The bouncy US-American Nathan Chen has won the Grand Prix finale of figure skaters for the first time.
On Friday, the 18-year-old won second place behind the local Shoma Uno in the final freestyle in Nagoya “only”, with a total score of 286.51 points, he relegated the local hero (286.01) to second place in a very close decision.
The Russian Mikhail Koljada (282.00) finished third. Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu from Japan and also injured Spanish European champion Javier Fernandez were not at the start.
Canadian champion Kaetlyn Osmond won the women’s short program with 77.04 points. Alina Sagitova from Russia (76.27) and former vice world champion Satoko Miyahara from Japan (74.61) finished second and third.
On Saturday, Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot will be able to complete their first joint final victory at the Grand Prix. The runners-up from Oberstdorf will be the leaders of the pair race decision from 8.30 am (live on ONE). However, the Russian European champions Yevgeniya Tarazova and Vladimir Morozov are close to their backs.