook. In Tournament of Champions, even small mistakes can lead to elimination, making every season unique and unpredictable.
In season 6, Brooke Williamson returned to Tournament of Champions, not as a competitor but as a judge. After competing for five straight seasons and winning the first title in 2020, her shift to the judging panel marked a full-circle moment. Speaking to New York magazine in March 2025, she said:
“I think that I understand the position of the competitors maybe more than a lot of the other judges who haven’t competed.”
While the judging role came with less stress, Brooke admitted it was still tough to evaluate dishes made by close friends. She joined the judging panel alongside fellow champions Maneet Chauhan and Mei Lin, bringing the perspective of someone who had faced the Randomizer and the pressure of blind judging.
All six seasons of Tournament of Champions, including Brooke Williamson’s journey from champion to judge, are now streaming on Food Network.
