Mone Chiba of Japan emerged to top the Women’s Short Program as the second day of competition concluded at the ISU Grand Prix Final in Nagoya (JPN) Friday. 

Mone Chiba (JPN) grabs Short Program lead

The reigning ISU World bronze medalist confirmed her role as hot favorite in the event, finishing ahead of 2025 ISU World Champion Alysa Liu (USA) and newcomer Ami Nakai (JPN). 

Top qualifier Mone Chiba gave a delightful performance to “Last Dance” and had the crowd behind her as she danced, jumped and spinned with grace. The two-time ISU Grand Prix Champion nailed a triple flip-triple toe combination, triple Lutz and excellent spins to achieve a personal best of 77.27 points. 

Mone Chiba (JPN) tops the leaderboard after the Women's Short Program at the ISU Grand Prix Final in Nagoya (JPN) © ISU

“Overall, I think I could have performed better quality jumps,” Chiba said. ”But I was incredibly nervous today, and when [fellow competitor] Kaori [Sakamoto] finished putting on her shoes and was leaving, she was already nervous, which made me incredibly nervous too.

“But it was because I had faced that nervousness that I was able to show my true self. Whether I can face it or not is up to me tomorrow,” she added. “For that reason, it's no exaggeration to say that the outcome will really be decided in the Free Skate, so I'm going to stay focused.”

Liu’s emotional performance to “Promise” was highlighted by a triple flip, double Axel and level-four spins and footwork. She only slightly under-rotated the back end of her triple Lutz-triple loop combination. Nevertheless, the reigning ISU World Champion posted a personal best of 75.79 points.

Alysa Liu (USA) finished second in the Women's Short Program at the ISU Grand Prix Final in Nagoya (JPN) © ISU

“Honestly, the energy in this arena is really good, so that's pretty much the same from Worlds,” Liu noted. “There are really amazing girls, there are only six of us. 

“For me I really just focus on my performance, to be sure that my programs are really good and they're entertaining for the audience,” she continued.” I really think of it as my stage and I think of myself as a singer almost.” Liu added that she has been training with the triple Axel and hopes to include it into her program at the U.S. National Championships in January.

A year ago, Nakai competed in the Junior Final and now sits in medal position in the Senior Final. Skating to “La Strada”, the Grand Prix de France Champion stumbled on her opening triple Axel but recovered to land a triple Lutz-triple toe and a triple loop. She finished with 73.91 points. 

In her first Senior Grand Prix Final, Ami Nakai (JPN) stands in third place after the Women's Short Program at the ISU Grand Prix Final in Nagoya (JPN) © ISU

“I was really nervous, but when I had six minutes to practice in the warm up and so many people were cheering me on, I felt a sense of relief and realized how many people were cheering me on, so I really enjoyed it,” Nakai said. “After my (triple) Axel was a little shaky, I quickly changed my mindset and went into the next jump determined to land it, so I think that contributed to the high score. I think the Free Skating will be a really heated battle, and I'm happy to be a part of it.”

Rinka Watanabe (JPN) hit a triple Axel and came fourth on 70.68 points. Three-time ISU World Champion Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) doubled her triple Lutz and is currently ranked fifth (69.40 points). Defending ISU Grand Prix Final Champion Amber Glenn (USA) singled her triple Axel to finish sixth on 66.85 points. 

ISU Grand Prix Final schedule:

Thursday, December 4: Pairs & Men’s Short Programs, Rhythm Dance
 Friday December 5: Pairs Free Skating, Women’s Short Program
 Saturday, December 6: Men’s & Women’s Free Skating
 Sunday, December 7: Exhibition Gala

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ISU Grand Prix Standings

Check out the road to the ISU Grand Prix Final:

Men                               Women                    Pairs                      Ice Dance

For full entry lists and further information regarding the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series please visit here.