Canada's Fournier Beaudry, Soerensen 2nd after rhythm dance at Grand Prix Espoo

Three world champions moved closer to earning places at figure skating's Grand Prix Finals on Friday with the American ice dance duo of Madison Chock and Evan Bates in front after the rhythm dance and Kaori Sakamoto of Japan leading the women's short program at Grand Prix Espoo in Finland.

Skating to a medley of music by Queen, Chock and Bates scored 85.62 points for a lead of nearly three points over Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Soerensen of Montreal going into the free dance on Saturday.

WATCH | Fournier Beaudry, Soerensen 2nd after rhythm dance:

Canada's Fournier Beaudry and Sørensen sit in 2nd after rhythm dance skate at Grand Prix Espoo

1 year ago

Duration 7:10

Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Sørensen of Canada skated to a score of 82.62 and sit in second place after the rhythm dance program Friday at the Grand Prix de Espoo.

European Championship bronze medallists Juulia Turkkila and Matthias Versluis of Finland were in third, five points further back.

Chock and Bates are unbeaten in 2023 and need a top-three finish Saturday to ensure a spot at the Grand Prix Finals after winning at Skate America last month.

WATCH | Rhythm dance program:

ISU Grand Prix Espoo: Rhythm dance program

1 year ago

Duration 1:28:01

Watch the rhythm dance program at the ISU Grand Prix Espoo figure skating competition from Espoo, Finland.

Sakamoto scored 69.69 points after landing a double axel, triple lutz and a double flip-triple toeloop combination to take the lead following a win at Skate Canada last month.

Japanese teammate Rion Sumiyoshi scored 68.65 points for second place and 16-year-old Kim Chaeyeon of South Korea was third with 66.19.

WATCH | Women's short program:

ISU Grand Prix Espoo: Women's short program

1 year ago

Duration 1:36:49

Watch the women's short program at the ISU Grand Prix Espoo figure skating competition from Espoo, Finland.

In the men's short program, Kao Miura took the lead ahead of Japanese teammate Shun Sato.

Jimmy Ma of the United States was 10 points further back in third with 80.19 after some small errors, including putting a hand down on the landing of his triple axel. Koshiro Shimada of Japan was fourth.

Two other possible contenders for spots in the finals struggled as Kevin Aymoz of France placed fifth and Matteo Rizzo of Italy was sixth ahead of Saturday's free skate.

WATCH: Men's short program:

ISU Grand Prix Espoo: Men's short program

1 year ago

Duration 1:33:18

Watch the men's short program at the ISU Grand Prix Espoo figure skating competition from Espoo, Finland.

Peng Cheng and Wang Lei of China led the pairs short program with 65.25 points, edging past Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii of Italy with 65. Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin of Germany were third with 63.59 points.

Grand Prix Espoo is the fifth of the six events that determine qualification for next month's Grand Prix Finals in Beijing.

Finland is hosting a Grand Prix for the second straight season in place of usual host nation Russia. The International Skating Union barred Russia from hosting events and entering skaters in international competitions following the invasion of Ukraine.

WATCH | Pairs short program:

ISU Grand Prix Espoo: Pairs short program

1 year ago

Duration 1:10:52

Watch the pairs short program at the ISU Grand Prix Espoo figure skating competition from Espoo, Finland.