A MasterChef Malta contestant was eliminated on the spot last night after deciding not to cook, telling the judges he was taking full responsibility for his previous team loss as captain.

“I held the team back, and I believe that the captain should take the fall,” the young contestant told the judges even before the Challenge kicked off. “I got overwhelmed, my brain shut down, and I abandoned the team. For that reason, I won’t cook today. If I cook, I know I’ll do well, but as the team captain, if I closed the doors, they didn’t have direction and I believe that’s why we lost the challenge. So I won’t to take the fall myself, and for that reason, I won’t present food to you, not as a sign of disrespect, because you helped me grow, thanks.”

“I held the team back, and I believe that the captain should take the fall,” the young contestant told the judges even before the Challenge kicked off. “I got overwhelmed, my brain shut down, and I abandoned the team. For that reason, I won’t cook today. If I cook, I know I’ll do well, but as the team captain, if I closed the doors, they didn’t have direction and I believe that’s why we lost the challenge. So I won’t to take the fall myself, and for that reason, I won’t present food to you, not as a sign of disrespect, because you helped me grow, thanks.”

Ever the strict judges, however, the three chefs were quick to eliminate Josmar on the spot, with Chef Victor telling him “we make the rules here, not you”.