The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series continues this week with the NHK Trophy in Osaka (JPN). The NHK Trophy is the sixth and concluding event of the series and thus offers the last chance to qualify for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023/24 in Beijing (CHN) from December 7-10. World Champion Shoma Uno (JPN), World Ice Dance silver medalists Charlene Guignard/Marco Fabbri (ITA) and other top skaters are aiming for a ticket to Beijing.
Sixth stop: NHK Trophy, Osaka (JPN) (Nov. 24-26, 2023)
Women contenders
The ISU World silver medalist Haein Lee (KOR) headlines the Women’s field but the battle for the podium looks open. Lee placed fourth at the Grand Prix de France and needs to win in Osaka to be sure of a berth in the Final. Competition should come from Nina Pinzarrone (BEL), who took silver in Angers, ISU European Champion Anastasiia Gubanova (GEO), and Mai Mihara (JPN), who missed her first Grand Prix event due to injury. Other contenders include defending NHK Trophy Champion Yelim Kim (KOR), Wakaba Higuchi (JPN), and Lindsay Thorngren (USA).
Haein Lee (KOR) at the 2023 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Saitama, Japan © ISU
Men contenders
Two-time and reigning ISU World Champion Shoma Uno (JPN) enters his second event and after being ranked second at the Cup of China is hoping to win this week. The 25-year-old needs to watch out for 2022 Olympic silver medalist Yuma Kagiyama (JPN), who took bronze in France and needs more points to reach the Final. Lukas Britschgi (SUI), fourth in Angers, is looking to claim his first ISU Grand Prix medal. Elsewhere, the 2022 ISU European bronze medalist Deniss Vasiljevs (LAT), Gabriele Frangipani (ITA) and Camden Pulkinen (USA) are other contenders.
Shoma Uno (JPN) at the 2023 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Saitama, Japan © ISU
Pairs contenders
The race for the podium and a spot in the ISU Grand Prix Final will be particularly exciting in the Pairs event as four teams have a chance to book a ticket to Beijing. Among them is the new team of Minerva Fabienne Hase/Nikita Volodin (GER), who won the ISU Grand Prix Espoo last week. ISU European silver medalists Rebecca Ghilardi/Filippo Ambrosini (ITA) arrive in Japan with a silver medal from the Cup of China, while their teammates Lucrezia Beccari/Matteo Guarise are also looking to book their place in Beijing having taken bronze at Skate Canada. Chelsea Liu/Balazs Nagy (USA), bronze medalists at Skate America – their first Grand Prix event – also compete in Osaka. Elsewhere in the field are the ISU World Junior silver medalists Anastasia Golubeva/ Hektor Giotopoulos Moore (AUS), who were fourth at Skate Canada, and Kelly Ann Laurin/Loucas Ethier (CAN).
Gold medalists at ISU Grand Prix Espoo, Finland: Minerva Fabienne Hase/Nikita Volodin © ISU
Ice Dance contenders
The Ice Dance event features ISU European Champions Charlene Guignard/Marco Fabbri (ITA) who are looking to qualify for the Final following their win at Grand Prix de France. The challenge should come from ISU European silver medalists Lilah Fear/Lewis Gibson (GBR), who took silver at Skate Canada. Juulia Turkkila/Matthias Versluis (FIN) and Allison Reed/Saulius Ambrulevicius (LTU) both claimed bronze – in Finland and in Canada, respectively – and it will be a close competition between them for the podium in Osaka. Other contenders include Marie-Jade Lauriault/Romain Le Gac (CAN), Loicia Demougeot/Theo Le Mercier (FRA) and Misato Komatsubara/Tim Koleto (JPN).
European Champions Charlene Guignard/Marco Fabbri (ITA) pose after their win in Espoo, Finland earlier this year © ISU
Full results for NHK Trophy will be available here.
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series consists of six events: Skate America, Skate Canada International, Grand Prix de France, Cup of China, the Grand Prix Espoo (FIN) and NHK Trophy (JPN). Skaters collect points towards to qualify for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023/24 in Beijing (CHN).
ISU Grand Prix Standings
The General Announcement of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series is available here on the ISU website. The individual announcements are published on the ISU Event section under each dedicated Grand Prix event (filter with the relevant Event Series).
For full entry lists and further information regarding the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series please visit here.
All Media Accreditations details and deadlines for the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series can be found here.
Where to Watch
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating events will be live streamed with English commentary on the official ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating YouTube Channel in most countries. Find out Where to watch the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating competitions.
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ISU Grand Prix Schedule
The schedules of each ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating events are available below:
20 - 22 Oct, 2023 Skate America, Allen (Texas, USA)
27 – 29 Oct, 2023 Skate Canada International, Vancouver (CAN)
03 - 05 Nov, 2023 Grand Prix de France, Angers (FRA)
10 - 12 Nov, 2023 Grand Prix Cup of China, Chongqing (CHN)
17 - 19 Nov, 2023 Grand Prix Espoo, Espoo (FIN)
24 - 26 Nov, 2023 NHK Trophy, Osaka (JPN)
07 - 10 Dec, 2023 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, Beijing (CHN)
About ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series started in 1995 (previously known as the ISU Champions Series) and consists of six invitational international senior events and the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. The top six of the past World Championships are seeded. Competitors collect points in their events towards the qualification for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. Only the top six Skaters / Couples in each discipline can qualify for the Final.
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