Showdown in Nagoya: World’s top skaters to face off at ISU Grand Prix Final

FIGURE SKATING

Showdown in Nagoya: World’s top skaters to face off at ISU Grand Prix Final

03 Dec 2025

The World’s best Skaters are getting ready for the first big showdown of the Olympic season at the ISU Grand Prix Final in Nagoya (JPN) this week. With the Olympic Winter Games just around the corner, expect high energy and a thrilling battle for the podium as the top six of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series are eager to leave their mark. While reigning World Champions Ilia Malinin (USA), Alysa Liu (USA), Riku Miura & Ryuichi Kihara (JPN) and Madison Chock & Evan Bates (USA) lead the charge, the challengers are ready to rise to the occasion.

Who is competing?

Quad God Ilia Malinin headlines the Men’s event

ISU World Champion Ilia Malinin (USA) is the hot favorite but competition will be tough.

ISU World Champion Ilia Malinin (USA) is aiming at his third consecutive ISU Grand Prix Final title © ISU

Two-time and reigning ISU World Champion Ilia Malinin (USA/seasons best 333.81 points) knows what is at stake at this first meet with his main rivals and got his ultimate weapon, the quad Axel, ready. Will he set a new record score again and win his third consecutive Grand Prix Final and confirm his status as the top contender for Olympic gold?
Following two victories on the ISU Grand Prix circuit, multiple ISU World medalist Yuma Kagiyama (JPN/seasons best 287.24) is aiming to challenge Malinin and counts on the extra support from the home crowd fans.
Coming off a strong ISU Grand Prix series with a gold and silver medal, Shun Sato (JPN/seasons best 285.71) has his eyes set on more hardware in Nagoya.
Two-time ISU European Champion Adam Siao Him Fa (FRA/seasons best 280.95) is excited to return to the Final after having to withdraw last year.
2025 ISU World silver medalist Mikhail Shaidorov (KAZ/seasons best 282.22) booked his ticket to Nagoya with a silver and a bronze medal from his events and is looking to impress again with his unique triple Axel-Euler-quad Salchow combination.
Daniel Grassl (ITA/seasons best 269.43) is back into the Final.

Mone Chiba (JPN) leads Grand Prix qualifiers with two victories

Expect a close competition between the leading Women from Japan and the USA.

Mone Chiba (JPN) leads the qualifiers after two victories in her ISU Grand Prix events © ISU

Reigning ISU World bronze medalist Mone Chiba (JPN/seasons best 217.23) tops the standings after celebrating her first two victories in the Grand Prix series. After taking silver a year ago in the Final, Chiba has set her eyes on the biggest prize.
Three-time ISU World Champion Kaori Sakamoto (JPN/seasons best 227.81) got the highest seasons best score. On her farewell-tour she plans to shine once more in the Final on home ice.
Defending ISU Grand Prix Final Champion Amber Glenn (USA/seasons best 214.78) is back and brings her triple Axel with her to Japan.
Current World Champion Alysa Liu (USA/seasons best 214.72) competes in her first Grand Prix Final (at the senior level).
Newcomer Ami Nakai (JPN/seasons best 227.08) burst on to the senior scene with a victory at Grand Prix de France and a bronze from Skate Canada International.
Rinka Watanabe (JPN/seasons best 210.96) collected a silver and a bronze on the circuit and returns to the Final after three years.

ISU World Champions Miura & Kihara proud to compete on home ice

ISU World Champions Riku Miura & Ryuichi Kihara of Japan lead a very competitive Pairs field.

ISU World Champions Riku Miura & Ryuichi Kihara (JPN) are proud to compete on home ice in Nagoya © ISU

Two-time ISU World Champions Riku Miura & Ryuichi Kihara (JPN/seasons best 222.94) top the standings and are especially proud to compete in the ISU Grand Prix Final on home ice. Fueled by home-crowd energy, will they recapture the title they had won three years ago?
Two-time and reigning ISU Grand Prix Final Champions Minerva Hase & Nikita Volodin (GER/seasons best 221.38) are gearing up to challenge for gold again after winning Finlandia Trophy and taking silver at Skate Canada.
Reigning ISU World bronze medalists Sara Conti & Niccolo Macii (ITA/seasons best 209.88) are competing in their fourth consecutive ISU Grand Prix Final looking to gain momentum for the Olympic Games at home in Milan.
Anastasiia Metelkina & Luka Berulava (GEO/seasons best 225.20) are the reigning ISU Grand Prix Final bronze medalists and have proven with gold and silver in their Grand Prix events that they continue their ascent.
Maria Pavlova & Alexei Sviatchenko (HUN/seasons best 207.28) are looking forward to compete in their second ISU Grand Prix Final since 2023.

ISU World Champions Chock & Bates (USA) aiming at third consecutive Grand Prix Final title

An exciting battle awaits with the top Ice Dance teams of the World facing each other in Nagoya for the first time this season.

ISU World Champions Madison Chock & Evan Bates (USA) are aiming at a third consecutive ISU Grand Prix Final title © ISU

Three-time ISU World Champions Madison Chock & Evan Bates (USA/seasons best 212.58) are competing in their ninth ISU Grand Prix Final. Will they take their third consecutive Grand Prix Final title and put themselves into the pole position for MilanoCortina 2026?
Laurence Fournier Beaudry & Guillaume Cizeron (FRA/seasons best 211.02) are a new team and have made a splash already by winning their two ISU Grand Prix events. Now they are ready to challenge for gold again.
Multiple ISU World medalists Piper Gilles & Paul Poirier (CAN/seasons best 202.89) missed out on a medal in the Final a year ago and are looking for redemption in Nagoya.
2025 ISU World bronze medalists Lilah Fear & Lewis Gibson (GBR/seasons best 210.24) are eager to continue their success.
Allison Reed/Saulius Ambrulevicius (LTU/seasons best 201.05) qualified for the first time for the ISU Grand Prix Final with a silver and a bronze from the circuit. They are the first Lithuanian skaters to compete in the Final in 24 years.
Emilea Zingas & Vadym Kolesnik (USA/seasons best 202.27) celebrated a breakthrough this season with a silver and a bronze medal in the ISU Grand Prix and compete in their first ISU Grand Prix Final.

The schedule of the ISU Grand Prix Final is as follows:

Thursday, December 4: Pairs & Men’s Short Programs, Rhythm Dance
Friday December 5: Pairs Free Skating, Women’s Short Program
Saturday, December 6: Men’s & Women’s Free Skating
Sunday, December 7: Exhibition Gala

ISU Grand Prix Standings

Check out the road to the ISU Grand Prix Final:

Men Women Pairs Ice Dance

For full entry lists and further information regarding the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series please visit here.

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