IT'S official, MasterChef: The Professionals has had its first dummy spit.

Chef to the stars Anthony Bantoft appeared baffled by his elimination tonight, after his "seafood five ways" dish was deemed a "shipwreck" by Marco Pierre White.

But it was the judges, White and Matt Preston, who were baffled by the overly complicated dish that included a crab soufflé cooked in an egg cup.

"I know I'm good at what I do so I can leave with my head held high," he said.

"Next time I'll remember to cook like an amateur."

It was chalk and cheese compared to Sunday night's first elimination of young cook Matty McKenzie, who thanked the judges for his short time on the show.

The Professionals debuted on Sunday to 1.165 million viewers, but will face stiff competition next week when Channel 7's cooking hit My Kitchen Rules debuts on Monday.