Stolbova and Klimov and Takahashi/Tran have the most experience having competed in the Final last season, holding World Junior Championship medals and ompeting on the Senior Grand Prix this season. They have the two highest personal best scores with Takahashi/Tran having a slight advantage. Takahashi/Tran likely have the edge here, but the extra Grand Prix experience could also translate into fatigue. They are the first alternate to the Grand Prix Final so if a pairs team withdraws they have the option to compete in both events. Stolbova/Klimov have also beat Takahashi/Tran earlier this season and could do so again here. The rest of the field is significantly back but are on equal footing and have traded places throughout the season so it's anyone's guess who will take the third podium spot.
Stolbova/Klimov have beat Yu/Jin, Takahashi/Tran, Purich/Schultz, Cain/Reagan, Steele/Schultz, and Jones/Gaskell earlier this season.
Takahashi/Tran have beat Purich/Schultz, Silaeva/Minchuk, Cain/Reagan, Steele/Schultz and Jones/Gaskell this season.
Yu/Jin have beat Purich/Schultz, Silaeva/Minchuk, Steele/Schultz, and Jones/Gaskell.
Purich/Schultz have beat Silaeva/Minchuk, Cain/Reagan, Steele/Schultz (twice) earlier this season.
Cain/Reagan have beat Silaeva/Minchuk, Purich/Schultz, Steele/Schultz.
Steele/Schultz have beat Cain/Reagan
Silaeva/Minchuk have beat Steele/Schultz and Jones/Gaskell earlier this season.
Teams in order of qualification:
Stolbova/Klimov, RUS: They are the reigning Junior World bronze medalists. They won JGP Cup of Austria and J. Curry Memorial earlier this season. They placed 7th in their first JGP Final last season. They placed 5th in the Grand Prix debut at Skate America. Their personal best total score was achieved earlier this season and is 159.79.
Yu/Jin, CHN: They won bronze at JGP Cup of Austria and gold at Czech Skate in their first season on the JGP. Their personal best total score was achieved earlier this season and is 138.66.
Takahashi/Tran, JPN: They are the reigning Junior World silver medalists and placed 5th at Four Continents. They won silver at J. Curry Memorial and Pokal der Blauen. They won silver at the JGP Final last season. This is their third trip to the JGP Final. They won bronze at NHK Trophy and silver at Rostelecom Cup in their debut season on the Grand Prix. Their personal best total score was achieved earlier this season and is 165.47.
Purich/Schultz, CAN: They won bronze at J. Curry Memorial and Czech Skate in their first season on the JGP. Their personal best total score was achieved earlier this season and is 131.77.
Silaeva/Minchuk, RUS: They placed 11th at the World Junior Championships. They won bronze at Pokal der Blauen and placed 4th at Czech Skate in their first season on the JGP. Their personal best total score was achieved earlier this season and is 131.03.
Cain/Reagan, USA: They finished 6th at J. Curry Memorial and won silver at Czech Skate in their first season on the JGP. Their personal best total score was achieved earlier this season and is 134.14.
Steele/Schultz, CAN: They placed 4th at the J. Curry Memorial and 6th at Czech Skate. Their personal best total score was achieved last season and is 128.86.
Jones/Gaskell, CAN: They placed 7th at the World Junior Championships. They placed 6th at Cup of Austria and 4th at Pokal der Blauen. Their personal best total score was achieved last season and is 133.41.
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