FIGURE SKATING: Grand Prix Finals preview, men's event

Grand Prix Finals Preview February 16, 2001 - February 18, 2001 Tokyo, Japan Men's Event

The Grand Prix Finals is the largest and last international competition before the prestigious World Championships, and has often served as a predictor for the World Championships in the past. This year's men's event is a battle between three Russians and three Americans: Russia's Alexei Yagudin, Evgeny Plushenko, and Ilia Klimkin; and America's Todd Eldredge, Timothy Goebel, and Matt Savoie.

The format of the finals is completely different from the format of the Grand Prix Series. The top six men from the series qualify for the Finals, but they all start from zero at the Finals. The men will start out with their short programs, as usual, followed by a long program. Then, the scores are wiped out, and the final round begins. The men will perform a second long program. This long program has to be different from the first long program in music and choreography. The sixth ranked man will skate head to head against the fifth ranked man for fifth place; the third ranked man against the fourth ranked man for third place. The Super Final decides the title - the second and first ranked men will skate head to head for the win. Prior to each head to head match up, the men will draw for their skating order.

Three-time World champion Alexei Yagudin and two-time European champion Evgeny Plushenko are the front runners, having accumulated the maximum 24 Grand Prix points coming into the competition. The two have been battling it out for number one all season long: at the Russian Nationals, Japan Open, and European Championships. Plushenko has won two out of the three events (Russian Nationals, and Europeans), but one can never count out Yagudin and his competitive fortitude. Plushenko is the reigning Grand Prix Champion; Yagudin missed the Grand Prix Finals last year because of an injured achilles tendon.

Timothy Goebel has earned 21 points going into the Finals, and he has beaten Alexei Yagudin once this year at Skate America. He lost to Yagudin a few months later at the Hershey's Kisses Figure Skating Challenge, however. Goebel, who was third last year, relies on the strength of his three quads. If he hits them, he can challenge for the title. Following Goebel is Todd Eldredge, the 1996 World Champion, who has earned 16 points in the Grand Prix series. Eldredge is trying to make a comeback after a two-year absence from the Grand Prix circuit. Eldredge has landed his quad only once in competition and, with Plushenko, Yagudin, and Goebel planning at least two quads in their free program, Eldredge will have to be phenomenal at the finals to have a chance at the title. Appearing for the first time in the Grand Prix Finals are Ilia Klimkin (18 points) and Matt Savoie (14 points).

The head to head format of the final round will actually eliminate a lot of pressure for the competitors. What is most important is that the men try to get into the top two during the first round. If they are in the top two for the final round, they cannot finish lower than second. That means that they can abandon their cautions and go for every jump in their arsenal. There will be no holding back, especially not when Plushenko and Yagudin are fighting for the title. Sparks will fly as two of the sport's fiercest rivals clash head to head.