They came... they saw... they conquered the Chopping Block for $10,000, but it's not enough for these champions. Sixteen former champions return to the kitchen to play the "Chopped" game again. The winner of the showdown moves one step closer to the ultimate Chopped payday... $50,000.

Last time, it came down to dessert, and Danielle Saunders easily took her opponents to school, as she takes her game to the final, joining Wade Burch. One of these four will join them.

Miguel Aguilar executive chef

Laura Henry-Zoubir culinary director from Boston

Jamie Bissonnette chef & restauranteur from Boston

Lauren Gerrie caterer and dancer from New York

The winner of this match goes on to the final match for $50,000. You know how to do this... On the panel today.

- Influential Latin chef Susan Feniger
- Superstar executive chef Alex Guarnaschelli
- New York restauranteur Marc Murphy

Round 1: APPETIZER (20 minutes). On the menu today for round 1 are... Alaskan king crab legs, star fruit, bonito flakes, and Mexican chorizo.

Who wants 20 minutes? I got'em. You got a dish?

Miguel: King Crab and Star Fruit Ceviche
Laura: King Crab and Star Fruit Salad with Chorizo/Bonito Vinaigrette
Jamie: Chorizo & Crab Ragout with Pickled Star Fruit
Lauren: Star Fruit Soup and Chorizo Crema

Alaskan king crab is so sweet, while the chorizo is so spicy. It's almost natural to have the two together.

Miguel is taking a risk in NOT using the chorizo. Lauren is serving her crab lime salad in the soup. It makes sense in the long run, and it's imaginative. It's clean and light, but it's on the verge of being a little too spicy. Jamie wins with the star fruit pickle and the richness of the chorizo, but the judges wanted a salad as well... or something. Laura's dish is well put together. The sauce drowns the lettuce leaf, though. Miguel is also serving a braised king crab. BUT he did infuse the chorizo in the braise. The coconut milk also works, but there's no taste of star fruit.

The first chef... to be chopped... is... MIGUEL. Some of the ingredients were not used to their fullest potential.

Round 2: ENTREE (30 minutes). For our survivors, we have these ingredients... tilefish, fig cookies, caper berries, and squid ink.

... and time starts now.

Laura: Pan Roasted Tilefish with Fig Cookie Hash
Jamie: Roasted Tilefish with Lentils & Squid Ink Sauce
Lauren: Squid Ink Penne with Poached Tilefish

Tilefish is naturally moist.

Jamie has added a fig-cookie lardon. The fish is cooked perfectly. But when you eat the cookie, it's missing spices. Laura's hash is well put together. The fish is overcooked, though, and the rosemary overpowers the squid ink. Lauren tops her dish with a fig and fennel crumble, an aggressive flavor and the most creative dish in the round. The fish is also moist. The pasta wasn't cooked all the way through.

The next person... to be chopped... is... LAURA. It fell short on the overcooked fish, and the sauce was muddled with different flavors.

Round 3: DESSERT (30 minutes). Another place in the final can go to the chef who can turn vanilla cognac, guava paste, barley flour, and duck fat into a worthy dessert.

We're 30 from a second win... Let's go!

Jamie: Barley Flour Churros
Lauren: Barley Flour and Duck Fat Cake

Duck fat... can brown and give a crispy exterior to anything. Lauren wants to add bacon to her guava paste to balance out the flavors. Jamie wants to add vanilla cognac and guava paste to a caramel for a dipping sauce.

Alex calls Lauren's cake the best dessert she's ever had on this show, considering all that was in the mix. We needed a little more of a guava sauce. She's also impressed with the churro. The texture's perfect, but there was too much guava sauce.

Seems like Lauren was taking risk after risk, and seemingly coming up short until the dessert. Jamie was at home almost to a fault today with the baskets. Did he play it too close to the chest? It's neck and neck...   Which approach is worth a ticket to the $50,000 final?

The final chef... to be chopped... is...  JAMIE. It was a clash of titans, but it was a matter of being outcooked by SO MUCH.

And by a hair, it's Lauren Gerrie's game to win as she moves one step closer to the $50,000 in the Grand Finale.

Next week, the final player is going to join her in the final. The other three.. are going to get Chopped. The road to $50,000 and the title of Chopped Superchampion continues.

To see extras from this episode, or to apply to be a contestant on "Chopped", visit the official website at www.foodnetwork.com/chopped.