Melbourne pastry chef Seung Yun Lee secured fourth place for Australia at the World Chocolate Masters in Paris in November.

The Savour Chocolate and Patisserie teacher battled it out against 18 of the world’s leading chocolatiers and pastry chefs, taking out the highest place Australia has ever achieved at the international competition.

The World Chocolate Masters, an initiative by Cacao Barry and Callebaut Chocolate, is an international culinary competition devoted to the art of chocolate. During the demanding three-day event, competitors had to create a range of chocolate masterpieces, including more than 100 handmade chocolates and a two-metre high chocolate showpiece.

In what was an unprecedentedly close competition, only 1.4 per cent separated fourth and first place.

According to event commentator and Callebaut technical advisor Alexandre Bourdeaux, Seung Yun was the most prepared and skilled competitor that he had ever witnessed.

The competition organisers said that Seung Yun’s efforts brought Australia’s improving chocolate standards to the attention of some of the world’s best pastry chefs.

The World Chocolate Masters committee recently confirmed the dates for the 2012 World Chocolate Masters Australian qualifier. The event will be held on May 27, 2012, at Foodservice Australia Sydney, Royal Hall of Industries, with the theme of ‘Architecture of Taste’.

There will be six spots available in the competition, with the criteria to be released shortly.