Last chance in Chongqing! Top skaters such as ISU World medalists Adam Siao Him Fa (FRA), Minerva Hase/Nikita Volodin (GER) and Charlène Guignard/Marco Fabbri (ITA) are entering the Cup of China in Chongqing this week, the sixth and last event of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series 2024/25 aiming at securing their spots in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. The battle for the few remaining tickets to Grenoble promises to be very exciting.

The Top Contenders 

Reigning ISU World bronze medalist Adam Siao Him Fa (FRA) won his home event Grand Prix de France and hopes to seal the deal for the Final in his home country here in Chongqing. The Frenchman, also known as “Mr. Backflip”, will face competition from Skate Canada silver medalist Shun Sato (JPN) who has a very good chance to return to the Final. Nika Egadze (GEO), fourth at Skate America and Mikhail Shaidorov (KAZ), fourth at the Grand Prix de France have an outside chance as well to get into the Final. Shaidorov made history in France when he landed a triple Axel-quadruple toeloop combination that nobody has yet done before. The field is packed with more contenders such as Deniss Vasiljevs (LAT), Matteo Rizzo (ITA), two-time ISU World bronze medalist Boyang Jin (CHN) and Nikolaj Memola (ITA).

Adam Siao Him Fa (FRA) competes at the ISU Grand Prix de France in Angers  © ISU

“After the competition in France there were some complicated things in practice, but there were also good things and I have worked in a different way compared to the Grand Prix in France,” Siao Him Fa said.

“I approach this competition in a different way, with much less pressure. It would be nice if I qualify for the Final but I do not put pressure on myself because of this. I will just try to do what I practice and then we’ll see.”

The Women’s event features four medalists from previous ISU Grand Prix events this season who have a good shot at making the Final: Grand Prix de France Champion Amber Glenn (USA) leads the contenders, followed by NHK Trophy silver medalist Mone Chiba (JPN), Skate America silver medalist Rinka Watanabe (JPN) and Grand Prix de France bronze medalist Rion Sumiyoshi (JPN). The 2024 ISU World bronze medalist Chaeyeon Kim (KOR) and Kimmy Repond (SUI) have an outside chance for the Final as well after placing fourth in France and Canada respectively. Others to watch include Madeline Schizas (CAN) and 2024 ISU European silver medalist Anastasia Gubanova (GEO). 

Amber Glenn (USA) competes at the ISU Grand Prix de France in Angers  © ISU

Reigning ISU World bronze medalists Minerva Fabienne Hase/Nikita Volodin (GER) headline the Pairs event and are up against 2023 ISU European Champions Sara Conti/Niccolo Macii (ITA). These two teams took gold and silver at the Grand Prix de France and are the top favorites for making the Final. Lia Pereira/Trennt Michaud (CAN) want to improve from their fifth place in France. Also competing are Ioulia Chtchetinina/ Michal Wozniak (POL) and Katie McBeath/Daniil Parkman (USA).

“Our preparation was good and we followed our plan,” Volodin said. “We do not think about the Final now, our main goal is to keep improving every day and skate clean programs.”

Minerva Fabienne Hase/Nikita Volodin (GER) compete at the ISU Grand Prix de France in Angers  © ISU

It will get hot in the Ice Dance event with two-time ISU European Champions Charlène Guignard/Marco Fabbri (ITA) looking for redemption after finishing second in France. They will be fighting for the Final as are Skate Canada silver medalists Marjorie Lajoie/Zachary Lagha (CAN) and NHK Trophy silver medalists Christina Carreira/Anthony Ponomarenko (USA). After claiming bronze in their first event, Juulia Turkkila/Matthias Versluis (FIN) and Olivia Smart/Tim Dieck (ESP) cannot be counted out either. The deep field includes as well 2022 ISU Four Continents Champions Caroline Green/Michael Parsons (USA), Diana Davis/Gleb Smolkin (GEO) and Loicia Demougeot/Theo Le Mercier (FRA).

Charlene Guignard/Marco Fabbri (iTA) compete at the ISU Grand Prix de France in Angers  © ISU

“It (the preparation) was a little bit tough because the first Grand Prix for us was really difficult,” Fabbri commented. ”The free dance (at Grand Prix de France) was with no doubt the worst performance we ever had in our career, and there really was no explanation for that.

 “It was not super easy mentally and physically these past two weeks, but we fought every day and now we feel much better, and we really want to switch our mindset and do a nice competition to feel well on the ice to cancel all the nightmares and bad thoughts from France. Of course then the goal is to qualify for the for the final,” he continued.

A total of 60 Skaters/Couples representing 16 countries will compete in the Huaxi Culture Sport Center in Chongqing. For full entries, schedules & results, see the ISU Grand Prix Event Page &  ISU Grand Prix Cup of China Event Page .

Check out the ISU Grand Prix Standings to find out who is on their way to qualify for the Final:

Men      Women           Pair Skating      Ice Dance

What & When

The schedule of the Cup of China is as follows

Friday, Nov 22: Rhythm Dance, Women’s, Men’s & Pairs Short Programs
Saturday, Nov 23: Free Dance, Women’s, Men’s & Pairs Free Skating
Sunday, Nov 24: Exhibition Gala

Follow the ISU Grand Prix events:

The schedules of each ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating event are available below:

1. 18 - 20 Oct 2024                      Skate America in Allen, TX (USA)
2. 25 - 27 Oct 2024                      Skate Canada International in Halifax (CAN)
3. 01 - 03 Nov 2024                     Grand Prix de France in Angers (FRA)
4. 08 - 10 Nov 2024                     NHK Trophy in Tokyo (JPN)
5. 15- 17 Nov 2024                      Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki (FIN)  
6. 22 - 24 Nov 2024                     Cup of China in Chongqing (CHN)

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final: 

1. 05 - 08 Dec 2024                        Grenoble (FRA)

About ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series started in 1995 (previously known a s 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.