JGP Estonia Men's Preview

Joshua Farris comes into this event with one gold medal under his belt and a 20 point cushion between him and his nearest competitor.  He has an absolutely gorgeous short program to Clair de Lune and holds the highest score of the season.  He had problems with his free skate but his total score ranks him 2nd only behind Han Yan, and these two men are the only junior competitors to cross the 200 mark so far this season.  He needs a 1st-4th place finish to secure his spot in the Junior Grand Prix Final.


Maxim Kovtun of Russia also has a gold medal under his belt this season.  With Artur Dmitriev knocking himself out of contention for the Final, Kovtun is looking to be Russia's sole entry in the men's event.  He would have to make a big improvement here to catch Farris for the gold, but the podium is well within his grasp.  He needs a 1st-4th place finish to guarantee a spot in the Final.


Ryuichi Kihara of Japan has a bronze medal from Poland.  If he can pull off a big upset and walk away with the gold medal here, he'll secure a spot in the Final.  He can also make the final with a silver medal finish with a score of 193.04 of higher.  If he doesn't accomplish this, his teammate Keiji Tanaka will take the last spot in the Final in December.


Shotaro Omori of the United States is also in contention for the podium after a 4th place showing at his debut in Romania, but he needs a gold medal to have a shot at the Final.


Han Yan of China, Jason Brown of the United States and Ryuju Hino of Japan have already earned a trip to the JGPF.


My podium predictions:
Gold: Joshua Farris
Silver: Maxim Kovtun
Bronze: Ryuichi Kihara


Bios of the competitors:


Sarkis Hayrapetyan, ARM: He finished 23rd in the preliminary round at Worlds.  His personal best is 84.66.  He is 19 years old.

Pavel Ignatenko, BLR: He finished 8^th at JGP Latvia.  His personal best is 154.34.  He is 16 years old.

Mitchell Gordon, CAN: This is his international debut.  He is 15 years old.


Jui-Shu Chen, TPE  


Samuel Koppel, EST: His personal best is 78.74.  He is 16 years old.


Daniel Albert Naurits, EST: This is his international debut.  He is 13 years old.

Viktor Romanenkov, EST: He finished 18^th at the World Junior Championships.  He placed 9^th at JGP Latvia.  His personal best is 152.42.  He is 18 years old.  

Viktor Zubik, FIN: He finished 14th at JGP France and 16th at JGP Japan last season.  His personal best is 136.76.  He is 17 years old.

Jack Newberry, GBR: This is his international debut.  He is 16 years old.

Ryuichi Kihara, JPN: He placed 10th at Junior Worlds.  He won bronze at JGP Poland.  His personal best is 177.92.  He is 19 years old.

Shoma Uno, JPN: He finished 4^th at his international debut in Poland.  His personal best is 163.24.  He is 13 years old.

Abish Baytkanov, KAZ: He finished 21^st at his JGP debut in Latvia.  His personal best is 77.76.  He is 16 years old.

Devidas Kizala, LTU: He finished 20^th in his JGP debut in Latvia.  His personal best is 92.88.  He is 13 years old.
  

Julian Zhi Jie Yee, MAS: He finished 22^nd at his international debut in Italy.  His personal best is 92.95.  He is 14 years old.

Kamil Dymowski, POL: He finished 14th at JGP Poland.  His personal best is 108.86.  He is 16 years old.

Catalin Dimitrescu, ROU: He finished 19^th at his JGP debut in Romania.  His personal best is 100.08.  He is 13 years old.

Maxim Kovtun, RUS: He won gold at his JGP debut in Romania.  His personal best is 182.91.  He is 16 years old.

Yakov Godorozha, UKR: He finished 8th at JGP Romania.  His personal best is 147.22.  He is 18 years old.

Joshua Farris, USA: He won gold at JGP Poland.  He won silver at JGP Romania and gold at JGP Great Britain last season to qualify for the JGP Final where he finished 6th.  His personal best is 202.45.  He is 16 years old.

Shotaro Omori, USA: He finished 4^th at his JGP debut in Romania.  His personal best is 168.47.  He is 15 years old.