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MasterChef Australia 2017: Sarah Tiong's heartache at sending Eliza Wilson into elimination

Published: July 13 2017 - 8:45PM

It was a no-brainer yet Sarah Tiong's play of her immunity pin to put herself into MasterChef's finals week, while sending Eliza Wilson into elimination in her stead, came at a cost.

Eliza did not survive the move.

As a risk assessor, Sarah weighed up the value of keeping her immunity pin during Japan Week; when she faced elimination against Callan Smith and Tamara Graffen. She only just scraped in and was nearly the first MasterChef contestant to be sent home whilst holding an immunity pin, but instead it was Callan who was sent packing.

Her logic was so she could keep her pin for this very occasion; a get-out-of-jail fast-track admission past Go and into contention for the $250,000 MasterChef prize.

And it was the last opportunity that she could play the pin. But instead of rejoicing that her strategic move had paid off, she look devastated.

#masterchefau is not only testing my cooking abilities... it's testing me mentally and emotionally. https://t.co/8J4CSyKRjL

And that was because the MasterChef judges had dropped the bombshell on her that someone would have to take her place, which was Eliza since she was in the bottom four of the last challenge.

The other two in the bottom were Tamara, who has been through eight eliminations (of which one of them sent her packing until she was able to redeem herself), and Karlie Verkerk.

"I had a terrible night's sleep, it was really restless, woke up very often. If I use my pin in today's elimination, Eliza has to take my place," said Sarah at the dawn of the cook off.

"If I put her into elimination, it's her first elimination and if she ends up going home that's going to be something that's weighing heavily on my conscience."

"I think she would be crazy not to play the pin," Eliza told Karlie before heading to MasterChef HQ.

And if viewers weren't already aware of how ominous the elimination was, Melbourne's rain and stormy weather noises made a guest appearance, in what seemed like a first for the show.

Sarah announced that she would play the pin to "good girl" murmurings from a smiling Eliza.

"Sarah decides to play her immunity pin and I fully support her in that decision," Eliza told the cameras. "I'm going to go into elimination today and you know what I think that's the only way it could have played out so I'm prepared for it."

Being Eliza's first time in elimination, judge Gary Mehigan commended her on "an amazing record at this stage of the competition".

"You did the right thing," said Arum to a torn-looking Sarah as she joined the others in the gantry.

Who else is getting emotional? Today our contestants will be cooking from the heart based on memories from their loved ones. #MasterChefAU pic.twitter.com/cltSPNA3qZ

And from a competition point of view, Arum was right, but on hindsight neither women would have relished the decision.

So it was a cruel blow when Eliza's ocean trout, with beetroot relish and crackers dish fell minusculey short of the mark.

"We loved absolutely every one of your dishes," said Gary, with fellow judge George Calombaris adding, "not one of you deserves to go home".

"Tamara your dish was nostalgic, fun but above all, delicious. Karlie, your dish could sit on the menu of any great restaurant in this country, right now...," said George.

"Eliza your dish displayed so much technique, using flavours that worked so well together.

"However your dish was a little too dry and on a day when you've got two fellow contestants on peak form that's all it comes down to."

Aside from Sarah and Karlie's faces from dropping, even judge Matt Preston acknowledged the shock.

"We're used to, after nine years, shocks in this competition," he said. "I think today's elimination is a shock. We don't think anyone cooked as consistently and as well in the competition as you have."

Over the course of the competition, Eliza had won over guest judges Maggie Beer, Heston Blumenthal and Peter Gilmore, including delivering in Matt's eyes the "best dessert" of the season.

As Eliza thanked the judges and her "new best friends" her voice broke from the emotion of it all. But she took the time to hug Sarah and reassure her that it was "all good".

Since MasterChef, Eliza went on to do work experience at The Press Club and now has a catering company called The Grazing Table.

#Masterchefau Sarah would have to be the dumbest person on earth to NOT play it. Like plp going home with immunity idols on Survivor!!

Please not Eliza she doesn't deserve this #MasterChefAU

hey sarah #MasterChefAU pic.twitter.com/wWVRhgcKVy

#MasterchefAU Looking like the judges favourites Tamara and Karlie are safe. Not happy. #yourfaultSarah

Eliza is going home.First time in black and got eliminated straight away. Sarah will be devastated.She did took the bullet 4u #MasterChefAU

I think they should all stay @masterchefau #MasterChefAU

If Eliza goes home because Sarah played her pin, I'm gonna be maaaaad. #masterchefau #masterchef

This story was found at: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/reality/masterchef-2017-sarah-tiongs-heartache-at-sending-eliza-wilson-into-elimination-20170713-gxas7b.html