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Alina Zagitova (RUS) at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Helsinki (FIN)2018©International Skating Union (ISU)

Olympic Champions Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN) and Alina Zagitova (RUS) will take the ice again at Rostelecom Cup in Moscow (RUS) this week in the fifth event of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series 2018/19. Several skaters are looking to secure their spot in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final.

Overview of the event

Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN) at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Helsinki (FIN)2018©International Skating Union (ISU)

Following his confident win at the Grand Prix in Helsinki Yuzuru Hanyu is the top favorite again in Moscow. The challenge should come from Skate Canada silver medalist Keegan Messing (CAN) and 2018 World bronze medalist Mikhail Kolyada (RUS), who wants to improve on his fourth place from Helsinki. Other contenders include Morisi Kvitelashvili (GEO), Kazuki Tomono (JPN), Julian Zhi Jie Yee (MAS), Andrei Lazukin (RUS), Alexander Majorov (SWE) and ISU Junior Grand Prix Final Champion Alexei Krasnozhon (USA).

Alina Zagitova leads the Ladies and wants to follow up on her gold from Helsinki. The battle for the podium spots should be interesting with Skate Canada silver medalist Mako Yamashita (JPN), Skate America bronze medalist Sofia Samodurova (RUS), Yuna Shiraiwa (JPN), Elizabet Tursynbaeva (KAZ) and Eunsoo Lim (KOR) in the mix. Six-time ISU Grand Prix medalist Gracie Gold (USA) returns to competition after sitting out the past season.

In the Pairs, several spots for the ISU Grand Prix Final are on the line. 2018 World silver medalists Evgenia Tarasova/Vladimir Morozov (RUS) want to qualify after taking gold at Skate America. Grand Prix Helsinki silver medalists Nicole Della Monica/Matteo Guarise (ITA) and bronze medalists Daria Pavliuchenko/Denis Khodykin (RUS) as well as Skate America silver medalists Alisa Efimova/Alexander Korovin (RUS) and bronze medalists Ashley Cain/Timothy LeDuc (USA) all want to use their chance to grab another medal and a ticket to Vancouver.

In the Ice Dance event, two-time European bronze medalists Alexandra Stepanova/Ivan Bukin (RUS) want to add another Grand Prix gold medal to their collection and qualify for the Final after winning in Helsinki. World Junior silver medalists Christina Carreira/Anthony Ponomarenko (USA) and Sara Hurtado/Kirill Khaliavin (ESP) have set their eyes on the podium as well. Other competitors include Natalia Kaliszek/Maksym Spodyriev (POL), Anna Yanovskaya/Adam Lukacs (HUN) and Sofia Evdokimova/Egor Bazin (RUS).

Overall, 56 Skaters / Couples representing 18 ISU Members compete at Rostelecom Cup November 16-18, the fifth event in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. The top 6 qualifiers in each discipline will proceed to the Final in Vancouver (CAN), December 6 to 9, 2018.