Discover who will be joining us for the Global Chefs Challenge Finals in May 2026.
- The Global Chefs Challenge Americas Regional Semi-Finals were held in Las Vegas, USA on 28 July, 2025.
- Qualifying teams will advance to compete in the Global Chefs Finals during the 2026 Worldchefs Congress & Expo in Wales.
- To learn more about the Global Chef Challenge and the Road to Wales, visit https://worldchefs.org/globalchefschallenge.
Las Vegas, USA, 4th August 2025 – The Global Chefs Challenge Americas Regional Semi-Finals have come to a close, and the results are now in! Held on July 28, 2025 during the ACF National Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, the competition highlighted the remarkable skill and creativity of chefs from across the Americas.
The region’s top chefs showcased their talent across four categories: Global Chefs Challenge, Global Young Chefs Challenge, Global Pastry Chefs Challenge, and Global Vegan Chefs Challenge. The winners will advance to the Global Chefs Challenge Finals, taking place at the Worldchefs Congress & Expo 2026 in Wales.
Results are listed below by category.
Global Chefs Challenge Final Qualifying Teams
- 1st Place: Derek R. Mazzocoli, USA
- 2nd Place: Jaime Leal Cruz, Mexico
See the Global Chefs Challenge official results below:
| Country | Participant Name | Medal | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | Derek R. Mazzocoli | Gold Medal | 1st Place |
| Mexico | Jaime Leal Cruz | Silver Medal | 2nd Place |
| Canada | Sydney Hamelin | Silver Medal | 3rd Place |
| Chile | Nicolas Garate | Silver Medal | 4th Place |
| USA | Stephen C. Bush | Bronze Medal | 5th Place |
Global Young Chefs Challenge Final Qualifying Team
- 1st Place: Yeishalee Sanatan, USA
Andy Cuthbert, and Harry Linzmayer
See the Global Young Chefs Challenge official results below:
| Country | Participant Name | Medal | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | Yeishalee Sanatan | Gold Medal | 1st Place |
| USA | Liliana Morales | Gold Medal | 2nd Place |
| Mexico | Josue Solchaga | Silver Medal | 3rd Place |
| Canada | Sophie Dimitriw | Silver Medal | 4th Place |
| Panama | Omar Delgado | Diploma | 5th Place |
Global Pastry Chefs Challenge Final Qualifying Team
- 1st Place: Pablo Galvan, Mexico
Rodrigo Ibáñez, Andy Cuthbert, and Harry Linzmayer
See the Global Pastry Chefs Challenge official results below:
| Country | Participant Name | Medal | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | Pablo Galvan | Gold Medal | 1st Place |
| USA | Chrissy Marie Jensen | Silver Medal | 2nd Place |
| USA | Vanessa Tristan | Bronze Medal | 3rd Place |
| Venezuela | Maria Evans | Diploma | 4th Place |
Global Vegan Chefs Challenge Final Qualifying Team
- 1st Place: Michael J. Stamets, USA
Stamets, and Harry Linzmayer
See the Global Vegan Chefs Challenge official results below:
| Country | Participant Name | Medal | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | Michael J. Stamets | Silver Medal | 1st Place |
| Chile | Francisca Toro | Bronze Medal | 2nd Place |
| Panama | Leydis Gonzalez | Diploma | 3rd Place |
| USA | Ron Pikarsk | Diploma | 4th Place |
Nestlé Professional Green Spatula Award
At the Global Chefs Challenge Americas Regional Semi-Finals, the Nestlé Professional Green Spatula Award was presented across two competition categories: Global Chef and Global Young Chef. This distinguished honor celebrates the fusion of culinary excellence with a deep commitment to sustainability, recognizing chefs who excel in both creating world-class dishes and adopting environmentally responsible practices in their kitchens. The recipients are as follows:
- Jaime Leal Cruz (Mexico) for the Global Chef Challenge
- Liliana Morales (USA) for the Global Young Chef Challenge
The Nestlé Professional Green Spatula Award was awarded for the first time during the Global Chefs Challenge Finals 2024 in Singapore, and will continue to recognize chefs’ sustainable efforts in the Global Chefs Challenge Semi-Finals and the Global Chefs Challenge Finals in Wales 2026.
Relive the Action
Look back on the action from the event! Click here to view the photos.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
We’d like to extend a thank you to our sponsors for helping bring this competition to life. Your support helps us empower chefs around the globe and fuels the future of global culinary innovation. We’re grateful and excited for our continued collaboration.
Thank you Nestlé Professional, Dilmah, VanDrie Group, Valrhona, and Sterling Halibut.
We also thank the American Culinary Federation (ACF) for their support in hosting the Americas Semi-Finals. Their contributions were integral to the successful delivery of the event in Las Vegas.
Upcoming Semi-Finals
Congratulations once again to all participants! We look forward to seeing the qualifying teams at the Global Chefs Challenge Finals in Wales next May.
The Global Chefs Challenge – Asia Semi-Finals will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 23-26 September, 2025.
The Global Chefs Challenge – Pacific Rim Semi-Finals will be held in Nikao, Cook Islands from 2-4 October, 2025.
To learn more about the Global Chefs Challenge and the road to Wales 2026, visit https://worldchefs.org/globalchefschallenge/.
Global Chefs Challenge Finals at Worldchefs Congress & Expo 2026
Worldchefs Congress & Expo is a hallmark tradition of Worldchefs, and has been organized in cities around the world throughout its illustrious 98-year history. The forum brings together delegates from across the five continents to network and expand their professional bonds. The unique program delivers presentations and workshops from leading experts in the hospitality industry, impactful educational programs including the Worldchefs Educators’ Forum, specialized events designed to uplift the next generation of chefs such as the Bill Gallagher Young Chefs Forum, an international trade exhibition, the Global Chefs Challenge competition, and diverse activities to enhance both personal and professional networks.
The 2026 Worldchefs Congress & Expo and Global Chefs Challenge Finals will be held in Wales, hosted by the Culinary Association of Wales.
Visit www.worldchefscongress.org for more information.
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About Worldchefs
The World Association of Chefs’ Societies, known as Worldchefs, is a federation made up of 110 national chef associations. A leading voice in the hospitality industry, Worldchefs carries years of history since its founding in 1928 at the Sorbonne by the venerable Auguste Escoffier.
Representing a mobilized international membership of culinary professionals, Worldchefs is committed to advancing the profession and leveraging the influence of the chef jacket for the betterment of the industry and humanity at large.
Worldchefs is dedicated to raising culinary standards and social awareness through these core focus areas:
Humanitarianism & Sustainability – Worldchefs Feed the Planet and World Chefs Without Borders programs relieve food poverty, deliver crisis support, and promote sustainability across the globe.
Education – Worldchefs offers support for education and professional development through the landmark Worldchefs Academy online training program, a diverse network of Worldchefs Education Partners and curriculum, and the world’s first Global Culinary Certification recognizing on-the-job skillsin hospitality;
Networking – Worldchefs connects culinary professionals around the world through their online community platform and provides a gateway for industry networking opportunities through endorsed events and the biennial Worldchefs Congress & Expo;
Competition – Worldchefs sets global standards for competition rules, provides Competition Seminars and assurance of Worldchefs Certified Judges, and operates the prestigious Global Chefs Challenge.
