Crystal Skate

Madison Chock and Evan Bates have secured themselves a first place, it seems, but Elena Ilinykh and Ruslan Zhiganshin might just get a bust of energy from the crowd and move a step. The European bronze medalists, Penny Coomes and Nicholas Bucland, are on third. There are too many Phantom of the Opera  programmes for Rebeka Kim/Kirill Minov 's version to leave a mark. The lifts are not very difficult and the spins are really slow. Their score: 72.13 . Overall: 118.27 . The same argument can be brought about Kaitlin Hawayek/Jean-Luc Baker 's Romeo and Juliet . The difference is that the Americans don't go for the obvious songs, which makes the theme seem fresh. The speed and lifts are better too. They get 83.47  points. Overall: 136.33 . Chock/Bates are reaching higher than ever this season Photograph: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images North America In comparison, Alexandra Alridge/Daniel Eaton 's Gone with the Wind  has rarely been portrayed by skaters. However, th...

If Javier Fernandez and Sergei Voronov can keep up the pace they set themselves at yesterday, this final is going to be a battle of epic proportions. On third and fourth, Kozuka and Brezina are also fresh off their best performances this season and it would be a welcome change to see them continue in the same way. Ivan Righini  has excellent taste in music. After a Michael Jackson routine, today he skates to the music of another icon, Frank Sinatra. The ladies in the audience are more than enchanted, but the judges won't be pleased with his elements. His score: 125.33 . Overall: 195.07 . Artur Gachinski is still in a dry-spell Photograph: Oleg Nikishin/Getty Images Europe Stephen Carriere  is so expressive you get the impression he's not looking at the audience or the judges or the rink, but that he's living inside the story he's telling. Unluckily, there are so many errors from him today. He gets 129.04  points. Overall: 201.24 . Hallelujah  is a difficult...

There's a lot to be proud of in the pairs' event if you're Russian, or if your favourites are any of the top three pairs, for that matter. Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov are unlikely to move from their first place, as are E. Tarasova and V. Morozov from their second. Thirdly, K. Astakhova and A. Rogonov might just take a medal at their first senior competition. Maybe it's because they're a new pair, but Dee Dee Leng/Simon Shnapir 's routine is not ambitious at all - they attempt only a thrown double Loop. They also fall on the side-by-side triple Salchows, lose unison in the side-by-side spins and she puts the hand down on the thrown triple Salchow. The theme choice, Miss Saigon , was clever though because they couldn't look their parts better. Their score: 83.26 . Overall: 128.68 . It's not looking good for Narumi Takahashi/Ryuichi Kihara . Something has definitely happened in the past two seasons to her because she just can't land the side-by...

We must start the ladies' final event with sad news: Joshi Helgesson has injured her ankle and has withdrawn as a consequence. We wish her all the best. Now, about the current affair of things: this might just be Alaine Chartrand's day of glory, but don't write Anna Pogorilaya off so fast. Same as yesterday, Eliska Brezinova 's presentation doesn't come through. She looks tired and slow, and there is just one bit of choreography relevant to The 13th Warrior . It isn't better technically with only six triples and two of those messy. Her score: 87.40 . Overall: 134.04 . Les Miserbales  by Miyabi Oda Photograph: Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images Asia Miyabi Oda  is having a much better day. She has no errors whatsoever and her interpretation of Les Miserbales  is lovely. The dress might be a bit too glamorous for the theme though. She gets 107.81  points. Overall: 154.57 . Angela Wang 's confidence slowly decreases as the programme progresses. Her step s...

I've talked about this for way too long, but it's finally time to find out who's better: Ilinykh/Katsalapov or Sinitsina/Katsalapov. Oh no, wait, that's not right, it's Ilinykh/Zhiganshin now. It's probably going to take some time for these two couples not to be mixed up. Meanwhile, Chock/Bates have a shot at beating both of them. Let's see how it goes down. We dive head first into the action. Victoria Sinitsina/Nikita Katsalapov  are first to go. You can definitely see Marina Zueva's touch on their paso doble. It's complex and passionate, with lots of twists and turns, but they have trouble with the twizzles. They're in perfect unison in the step sequence though. Their score: 57.96 . Well, it's settled. At least for now, Elena Ilinykh/Ruslan Zhiganshin  have the upper hand. It's an explosive rendition of Carmen , depicting the tragic love story perfectly. Because of the theme the costumes could have been more flamboyant, but they...

Last time we saw Javier Fernandez, he was slightly short of his best performance. Let's hope this event will give him the opportunity to prove Skate Canada was just bad luck. And what about Max Aaron and Jason Brown? They are fresh from their minor victories, but it's hard to say if they can keep it up in Moscow in front of the array of talented competitors they must face. Moris Kvitelashvili  makes for a wonderful Lestat from Interview with a Vampire . He's funny, looks like a young Dracula and is just accurate enough technically to leave us with a good impression. He falls on the triple Axel though. His score: 62.24 . Misha Ge impresses once more Photograph: Kevin Lee/Getty Images Asia The soundtrack of W.E.  is growing in popularity among skaters. Jeremy Ten  joins the group of skaters who have used it, and his version might be the first that sticks with me. You can see all the elements of the tempestuous love story and many fabulous jumps. He gets 73.91  ...

So far, the pairs' category has been the most faithful to skaters' reputation. And if there is one pair who can keep their heads in the game, it's Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov. However, after what just occurred in the ladies' short, I won't try to predict what place they'll lend after the short. I'll just wait and see what happens. This is the season of break-ups and new partnerships. Dee Dee Leng/Simon Shnapir  are another recently formed pair and it shows. Theirs is a decent routine, but it's filled with errors. Their score: 45.42 . Kristina Astakhova/Alexei Rogonov  are also making their debut here, but they show great chemistry. More importantly, they sell the raunchy sexiness Be Italian  is all about. The only problem is the lack of synchronicity in the side-by-side spins. They get 58.34  points. Bossa Nova is one of the most energetic musical styles in the world, but you wouldn't guess it by watching Narumi Takahashi/Ryuichi Kihara . ...

The only Russian wonder-child present here, Anna Pogorilaya, is a certainty for the ladies' lead. But second and third place is open for almost everyone to take. Let's see who does it. Maria Artemieva  is the first of the two skaters Russia is presenting today. I see poise and the elegance you expect from someone skating to the soundtrack of Coco Chanel , but it is very obvious that she's at the start of her career. Her step sequence is really slow and she falls on the triple Loop. Her score: 51.88 . Ashley Cain took the lead from the Russian novices Photograph: Kevin Lee/Getty Images Asia Maria Stavitskaia , the second new face, has just as much class. She is equally inexperienced, although her mistake, a hand down on the triple Loop, is less serious. Her music: Slave of Love . She gets 54.78  points. Ashley Cain 's ambition will get her far if she improves her skating skills. She aces every element, never afraid to attack them. I'm not sure that Mission ...

This year's Rostelecom Cup, hosted by Moscow, lacks significantly in Russian power. Olympic champions Adelina Sotnikova and Tatiana Volosozhar/Maxim Trankov are just some of the Russian skaters who are off ice due to injury. That doesn't mean though that the event will lack in excitement, as we've got European champions, World medalists and aspiring winners competing here. Let's begin with the men's event, where the obvious winner is Javier Fernandez. However, last time we saw him the odds weren't quite working for him. But there are no mindbogglingly talented Japanese skaters here, just very ambitious Europeans. Sergei Voronov will fight for a chance at the gold, but he'll more likely end up battling Michal Brezina for a lesser spot on the podium. And what about Jason Brown? Will his successful streak continue even when faced with quadruple pros? Elena and Ruslan have passed the test; how will their rivals do? Photograph: Kevin Lee/Getty Images Asia ...