With the MasterChef Australia 2026 finale just around the corner, only three contestants remain in the race for the title, and each has proven they’re more than capable of taking out the competition.
Viewers have been full of praise for the Top 3, with many saying it’s one of the strongest final trios the show has seen in years.
And, it’s not just fans who think finalists Aaron Kher, Petro Papathomas and Vinnie Gibaldi are all deserving of a win. Contestants Annabel Lloyd and Casper Kenworthy have also shared what makes each of them such a strong contender.
“Petro has a really refined palate, and he’s not afraid to make some big, crazy flavour combinations,” Casper told Chattr in an exclusive interview.
“Aaron has a really great base and is very delicate. He presents dishes well, where the others have maybe more rustic plating, but that probably goes back to their sort of heritage as well,” he explained.
“I think Vinnie is a very strong all-around cook. He has some great desserts, he’s got good cooking DNA, I would say.”
In a separate interview, Annabel pointed out that she thinks Vinnie’s made a lot of progress since the start of the season.
“He’s improved the most out of anyone,” she said.
Casper added that he believes that all three amateur cooks have different strengths, which is what will make the upcoming episodes so unpredictable.
“They peak in different areas of their skill set, I think, and it’s gonna be interesting to see how that sets them up for semis and grand finale,” he said.
Who do Casper and Annabel think will win MasterChef Australia 2026?
Casper and Annabel both seem to agree on one name that will make the final two: Vinnie.
Annabel told Chattr that she has a theory that Vinnie wins, because she believes winners always show growth throughout their MasterChef journey.
“If you look back, a lot of the people who win are the ones who’ve come the furthest,” she pointed out.
Meanwhile, Casper said that Vinnie and Petro are his picks for the top two.
“I would love to see a little Lygon Street showdown between Petro and Vinny, and that one could go either way. They’ve had so much growth across the competition. I think Aaron started with a really good base and has definitely learned along the way,” he told Chattr.
“But when you look at Vinnie, he was in that first pressure test, he was in the first three eliminations, and now in that run to the finals week, he won two immunities there — that’s some pretty incredible growth. And Petro’s had a very similar story. I think seeing them show what they’ve learned across the season would be great.”
The MasterChef Australia 2026 grand finale will air on August 9 on Channel 10 and 10Play.
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