A Toronto chef just set a world record with his chopping skills, and he did it all with a snapped finger tendon.

Wallace Wong has been going viral for his chopping abilities online, but recently he took his skill set to Italy for the filming of an America's-Got-Talent-style TV show where he set a world record.

The record he set was for the most slices of cucumbers sliced while blindfolded in 30 seconds, with 166. He achieved the record on the set of Lo Show Dei Record, in Milan, Italy, on 6 February 2023.

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As you can see in video footage of the show (which does require a VPN to watch or the highlights captured in the trained chef's Instagram post), Wong has a splint on his finger as he sets the record due to a broken finger tendon that completely snapped in half because of a Boxing Day 2022 injury.

"I was diagnosed with a mallet finger on my left middle finger, which is my main guard finger for cutting, and had to wear a brace/splint indefinitely for at least six to 12 weeks. I am currently on week 14 of recovery," Wong tells blogTO.

"With this splint, I had to relearn how to cut from scratch in six weeks as I couldn't bend my finger." 

Unfortunately, the injury was a freak accident that happened when Wong simply banged his hand but then discovered the first joint of his middle finger on his left hand was limp at a 90-degree angle. It somehow didn't hurt, but there was no feeling or control over the joint.

"After visiting the emergency, it turned out to be a mallet finger. The surgeon's exact words were: 'It was a freak accident, right force, right angle.' He told me I would need to be in a splint for at least six to 10 weeks," says Wong.

"I was devastated as I was not able to even move that finger and was told not to or it can be permanently deformed. Only time would heal it. This was horrible to hear because I knew at that moment I already was signed up to attempt to set the record."

It took him six weeks to relearn how to stabilize his left hand without that main middle finger, which is the main "guard" for his cutting technique, he says the first three weeks were the hardest. He had to start frustratingly slowly and let his finger heal while not practicing.

Despite having to relearn his chopping techniques in six weeks, Wong says the key to chopping with a blindfold was knowing he could rely on a solid foundation of practice and knowledge.

"When you are confident that you won't cut yourself because your technique is sound, you eliminate all fear, and when you do that you can cut not only blindfolded but also faster," says Wong. "You also get to feel and learn to use your sense of touch as a gauge. For example, I know how the blade of my knife should be feeling against my knuckle while I am cutting."

While Wallace is the first holder of the title for this very specific record, it's been a huge achievement, especially after all he went through.

"I actually watched the Guinness World Records shows and also read the books growing up so to be able to set a record and know that I too will be in the 2023 book and have people watch the show and see me do this feat is very rewarding and a full circle kinda moment," says Wong.

"It's such a huge sense of accomplishment to be able to do something like set a world record. I think when I was able to share the news with my family, it was such a really awesome experience to see them actually fully grasp and know the rarity and extent of what it actually meant."