The ninth season of the American competitive reality television series MasterChef premiered on Fox on May 30, 2018, and concluded on September 19, 2018. Gordon Ramsay and Aarón Sánchez returned from the previous season as judges, while former judge Joe Bastianich returned to the show as the third judge, replacing Christina Tosi. The season was won by English teacher Gerron Hurt, with professional grocery shopper Ashley Mincey and high school teacher Cesar Cano as co-runners-up.
This season introduced a new format to the show, as the three judges each selected eight contestants to give aprons to. Then, the judges mentored their respective contestants throughout the competition.
Top 24 Except where noted, the source for all names, hometowns, and occupations: All ages and nicknames as given on air. Contestant Age Hometown Occupation Mentor Status Gerron Hurt 25 Louisville, Kentucky English Teacher JoeWinner September 19 Ashley Mincey 28 Opa-Locka, Florida Professional Grocery ShopperGordon Cesar Cano 33 Houston, Texas High School Teacher Aarón Samantha Daily 20 West Des Moines, Iowa College Student Gordon Bowen Li 24 Tianjin, China Pilot Gordon Farhan Momin 25 Chicago, Illinois Dental Student Aarón Julia Danno 43 Chicago, Illinois Sales Manager Aarón Shanika Patterson 34 Miami, Florida Event Promoter Joe Taylor Waltmon 30 Houston, Texas Sales Training Director Gordon Emily Hallock 28 Neenah, Wisconsin Food Research Analyst Joe Chelsea Sargent 28 Houston, Texas Sales Specialist Aarón Seung Joo "SJ" Yun 21 Los Angeles, California College Student Gordon Ralph Xavier Degala 29 Houston, Texas Senior Accountant Joe Mark Ingraham 19 Rockport, Maine Dishwasher Joe Ryan Cortez 33 Houston, Texas Drummer Aarón Lindsay Haigh 41 Orange, Massachusetts Trial Attorney Aarón 28 Iowa City, Iowa Optometrist Joe Juni Cuevas 28 Raleigh, North Carolina Disability Analyst Aarón Alecia Winters 30 Grand Rapids, Michigan Daycare Owner Aarón Darrick Krause 34 Peoria, Arizona Engineer Gordon Olusola Ogbomo 29 Columbia, South Carolina Bus Driver Joe Stephanie Willis 32 Cherry Hill, New Jersey Bartender Gordon Sal Maida 31 Los Angeles, California Architect Joe Sid Hoeltzell 63 Miami, Florida Food Photographer Gordon
Elimination table PlaceContestantEpisodes4567891011121314151617181920 2122/23 1Gerron INIMMLOWLOWWIN INIMMWINLOWWINLOW INLOW INWIN IN INNPTWINIMMWIN INIMMPTHIGHLOWWINIMMIMMLOWWINNER 2AshleyWINIMM INIMMWIN INIMMLOW IN INLOW INWIN INWIN IN INNPTHIGHINPTHIGH INWINHIGH INLOWWINIMMWINCesar INIMM INIMMNPTWINIMMWINWINIMMLOWLOWPT INLOWWINIMMWIN INWINWINWINIMMWINHIGH INWINIMMIMMWIN 4Samantha INIMMLOW INWINHIGHLOWWINWINIMMINIMMPT IN IN INLOWWIN ININPTHIGH INLOWHIGHLOWLOWLOWWINELIM 5Bowen INIMM HIGHIMMWINHIGHLOWINWINIMMINIMMPT IN IN IN INWIN INWINLOW IN INWINWIN INLOWLOWELIM 6FarhanHIGHIMMLOW INLOW INIMMWIN IN ININIMMWIN IN IN INWINNPTHIGHINWIN INLOWELIM 7Julia INIMM INIMMWIN IN INWIN INWINWINIMMWIN IN IN IN INWIN INLOWWIN INELIM 8Shanika INIMM INIMMLOW INLOWIN INLOWINIMMWINWINIMM IN INPT ININELIM 9Taylor INIMM INIMMPT IN ININLOW INLOW INWIN IN IN IN INWIN INELIM 10EmilyHIGHIMM INIMMPT INIMMWIN INWININIMMPT IN INWINIMMELIM11Chelsea INIMMWINIMMPT INIMMWIN INLOWINIMMWINHIGH IN INELIMSJ INIMM INIMMWIN INIMMIN INWINWINIMMPT INLOW INELIM 13Ralph INIMMLOW INWIN INIMMINWINIMMIMMIMMWINHIGHELIM 14Mark INIMM INIMMWIN INIMMWINWINIMMLOWWINELIM 15Ryan INIMMLOW INWIN INIMMWINWINIMMLOWELIM 16Lindsay INIMM INIMMPT INIMMIN INELIM 17Matt INIMMLOW INWIN INWININELIM 18Juni INIMM INIMMNPT IN INELIM 19AleciaLOW IN INIMMNPT INELIM 20Darrick INIMMLOW INELIM21Olusola INIMMLOWELIMStephanie INIMMLOWELIM23SalLOWELIMSidLOWELIM
(WINNER) This cook won the competition. (RUNNER-UP) This cook finished as a runner-up in the finals. (WIN) The cook won the individual challenge (Mystery Box Challenge/ Skills Test or Elimination Test). (WIN) The cook was on the winning team in the Team Challenge and directly advanced to the next round. (HIGH) The cook was one of the top entries in the individual challenge but didn't win. (IN) The cook wasn't selected as a top or bottom entry in an individual challenge. (IN) The cook wasn't selected as a top or bottom entry in a team challenge. (IMM) The cook didn't have to compete in that round of the competition and was safe from elimination. (IMM) The cook was selected by Mystery Box Challenge winner and didn't have to compete in the Elimination Test. (PT) The cook was on the losing team in the Team Challenge, competed in the Pressure Test, and advanced. (NPT) The cook was on the losing team in the Team Challenge, did not compete in the Pressure Test, and advanced. (LOW) The cook was one of the bottom entries in an individual challenge or Pressure Test, and they advanced. (LOW) The cook was one of the bottom entries in the Team Challenge and they advanced. (ELIM) The cook was eliminated from MasterChef.
Episodes
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