Outside of the men’s event this week at NHK Trophy, the pairs’ event will be most intriguing in the race for the Grand Prix Final spots. Three of the six spots have already been taken, and there are three pairs this week who have a strong look at the remaining three spots. They will have to make sure to finish high enough to knock Evgenia Tarasova/Vladimir Morozov out of the way - they are currently on the bubble and standing in the way of Torino.
NHK Trophy predictions
Official hashtags: #NHK杯フィギュア #GPFigure
GOLD Wenjing Sui/Cong Han CHN - A lock for gold this week, and a lock for their fourth Grand Prix Final appearance coming up, Sui/Han are far and away the favorites in the pairs’ event. Having them back and injury-free again this season has been refreshing, and they are already looking like the all-around skaters that they have become over the past few years. Consistency shouldn’t be an issue for them here, they only real thing to watch for are the side-by-side sals in the free skate.
SILVER Kirsten Moore-Towers/Michael Marinaro CAN - Looking for the Grand prix Final berth that eluded him last season, the Canadian champs will be looking to this competition as a springboard, not just to the Final, but potentially to a top five finish at the World Championships. Their gold at Nebelhorn Trophy and silver at Skate Canada were promising starts to the season. Another strong event here will really help with their standing in the pairs world.
BRONZE Anastasia Mishina/Aleksandr Galliamov RUS - Fun fact with Mishina/Galliamov - they have not been defeated in international competition since March 2018, when they were third at Junior Worlds. They were undefeated in juniors last year and have been two-for-two in their first senior international season. NHK Trophy will definitely be the toughest field they have faced so far.
4. Alexa Scimeca Knierim/Chris Knierim USA - After a trying post-Olympic season last year, the Knierims look to have found their way again this season. They still have work to do with their side-by-sides, but the good news is that the rest of their skating looks more secure and stronger than ever. They were fourth at Skate Canada, and they will have an outside shot at the podium here this week. NHK Trophy has been good to them in the past - two of their three career Grand Prix medals were earned here.
5. Nicole Della Monica/Matteo Guarise ITA - Who would’ve thought that Della Monica would be as ready as she was at Cup of China after dislocating her shoulder earlier this season? But Della Monica/Guarise, with little in the way of expectations going into their first Grand Prix, ended up fourth there. And with a couple more weeks of training, they are looking to continue to improve with the second half of the season in their sights.
6. Tarah Kayne/Danny O’Shea USA - The 2016 US champions started with a fourth-place finish at US Classic, followed by sixth at Cup of China a couple weeks back. At their best, they can challenge for the top half here.
7. Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara JPN - The new Japanese pair makes their international debut at their home Grand Prix this week. They both have pairs experience coming into this pairing, and they have the potential to become the best pair team that Japan has ever developed.
8. Alisa Efimova/Alexander Korovin RUS - A disappointing eighth at Cup of China, Efimova/Korovin haven’t been able to find their consistency this season. They have the potential to be in the top half if they skate cleanly.