MasterChef Australia 2018 Grand Final contestants stun fans

THE two grand finalists of MasterChef have been revealed, after a high-pressure cooking challenge brought one of them undone.

MasterChef’s top three of Ben Borsht, from Queensland, Sashi Cheliah from South Australia and Khanh Ong from Victoria, had to cook for 60 past contestants from the hit reality cooking show to get into the grand final.

With an open pantry and the garden to use, the top three had to make a main course and dessert for 20 alumni each.

Under the mentoring of Vue de monde chef Shannon Bennett, Ben, 31, Sashi, 39, and Khanh, 25, had four hours to prep before service began.

The weakest cook was sent home, leaving the final two to compete in Tuesday night’s grand finale and face a Heston Blumenthal challenge.

MORE: MasterChef fans fume as chef rips into star

All of them were running behind before service. Sashi was told he didn’t have enough chicken, Ben had too many snappers to fillet, and Khanh accidentally burnt all of his fish just minutes from service.

Bennett told him: “Khanh you just burnt all the fish. You can’t serve that.”

Some of the MasterChef alumni who made a guest appearance to taste the dishes included Julie Goodwin, Elena Duggan and Hayden Quinn.

Ben’s take on the surf and turf came out first. Judges Matt Preston, George Calombaris and Gary Mehigan loved it, saying it was “simple, class, just Ben”.

Sashi’s chicken lemak then courted controversy. Preston said he loved “everything but the chicken”, which was too “homely”. “It was let down by the chicken,” Calombaris added.

Sashi’s army of followers were fuming, tweeting their reaction at their review of the meal.

Khanh was racing against the clock to serve and his fish was breaking as he tried to cook it again after he had to re-fillet new pieces of fish.

His fans were pushing for him to get plates up of his Canh Chua ca.

The judges enjoyed it and while Gary said the dish was cooked well, with a great broth, Mehigan said it lacked depth.

Ben’s pavlova with berry gelato and champagne foam was a hit dessert. Calombaris said it was “bloody beautiful”. Preston said it was “inspiring”. Mehigan said he wanted “one to go.”

Sashi’s Malaysian pineapple tart with lime ice cream was his “home” on a plate. The judges were impressed.

But Khanh hit another obstacle when he piped out his chocolate mousse and it came out thick, not light and airy.

He said he could feel the finals slipping away from him as he managed to plate up his violet ice cream honeycomb and dark chocolate mousse.

Calombaris and Mehigan loved the honeycomb and ice cream - they thought the mousse got in the way of the dish.

Regardless, their MasterChef alumni gave them all a standing ovation after the meal.

Ben was the first contestant through to the grand finale. Mehigan said he had “finessed” his surf n turf and pavlova.

Social media lit up with their shock and criticism of him earning a place in the finale.

Despite having not made chicken to their liking, the judges chose Sashi over Khanh to join Ben in the finale.

Fans went crazy, showing their support for both contestants and Khanh. Some said they thought he should have been there over Ben, suggesting he was robbed.

The MasterChef grand final airs on Tuesday at 7.30pm on Channel Ten.

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