MasterChef Australia: Back to Win 2025 has brought back fan-favorite contestants from Seasons 1 to 16, all vying for a second shot at the $250,000 prize and the coveted title. With judges Andy Allen, Sofia Levin, Jean-Christophe Novelli, and Poh Ling Yeow pushing the 24 returning cooks to their limits, the Season 17 kitchen has seen intense challenges and heartbreaking eliminations. For U.S. fans catching up on this Australian culinary showdown, here’s a rundown of who’s been eliminated so far, based on the latest updates as of July 28, 2025.
Eliminations from MasterChef Australia: Back to Win 2025
The Back to Win format, premiered on April 28, 2025, on Channel 10 and 10Play, features high-stakes Pressure Tests, Mystery Box Challenges, and team relays. Here’s the list of contestants eliminated from the competition, drawn from reliable sources:
- Cath Collins (Eliminated May 4, 2025 – 23rd Place)
- Season 15’s fifth-place finisher was the first to go after her Japanese-inspired grilled mushroom dish, featuring furikake and shiso gel, suffered from burnt flavors on the hibachi. Cath, who runs Cath’s Kitchen cooking classes, told Chattr she was “devastated” to exit so early but proud of her bravery.nowtolove.com.aubhg.com.auchattr.com.au
- Savindri Perera (Eliminated May 6, 2025 – 22nd Place)
- Sav, a Season 16 standout, faltered in a pressure test where her chocolate tin didn’t set properly, bending out of shape. Her elimination left her relieved yet disappointed, as she shared with 10Play. She’s set to judge MasterChef Sri Lanka next.en.wikipedia.orgchattr.com.au
- Steph de Sousa (Eliminated Early May 2025)
- Season 17 saw Steph, known for bold flavors, become the third elimination after a challenge where her presentation fell short, per Better Homes & Gardens.bhg.com.au
- Matt Hopcraft (Eliminated May 18, 2025 – 20th Place)
- The Season 7 dentist’s Anzac Biscuit Bombe Alaska, The Rising Sun, missed the mark in a “tabletop theatre” challenge due to a split meringue. Matt told 10Play he was “gutted” but embraced the challenge’s push for flair.chattr.com.au10play.com.au
- Rhiannon Anderson (Eliminated May 25, 2025 – 18th Place)
- Season 15’s Rhiannon was eliminated after undercooked prawns in a 20-minute challenge set by Shannon Bennett, as noted by Better Homes & Gardens.en.wikipedia.org
- Rue Mupedzi (Eliminated May 27, 2025 – 17th Place)
- The Season 15 dessert queen, known for her BarbeRue BBQ sauce, struggled in a pressure test recreating Blayne Bertoncello’s sourdough and strawberry dessert. Despite her dessert expertise, errors led to her exit, per Pedestrian.TV and Wikipedia.pedestrian.tven.wikipedia.org
- Jimmy Wong (Eliminated Early June 2025)
- The food photographer faced a tough pressure test with a balloon puppy dessert, falling short after a challenging cook, as noted by Reddit and Chattr.bhg.com.aupedestrian.tv
- Darrsh Clarke (Eliminated June 8, 2025 – 15th Place)
- Season 16’s Darrsh was eliminated in a challenge set by Andy Cooks, where his dish lacked polish, according to Wikipedia and Chattr. Fans on Reddit speculated his exit after spotting promo clues.en.wikipedia.orgchattr.com.aupedestrian.tv
- Theo Loizou (Eliminated June 24, 2025 – 12th Place)
- Season 15’s “Bread Boy” struggled in a cook-along with Curtis Stone’s lamb shank ravioli, unable to keep up. Theo, aiming for a Melbourne bakery, was proud of nailing dolmades, per Women’s Weekly.nowtolove.com.auen.wikipedia.org
- Declan Cleary (Eliminated June 29, 2025 – 11th Place)
- The Season 15 third-place finisher fell short in Maggie Beer’s Decreasing Time vs. Increasing Ingredients challenge with an incomplete offal dish. Declan’s charm shone through on Instagram, where he vowed to pursue food full-time.womensweekly.com.auen.wikipedia.org
- Beau Cook (Eliminated June 22, 2025)
- The Season 4 firefighter was eliminated after a childhood classics challenge, opting to focus on local business collabs post-show, per WHO.who.com.au
- Samira El Khafir (Eliminated Early July 2025)
- Samira’s Turkish Chicken and Eggplant Kofta was too dry in a hibachi challenge, marking her as the second hibachi-related exit after Cath, per Chattr.chattr.com.au
- Audra Morrice (Eliminated Mid-July 2025)
- The Season 3 alum, despite winning immunity for a dish featured in Gordon Ramsay’s London restaurant, was eliminated in a later challenge, per ForEternia.foreternia.com
- Alana Lowes (Eliminated Mid-July 2025 – Top 8)
- The Season 3 alumna was eliminated in a dual challenge in Doha, Qatar, despite her bold flavor pairings like horseradish ice cream, per Women’s Weekly.womensweekly.com.au
- Snezana Calic (Eliminated July 20, 2025 – 7th Place)
- Snezana, back from Season 16, stumbled in a time challenge with a split aioli and rushed mushroom ragu, but left proud of her Balkan-inspired dishes, per Women’s Weekly and New Idea.womensweekly.com.aunewidea.com.auen.wikipedia.org
- Tim Bone (Eliminated July 27, 2025)
- Season 11’s Tim was eliminated after his confit duck Maryland was undercooked in a 75-minute butter-themed pressure test, per Pedestrian.TV. He plans to focus on Tim’s Toasties.pedestrian.tv
- Pete Campbell (Withdrawn Early 2025)
- Season 13’s runner-up withdrew due to a Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis, announced by Andy Allen for “personal reasons,” with Pete confirming on Instagram, per Women’s Weekly and ForEternia.who.com.auforeternia.com
- Andre Ursini (Eliminated Early 2025)
- Eliminated early in the season, though specific details are limited, per ForEternia.foreternia.com
Who’s Still in the Running?
As of July 28, 2025, top contenders like Laura Sharrad (Season 6, 12), Callum Hann (Season 2), Depinder Chhibber (Season 13), Ben MacDonald, Jamie Fleming, and Sarah Todd remain, with Laura favored to win at $1.75 odds, per Sportsbet. Fans on Reddit speculate Laura’s prominence in promos hints at her victory. The top five are set to face a high-stakes challenge with a twist, per @masterchefau posts.who.com.au
Why U.S. Fans Love MasterChef Australia
For American viewers, MasterChef Australia: Back to Win 2025 offers intense culinary drama, creative dishes like Depinder’s sadya or Laura’s chestnut garganelli, and a $250,000 prize that fuels competition. Stream it on 10Play (though U.S. access may require a VPN) or follow updates on Channel 10’s site. The show airs Sundays at 7:00 PM and Monday to Wednesday at 7:30 PM AEST.
Tips to Enjoy MasterChef Australia
- Stream Smart: Use 10Play or check local streaming options for U.S. access.
- Follow Social Media: Track @masterchefau on X for episode teasers and elimination hints.
- Try Recipes: Recreate dishes like Theo’s loukoumades or Snez’s fregola soup at home, inspired by 10Play recipes.
- Join the Fandom: Engage on Reddit’s r/MasterchefAU for spoilers and discussions.reddit.com
Conclusion: Stay Tuned for More MasterChef Drama
MasterChef Australia: Back to Win 2025 has delivered emotional exits and stunning dishes, from Cath’s early departure to Snezana’s top-seven finish. With Laura, Callum, and Depinder still in the race, the kitchen is heating up for the $250,000 prize. Who’s your pick to win? Share in the comments and subscribe for more MasterChef updates and U.S.-friendly cooking tips!
For More:valiantcxo.com
