MasterChef Polska has been a TVN ratings sensation since 2012, built around one of the most enduring judging panels in the franchise’s global history. Here’s the complete breakdown of the show’s first four champions, their prize winnings, and what they’ve gone on to do since their victories.
Quick Reference: MasterChef Polska Winners (Season 1–4)
| Edycja | Rok | Zwycięzca/czyni | Zawód/Pochodzenie |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2012 | Barbara “Basia” Ritz | Mieszkała w Kolonii, Niemcy |
| 2 | 2013 | Beata Śniechowska | — |
| 3 | 2014 | Dominika Wójciak | Bloger kulinarny |
| 4 | 2015 | Damian Kordas | Student weterynarii, Wrocław |
MasterChef Polska: Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Network | TVN |
| Premiere | 2012 |
| Prize Money | 100,000 PLN (growing up to 250,000 PLN in later editions) |
| Additional Prize | Cookbook publishing deal |
| Judges | Magda Gessler, Michel Moran, Anna Starmach |
Season 1 (2012): Barbara “Basia” Ritz
MasterChef Polska premiered on TVN in 2012, immediately becoming a cultural phenomenon. Barbara “Basia” Ritz, 45 years old at the time and living in Cologne, Germany, won the very first season, defeating runner-up Kinga Paruzel.
Basia’s win fulfilled a lifelong dream — opening her own restaurant. Today, she runs Restauracja Ritz in Gdańsk, which has earned a Michelin Guide recommendation in both 2024 and 2025. She has also published two cookbooks: MasterChef. Przepisy Basi Ritz and Dom pełen smaku, and ran a long-running food blog, Kulinarna Mekka.
Season 2 (2013): Beata Śniechowska
Beata Śniechowska claimed the Season 2 title in 2013. She has since become a professional chef at Menu Motto, while also running her own culinary website and publishing multiple recipe books.
Season 3 (2014): Dominika Wójciak
Dominika Wójciak, known for her love of modernizing traditional Polish cuisine, won Season 3 in 2014. An avid traveler, she draws inspiration from her journeys for her recipes and cookbooks, and runs the popular blog Kulinarne Bezdroża (“Culinary Off-Road”).
Season 4 (2015): Damian Kordas
Season 4 marked a milestone for the franchise — Damian Kordas, a then-22-year-old veterinary medicine student from Wrocław, became the first male winner in MasterChef Polska history.
Damian quickly built a strong media presence after his win, co-hosting the culinary travel show Widelcem po mapie (“Fork Across the Map”) with Aleksander Baron. He has published three cookbooks — Moje pyszne inspiracje (“My Delicious Inspirations”), Ale ciacho (“What a Cake”), and Superfood — and grew a successful YouTube channel off the back of his MasterChef fame.
MasterChef Polska Judges
Since the show’s debut, the judging panel has remained one of the most iconic and consistent in the franchise:
- Magda Gessler — restaurateur and one of Poland’s most recognizable culinary personalities
- Michel Moran — French-born chef based in Poland
- Anna Starmach — chef, who stayed with the show through 12 editions before eventually departing
What Came After Season 4?
The franchise has continued strong for over a decade, crowning new champions almost every year:
| Edycja | Rok | Zwycięzca |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 2016 | Magdalena Nowaczewska |
| 6 | 2017 | Mateusz Zielonka |
| 7 | 2018 | Aleksandra Nguyen |
| 8 | 2019 | Grzegorz Zawierucha |
| 12 | — | Joanna Szymanowska |
| 14 | 2022 | Jakub Tomaszczyk (19 years old, from Tychy) |
By the time of Season 14 in December 2022, the show had crowned 14 total champions, with prize money across the years ranging from 100,000 to 250,000 PLN depending on the edition.
Spin-offs of the franchise include MasterChef Junior Polska (eight seasons), MasterChef Teens, MasterChef: All Stars, MasterChef: Back to the Best, and MasterChef: Grill.
Fun Facts About MasterChef Polska
- First male winner: Damian Kordas broke new ground in Season 4 (2015)
- Michelin recognition: Season 1 winner Basia Ritz’s restaurant, Ritz in Gdańsk, has earned Michelin Guide recommendations
- Prize growth: The cash prize has grown from 100,000 PLN in early seasons up to 250,000 PLN in later editions
- Longest-serving judge: Anna Starmach judged for 12 consecutive editions before her eventual departure
FAQs
Who won the first season of MasterChef Polska? Barbara “Basia” Ritz won Season 1 in 2012, later opening her Michelin-recommended restaurant Ritz in Gdańsk.
Who was the first male winner of MasterChef Polska? Damian Kordas, who won Season 4 in 2015 as a 22-year-old veterinary student.
Who are the judges of MasterChef Polska? Magda Gessler, Michel Moran, and Anna Starmach formed the original and most iconic judging panel.
How much prize money do MasterChef Polska winners receive? Originally 100,000 PLN, later growing to as much as 250,000 PLN in more recent editions.
How many total seasons has MasterChef Polska produced? At least 14 main seasons, along with multiple spin-offs including Junior, Teens, All Stars and Grill editions.