The 2012/2013 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating continues Friday with the Rostelecom Cup in Moscow, Russia. The Rostelecom Cup is the fourth of six events in the series. The skaters compete for a global prize money of US $ 180, 000 per individual event of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating and receive points according to their placements.
50 skaters representing 11 ISU members are competing this week in Moscow. World Champions Patrick Chan (CAN), Tessa Virtue/Scott Moir (CAN) and World silver medalists Tatiana Volosozhar/Maxim Trankov (RUS) are competing in their second Grand Prix event and aim to secure their spot in the Grand Prix Final.
Chan leads the men and is up against 2011 World silver medalist Takahiko Kozuka (JPN). Kozuka won Hilton Hhonors Skate America while Chan finished second at Skate Canada and both have good chances to qualify for the Final. Skate Canada bronze medalist Nobunari Oda (JPN) is also hoping to book a ticket to Sochi. Other contenders include Michal Brezina (CZE), Denis Ten (KAZ), Konstantin Menshov (RUS), Richard Dornbush (USA) and Johnny Weir (USA), who starts his comeback in Moscow.
Virtue/Moir headline the Ice Dance competition and want to earn their ticket to Sochi with another win. 2012 European bronze medalists Elena Ilinykh/Nikita Katsalapov (RUS) and 2011 World bronze medalists Maia Shibutani/Alex Shibutani (USA) compete in their first Grand Prix event this season. Other contenders include Nelli Zhiganshina/Alexander Gazsi (GER), Ksenia Monko/Kirill Khaliavin (RUS) and 2012 World Junior Champions Victoria Sinitsina/Ruslan Zhiganshin (RUS).
The Ladies event features World silver medalist Alena Leonova (RUS), who hopes to improve from her 7th place finish from Skate America. Adelina Sotnikova (RUS), Kiira Korpi (FIN) and Kanako Murakami (JPN) all come with a bronze medal in their first event and hope to secure a spot in the Final here in Moscow. Also competing are Gracie Gold (USA), Valentina Marchei (ITA), Agnes Zawadzki (USA), Caroline Zhang (USA), Polina Korobeynikova (RUS) and Viktoria Helgesson (SWE).
Volosozhar/Trankov headline the Pairs event and are looking for a second gold medal after winning Hilton Hhonors Skate America last month. Skate America bronze medalists Caydee Denney/John Coughlin (USA) hope for another podium finish and qualfication for the Final. 2012 European silver medalists Vera Bazarova/Yuri Larionov (RUS) are entering the Grand Prix series now. The other teams are Paige Lawrence/Rudi Swiegers (CAN), Nicole della Monica/Matteo Guarise (ITA), Tiffany Vise/Don Baldwin (USA) and Anastasia Martiusheva/Alexei Rogonov (RUS).
For full entries and results please refer to www.isu.org.