With just 64 days until the start of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, the world’s best figure skaters opened the Grand Prix Final at IG Arena in Nagoya, Japan, marking the final major global test before Milan Cortina 2026. The Americans came out strong, highlighted by a podium-ready position for Ilia Malinin in the men’s event and a commanding rhythm dance for Madison Chock and Evan Bates, as Japan surged in the men’s field and pairs remained a razor-thin battle from top to bottom.

U.S. phenom Malinin, the heavy favorite to chase a landmark third straight Grand Prix Final title, sits third with 94.05 — less than five points off second — after a step out of his quad Axel. All day in practice the 21-year-old had been landing a history-making quadruple Axel triple toe combination, however, under the pressure of competition he was unable to hold on. The reigning world champion still impressed with his overall quality, despite slightly seeming more shaky than he has appeared in recent seasons, remaining firmly in contention heading into the free skate, where his arsenal of quads including another quad Axel, could swing the standings back in his favor.

Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama delivered a near-perfect skate to score 108.77, taking the lead with a soaring opening quad and standout component scores (47.23). Compatriot Shun Sato followed in second (98.06) after a clean, technically secure program that showcased speed and ease across the ice.

Behind the podium trio is a tight international pack. Italy’s Daniel Grassl sits 4th (94.00) by just .05 points behind Malinin, followed by France’s Adam Siao Him Fa in 5th with 78.49 after a deduction. Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov rounded out the field in 6th with 71.30. 

Kagiyama and Sato both qualified for the Final with strong Grand Prix seasons, but Malinin — the only man since Nathan Chen to win back-to-back Finals — remains the skater everyone will be watching in the free skate.

Three-time world champions Chock and Bates delivered exactly what they came for, with characteristic control, speed, and precision, opening their Grand Prix Final campaign in 1st with 88.74. Their rhythm dance featured high-quality elements and top-tier components, as the U.S. duo seek their third consecutive Grand Prix Final title.

Close behind are France’s Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron in 2nd (87.56), just over a point back after nearly exactly matching Chock and Bates in component quality. The French team, competing in their first Final together, remain well within striking distance heading into the free dance.

Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier sit 3rd with 82.89, just ahead of Great Britain’s Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson in 4th (82.55) — a bronze-medal battle brewing. Lithuania’s Allison Reed and Saulius Ambrulevicius are 5th (79.48), while the second U.S. team, Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik, finished 6th (75.78) after a two-point deduction despite strong skating quality.

Chock and Bates hold the advantage, but with the top two separated by just 1.18 points, the free dance could be decisive.

Reigning world champions, Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan, narrowly are in front after the short program, earning 77.32 with crisp lifts and standout component marks. Italy’s Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii trail by just 0.10 points at 77.22, making the free skate a must-watch showdown.

Georgia’s Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava hold 3rd (75.04), with Hungarians Maria Pavlova and Alexei Sviatchenko 4th at 72.84, Germany’s Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin 5th with 71.68, and Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps of Canada currently in 6th with 71.07. With only six points separating first from sixth, the podium and potentially the title could swing dramatically.

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating continues Friday with the pairs free skate and women's short program starting at 5:35 a.m. ET on Peacock and highlights airing on E! at 8 a.m. ET.