Food Network has revealed the release date for the highly anticipated seventh season of Guy Fieri’s “Tournament of Champions” along with the first details about the new installment’s big twist.
Per Food Network’s description for “Tournament of Champions” Season 7, “the top-seeded chefs in every division will be food world icons, four of the most powerful opponents to ever compete on the series, but their identities will remain a secret until the moment they enter the arena. Every battle will be head-to-head; every spin of the randomizer will keep competitors on their toes and viewers on the edge of their seats, and every dish is make-or-break. After eight weeks and 31 grueling head-to-head battles, one talented chef will win it all and be crowned champion, taking home the coveted Tournament of Champions belt and a $150,000 cash prize.”
The new season will debut March 1 at 8 p.m. and stream the following day on HBO Max and Discovery+. Episodes will air weekly on Food Network and stream on HBO Max and Discovery+ through the “Tournament of Champions” Season 7 finale, which is set for April 19.
Before Season 7 debuts, this season’s qualifiers round will air Feb. 15 at 8 p.m., which will feature 16 chefs fighting for the final eight positions available this season. Additional details about the new season will be revealed during “Tournament of Champions VII: The Bracket Reveal” special Feb. 22 at 10 p.m. ET.
This season’s competing lineup includes the following chefs, along with the “four surprise culinary icons” and eight additional winners that will be joining from the qualifier tournament: Adam Greenberg, Adam Sobel, Britt Rescigno, Bryan Voltaggio, Carlos Anthony, Claudette Zepeda, Dale Talde, David Viana, Jet Tila, Joe Sasto, Jonathon Sawyer, Kaleena Bliss, Karen Akunowicz, Kevin Lee, Lee Anne Wong, Marcel Vigneron, Nini Nguyen, Sara Bradley, Shirley Chung and Tobias Dorzon.
“Tournament of Champions” Season 7 winner Antonia Lofaso, Season 2 and 5 winner Maneet Chauhan, Season 4 champion Mei Lin, and Season 1 champion Brooke Williamson will act as judges alongside Alex Guarnaschelli, Cat Cora, Curtis Stone, David Chang, Dominique Crenn, Geoffrey Zakarian, Hubert Keller, Judy Joo, Ken Oringer, Marcus Samuelsson, Michelle Bernstein, Nancy Silverton, Rocco DiSpirito, Scott Conant and Susan Feniger.
“Tournament of Champions” Season 7 is produced by Knuckle Sandwich and Lando Entertainment for Food Network.
Tiffani Faison and Justin Warner will be sideline reporters. Hunter Fieri will handle backstage interviews with winning chefs. Simon Majumdar continues his role as judges’ correspondent.
“Year after year, chefs up their gameplay and strategy, so we need to constantly raise the stakes to keep the competition next level,” Fieri said. “This year, we put four industry icons in the top seed, immediately putting targets on their backs for the win-hungry competitors. And that alone is the secret ingredient for the most epic season yet.”
“’Tournament of Champions’ has been Food Network’s top-rated series for five years running and each season we up the ante making the competition more intense than the last,” Warner Bros. Discovery’s head of food content Betsy Ayala said. “With the surprises we have in store this season and the extraordinary level of talent competing, we can’t wait to share this next-level, high-adrenaline competition with viewers. “
Source: variety.com
