After a full day of live restaurant service judged by senior figures from Malta’s hospitality and drinks industries, three competitors have been crowned World Young Chef, Young Waiter and Young Mixologist Champions Malta 2026, and will go on to represent Malta at the World Finals in London this March, competing against finalists from England, Scotland, Wales, the USA, Thailand, Hong Kong and Monaco.

Lucy Paulusma was named Young Waiter winner; Alessandro Raneri was named Young Chef winner and Ivelin Ivanov was named Young Mixologist winner.

Each category winner receives an all-expenses-paid trip to London and the opportunity to compete at the World Finals as part of the World Young Chef Young Waiter Young Mixologist programme, supported globally by NEFT Vodka.

Commenting on the first-ever Malta edition, Robert Walton MBE, Chairman of World Young Chef Young Waiter Young Mixologist, said: “Bringing WorldYYY to Malta for the first time has been incredibly special. The level of talent, professionalism and passion we’ve seen here has been exceptional, and Malta has proven itself as a serious force in the future of global hospitality. This competition is about creating opportunities – and these winners fully deserve their place on the world stage.”

YYY Young Chef winner Alessandro Raneri, from ION Harbour by Simon Rogan, stood out for his flavour, seasoning and calm teamwork under pressure. “Flavour was on point, seasoning was spot-on, and he stayed fully connected to his team,” said the judges. “He didn’t break away like others – he led collaboratively and consistently stood out.”

On his part, Alessandro commented: “This has been an intense but unforgettable experience. To represent Malta at the World Finals is a huge honour, and I’m incredibly grateful to the judges, my team and everyone who supported us today.”

Judges praised Young Waiter winner Lucy Paulusma, from Le GV, for her natural guest engagement, focus and professionalism throughout service. “Lucy engaged very easily, listened carefully and stayed focused throughout,” noted the panel. “Her understanding of wine order and food pairing was excellent. She was the most promising on the floor and truly deserved to win.”

“I’m so proud to have taken part in this competition,” said Lucy. “The standard was incredibly high, and representing Malta internationally is something I’ll carry with me for the rest of my career.”

The mixology category proved to be one of the closest contests of the day with Young Mixologist ultimately named as Ivelin Ivanov, from The Apothecary Cocktail Bar.

“All competitors had strong individual qualities, but Ivelin truly shone in the Milk Punch challenge,” judges commented. “His creativity and consistency edged him ahead, taking the lead across the board.”

Ivelin remarked that this win means everything to him. “Competing alongside such talented mixologists and being judged by leaders I respect has been an incredible experience. I can’t wait to take Malta to the World Finals,” he said.

YYY Malta formed part of a full-day live restaurant challenge designed to mirror elite international hospitality environments. Competitors worked in cross-disciplinary teams – chefs, waiters and mixologists – delivering real service to paying guests inside ION Harbour’s working restaurant.

With a strong emphasis on local produce, sustainability and teamwork, dishes were paired with wines from Maltese producers and cocktails created using NEFT Vodka, while judges assessed technical execution, creativity, composure, leadership potential and collaboration.

The day concluded with a celebratory awards ceremony at Manta, attended by industry leaders, partners and media.

With a global press reach exceeding 30 million, a combined social audience of 75 million, and 350+ venues engaged worldwide, WorldYYY is one of the most influential platforms for identifying and accelerating the next generation of hospitality talent.