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Olympic Champions Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN) and Alina Zagitova (RUS), 2018 World Champion Nathan Chen (USA) and three-time Ice Dance World Champions Gabriella Papadakis/Guillaume Cizeron (FRA) as well Olympic, World, European and Four Continents medalists will compete in the six events of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series when the hot phase of the 2018/19 season starting next week. The series in this post-Olympic season features also the next generation of up and coming skaters.

Overview of the events

Madison Hubbell/Zachary Donohue (USA) 2017©International Skating Union (ISU)

 The Grand Prix series traditionally kicks off with Skate America, this time held in Everett, WA (USA) October 19 to 21. World Champion Chen, World bronze medalist Satoko Miyahara (JPN), two-time European Pairs Champions Evgenia Tarasova/Vladimir Morozov (RUS) and Ice Dance World silver medalists Madison Hubbell/Zachary Donohue (USA) lead the line-up.

Vanessa James/Morgan Cipres (FRA) 2018©International Skating Union (ISU)

Skate Canada in Laval, QC (CAN), October 26 to 28 is headlined by Olympic and World silver medalist Shoma Uno (JPN), 2018 Four Continents bronze medalist Jason Brown (USA), Olympic silver medalist Evgenia Medvedeva (RUS), World silver medalist Wakaba Higuchi (JPN), World bronze medalists Vanessa James/Morgan Cipres (FRA) in the Pairs and Hubbell/Donohue in the Ice Dance competition. World Junior Ice Dance Champions Anastasia Skoptcova/Kirill Aleshin (RUS) will debut on the Grand Prix series.

Alina Zagitova RUS 2018©International Skating Union (ISU)

For the first time, Helsinki (FIN) will host a Grand Prix event on November 2 to 4. The event features two-time Olympic Champion Hanyu, current World bronze medalist Mikhail Kolyada (RUS), two-time World bronze medalist Boyang Jin (CHN) as well as Olympic Champion Zagitova (RUS), five-time European Champion Carolina Kostner (ITA), two-time Ice Dance World medalists Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA) and European bronze medalists Alexandra Stepanova/Ivan Bukin (RUS). World Junior Champion Alexey Erokhov (RUS) and World Junior Pairs Champions Daria Pavliuchenko/Denis Khodykin (RUS) will debut on the senior circuit.

Vincent Zhou (USA) 2017©International Skating Union (ISU)

The series continues with the NHK Trophy in Hiroshima (JPN) November 9 to 11 with Uno, European silver medalist Dmitri Aliev (RUS), 2017 World Junior Champion Vincent Zhou (USA), Miyahara and World Ice Dance Champions Papadakis/Cizeron.

The circuit then moves back to Europe for the Rostelecom Cup in Moscow (RUS) November 16 to 18. Competitors include Hanyu, Kolyada, Zagitova, Higuchi, Tarasova/Morozov, Chock/Bates and Stepanova/Bukin.

The last spots for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final will be decided in Grenoble (FRA) at the Internationaux de France November 23 to 25. Top contenders include Chen, Jin, Kostner, Medvedeva, James/Cipres and Papadakis/Cizeron.

43 Men, 43 Ladies, 25 Pairs and 35 Ice Dance couples from 31 ISU Members have been invited. The number of entries for each event is 12 Ladies, 12 Men, 8 Pairs and 10 Ice Dance couples. The top 6 qualifiers in each discipline will proceed to the Final in Vancouver (CAN), December 6 to 9, 2018.

Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN) 2017©International Skating Union (ISU)

Selection Criteria

The Skaters are seeded and invited to the six Grand Prix of Figure Skating events based on the results of the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2018. Skaters / Couples who have placed 1 to 6 in each of the four categories are seeded and assigned to two events. Skaters/ couples who have placed 7-12 at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships are selected for two ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating events, and skaters with a top 24 high seasons best score as well as those placed in the top 24 of the World Standings can also be invited. If available medalists from the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships and the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final gold medalists can also be selected.

In order for a Skater / Couple to be eligible to compete at a Grand Prix event, a minimum total score must have been achieved in the previous or current season in an ISU event (Grand Prix, Junior Grand Prix, Championships) or a Challenger Series event. Exceptions apply to host country Skaters, previously ranked Skaters or split ranked Couples who return with new partners.