Ink Master (season 8)

Ink Master: Peck vs NuÃ±ez is the eighth season of the tattoo reality competition Ink Master that premiered on August 23 and concluded on December 6, 2016 on Spike with a total of 16 episodes. A sneak peek premiered during the live Season 7 finale. Host Dave Navarro returned alongside team captains Oliver Peck and Chris NÃºÃ±ez. Unlike the previous seasons, Season 8 features judges Peck and NÃºÃ±ez going head-to-head for the first time in Ink Master history where thirty artists battle for a spot on either team with both teams consisting a total of nine artists each.

The first seven episodes featured each team battling their own members in an elimination-style competition for a spot in the top ten. Then, the top five artists on Team Peck battled Team NÃºÃ±ez's top five artists.

In addition to the $100,000, a feature in Inked magazine, the title of Ink Master and a Dodge Charger, the winner also received a guest spot at their respective team captain's shop (Oliver Peck's Elm Street Tattoo in Dallas, Texas or Chris NuÃ±ez's Handcrafted in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida). 28-year old Ryan Ashley Malarkey from Team Peck became first female winner in Ink Master history.

Judging and ranking

The judge listing types are:

Judging Panel

The judging panel is the table of three primary judges. They will vote to see who had the best tattoo of the day and who will be eliminated as well as choosing the winner of Ink Master.

Jury of Peers

The team that is safe from elimination will put one artist from the opposing team up for elimination. They will then explain to the judges why that artist was chosen. Beginning with the tenth episode, all the artists will critique each other's work.

Contestants

Team Peck

Team NuÃ±ez

Contestant progress

+ The contestant won the Head to Head Challenge.

- The contestant lost the Head to Head Challenge.

Â Â Â Â The contestant won the competition and was named Ink Master.

Â Â Â Â The contestant was the runner-up.

Â Â Â Â The contestant finished third in the competition.

Â Â Â Â The contestant won best tattoo of the day.

Â Â Â Â The contestant won the face-off.

Â Â Â Â The contestant was immune from the Elimination Tattoo.

Â Â Â Â The contestant was given an honorable mention by the judges.

Â Â Â Â The contestant was considered to be among the top.

Â Â Â Â The contestant was among the bottom group in the judges recall.

Â Â Â Â The contestant was voted worst tattoo of the day.

Â Â Â Â The contestant was considered to be in the bottom.

Â Â Â Â The contestant was eliminated from the competition.

Â Â Â Â The contestant was voted worst tattoo of the day and was eliminated.

Â Â Â Â The contestant won the flash challenge but was eliminated.

Â Â Â Â The contestant won the flash challenge but was voted worst tattoo of the day and was eliminated.

Â Â Â Â The contestant quit the competition.

Episodes

Epilogue

Ryan Ashley, Kelly Doty, Gia Rose and Nikki Simpson will appear in the upcoming spin-off Ink Master: Angels that will see each of them traveling around the country to compete against the artists who are vying for a spot in Season 10.

Boneface and Hobo Ink, who was eliminated prior to the competition, competed on Ink Master: Shop Wars to represent Boneface Ink Tattoo Shop. They were re-introduced in the sixth episode, only to be eliminated in the next episode.