'Rigged': MasterChef fans fuming over contestant's shock exit

It’s one of the toughest seasons of MasterChef ever, with the best of the best from over the years battling it out for the coveted title.

However, fans of the Channel 10 show were left fuming last night, with some even calling it ‘rigged’ after we bid farewell to one of the favourites.

Last night’s two round elimination challenge saw the chefs battle it out in a classic dish cook, which landed Poh, Reynold and Tessa in the second round .

The judges set them the task of creating a sweet or savoury dish that they’d never seen before.

Tessa decided to stick to a cuisine she knows and loves - Indian. But to make her dish truly unique she combined Indian flavours with a Mexican concept by creating an Indian taco.

Reynold went back to his modernistic approach to cooking and was inspired by Space, which saw him combine the flavours of rum and raspberry.

Meanwhile, in classic Poh style, she decided halfway through her cook to add on a dessert, which eventually paid off as the judges raved over her dishes.

However, while the judges thought Reynold’s mousse wasn’t really a mouse and his rum was lacking, it was Tessa who was sent packing after Jock questioned whether her hot sauce and salsa was truly Indian versus Mexican.

Fans were left shocked online, with many calling it ‘rigged’ and saying Tessa was ‘robbed’.

“Lets just think of a reason that sounds good to keep Reynold in...even though I preferred Tessas' could almost see them thinking that,” one person said.

Others were furious that in the first round, the judges told Reynold that he should be including a sponge cake in his bombe Alaska but failed to notify Tessa that she should be adding capers to her tartare sauce.

“Why did Reynold get the heads up on sponge but Tessa no heads up on cappers??”

“Didn't think it was right how jock basically told Reynold that he had to have a sponge on the bombe Alaska. This was not right on an elimination. He didn't get through I know but they shouldn't have the judge helping them with their cook. In my opinion anyway,” another fan said.

However, others agreed with the judges’ decision last night, saying it was just Tessa’s time to go.

“No it was not rigged. Tessa's flavours were not working together and she didn't meet the brief,” one person write.

“Tessa showed a struggle with her dishes tonight. Sorry to see her go but it’s a competition,” another said.

Last night, after her elimination aires, Tessa took to her Instagram page to look back on her time in the MasterChef kitchen.

“Farewell (again) Masterchef! Another season done and dusted,” she started.

“Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me along the way. It means a lot to me that people have cared so much about my success in the competition.

“Masterchef is hard work even for one season let alone two, so I am very much looking forward to a little break and to be reunited with my friends and family.

“A big shoutout to my partner Eliot for being so patient over the last couple of years and for letting me go and be apart of something so life changing. I love ya.

“As for me going forward.. all I can say is “watch this space”. I have exciting plans and I can’t wait to share them all with you!”

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