Mikhail Shaidorov falters in Grand Prix Final short program

Mikhail Shaidorov’s performance at the Grand Prix event in the U.S. / Photo: Instagram/@isufigureskating

The 2025 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final kicked off in Japan. Kazakhstani figure skater Mikhail Shaidorov came in sixth and last place in the short program on Dec. 4.

Judges awarded Shaidorov 71.30 points. During his skate, the athlete made several serious errors and even fell during the execution of a quadruple Lutz.

Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama secured victory with a solid 10-point gap, receiving 108.77 points. Shun Sato placed second with 98.06 points, while two-time champion American Ilia Malinin — the favorite of the contest — finished a dramatic third with 94.05 points.

Italian skater Daniel Grassl finished fourth with 94.00 points, and Adam Siao Him Fa of France placed fifth with 78.49 points.

The free skating program will take place on Dec. 6.

Context

The 2025–26 ISU Grand Prix Final takes place in Nagoya, Japan, from Dec. 4 to 7. A total of four sets of medals will be awarded: in men’s and women’s singles, pairs, and ice dance.

Shaidorov qualified for the Grand Prix Final in fifth place. The athlete finished third at the Grand Prix in China and second at the event in the U.S.

Malinin won last year’s Grand Prix Final, with Kagiyama and Sato finishing second and third, respectively. Shaidorov competed as a substitute for the injured Siao Him Fa and placed fifth.