The dance event at NHK Trophy this week will play out a few scenarios of Grand Prix Final qualifications here, but barring any unexpected outcomes, the top two here should move on to Torino for the Final. The pairs are similarly predictable, in a way, particularly given the field has now shrunk from eight to six.
2022 NHK Trophy predictions
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Skating on home ice, Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara are the runaway favorites this week. And like Alexa Knierim/Brandon Frazier last week, they could become the first Japanese pair to win two Grand Prix events in one season—after they already became the first Japanese pair to win a Grand Prix title at Skate Canada. The favorite for silver are Emily Chan/Spencer Howe, and with a second silver on the Grand Prix, they can wrap up a Grand Prix Final spot this week. The battle for bronze will be between Camille Kovalev/Pavel Kovalev and Brooke McIntosh/Benjamin Mimar.
PAIRS predictions
GOLD Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara JPN
SILVER Emily Chan/Spencer Akira Howe USA
BRONZE Camille Kovalev/Pavel Kovalev FRA
4. Brooke McIntosh/Benjamin Mimar CAN
5. Irma Caldara/Riccardo Maglio ITA
6. Daria Danilova/Michel Tsiba NED
In ice dance, it’s less of a matter of whether Madison Chock/Evan Bates are the favorites and more of how they have improved since Skate America, where they had a couple of messy programs that almost dropped them to silver. That could actually happen if they aren’t careful, especially with Laurence Fournier Beaudry/Nikolaj Sorensen hot on their heels. Caroline Green/Michael Parsons are favored for bronze, but will be watching for Evgeniia Lopareva/Geoffrey Brissaud.