SUNDAY NIGHTS IN KITCHEN STADIUM SIZZLE WITH FOOD NETWORK'S FIRST-EVER "IRON CHEF AMERICA: TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS"

Five-Episode Battle of the Best Kicks Off Sunday, May 5th at 10pm ET/PT

NEW YORK - April 10, 2013 - May Madness hits Food Network this spring as Food Network pits Iron Chef vs. Iron Chef in the first-ever Iron Chef America: Tournament of Champions. With five episodes and a panel of revolving judges, the tournament features high-stakes, bracket-style battles between the best of the best in the culinary world. The tournament begins Sunday, May 5th at 10pm ET/PT with a face-off between the two newest Iron Chefs Alex Guarnaschelli and Geoffrey Zakarian.

Episodes include:

Episode One: Guarnaschelli vs. Zakarian Premieres Sunday, May 5th at 10pm ET/PT

Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli battles Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian, with the winner moving on to face Iron Chef Michael Symon. The judges are G. Garvin, Simon Majumdar and Trisha Yearwood.

Episode Two: Forgione vs. Garces Premieres Sunday, May 12th at 9pm ET/PT

Iron Chef Marc Forgione and Iron Chef Jose Garces go head-to-head, with the winner progressing to cook against Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto. Donatella Arpaia, Adam Fleischman and Simon Majumdar judge.

Episode Three: Winner vs. Symon Premieres Sunday, May 19th at 9pm ET/PT

Iron Chef Michael Symon cooks against the winner of the Guarnaschelli vs. Zakarian battle. The judges for this battle are Ree Drummond, Aaron Sanchez and Trisha Yearwood.

Episode Four: Winner vs. Morimoto Premieres Sunday, May 26th at 9pm ET/PT

Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto battles the winner of Forgione vs. Garces, in front of judges G. Garvin, Candice Kumai and Jeffrey Steingarten.

Episode Five: Finale Premieres Sunday, June 2nd at 10pm ET/PT

The winning Iron Chefs battle for the tournament championship. Judges Donatella Arpaia, Karine Bakhoum and Iron Chef Bobby Flay determine who will become Grand Champion.

Iron Chef America is produced by LEG/Triage Entertainment.

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