The First Channel Figure Skating Cup was originally conceived as a show, but immediately acquired much more importance in the eyes of the fans.
In the past and the year before last, there was a fierce sports struggle between the teams in a good way, and there was no talk of a friendly nature of the competition.
In addition, in 2023, the tournament turned out to be a kind of replacement for the domestic skaters for the European Championship, which will be held from January 25 to 29 in Finland, and a great opportunity to compete with each other at the highest level.
Solid prize money, which in total reached 20 million rubles, also served as an excellent motivation.
Well, one of the main intrigues, as usual, lay in the names of the captains.
At the first tournament, the audience witnessed a fundamental confrontation between Alina Zagitova and Evgenia Medvedeva, and at the second - Anna Shcherbakova and Mark Kondratyuk.
This time, the Olympic champion Pyeongchang returned to her former place, again leading the Red Car.
But the second team changed its name from "The Time of the First" to "They Won't Catch Us."
Kamila Valieva was appointed its captain.
However, in the FFKKR they do not exclude that she herself can go on the ice.
“Where did you read that Valieva will not skate the program?
Let's wait for the start of tomorrow's competitions, ”the press service of the federation said.
The format has changed a lot since last year.
In particular, the much-loved jumping tournament will not be held.
On January 21, pairs and single skaters will demonstrate short programs, and on January 22 - free programs.
At the same time, the composition of the teams turned out to be approximately equal.
According to the regulations, if you don’t have to make forced substitutions, for single skaters, eight of the strongest according to the results of the national championship get into the Channel One Cup, and for duets - four.
Men and sports couples were ideally divided and in total they scored an equal number of positions at the last Russian championship.
But for the girls, the sum of places in Valieva's team turned out to be a little more (24 versus 22) due to the addition of Sofia Samodelkina at the last moment, who did not even make it into the top 10 at the national championship.
So, the lineups.
"Red Machine": Pyotr Gumennik (2), Alexander Samarin (3), Artyom Kovalev (5), Gleb Lutfullin (8) - Sofia Akatieva (1), Adelia Petrosyan (5), Veronika Yametova (7), Alina Gorbacheva ( 9) - Anastasia Mishina and Alexander Gallyamov (2), Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov (3).
“They won’t catch up with us”: Evgeny Semenenko (1), Dmitry Aliev (4), Andrey Mozalev (6), Makar Ignatov (7) - Elizaveta Tuktamysheva (3), Sofya Muravyova (4), Anastasia Zinina (6), Samodelkina ( 11) - Alexandra Boikova and Dmitry Kozlovsky (1), Yasmina Kadyrova and Valery Kolesov (4).
At the same time, the latter are clearly worse at quads.
Tatyana Mishina has already confirmed that her ward Liza Tuktamysheva will not perform a quadruple sheepskin coat in Moscow.
“How they prepared will be seen from the performances.
In any case, everyone went with a desire ...
Lisa had previously performed in the show, then she was a little sick - it is unlikely that she will now jump.
Maybe he will show by the Grand Prix finals, ”quotes the Metaratings specialist.
Unfortunately, winners of the Olympic tournament among girls will not take part in the Cup.
Alexandra Trusova chose to go on vacation, and Anna Shcherbakova continues to get in shape after knee surgery.
But the two-time world champion Medvedev explained her absence on the captain's bridge by her unwillingness to compete with Zagitova.
“It's clear that... media this is a very useful topic for the development of this tournament, but do I personally need it?
I think it's better to discuss it with the organizers.
It seems to me that if you ask any fan of figure skating, they will all tell you that they are tired of these confrontations.
People want support.
They do not want confrontation, but unity, ”she said in an interview with the Championship.
There were no injuries either.
Ksenia Sinitsyna, who took eighth position at the December national championship, was forced to withdraw from her performance due to a stress fracture in her lower leg.
Her place in the "Red Machine" was taken by 15-year-old Gorbacheva.
In men, Mark Kondratyuk, who led the Vremya Pervyi team last year and won the jumping tournament, will not go on the ice.
This time the organizers prepared a surprise for the fans and promised to present the skater in a new role.
It can be assumed that the young man will become the leader, especially since he has already tried himself as a commentator during demonstration performances in Krasnoyarsk.
But the honored coach Tatyana Tarasova, to whose voice fans of domestic figure skating have long been accustomed, will definitely not cover the Channel One Cup.
Earlier, in an interview with RIA Novosti, she explained this with a sore throat.
Returning to Kondratyuk, a bright fight is expected for men even without him, because at the CR-2023 Semenenko and Gumennik scored an equal number of points, and Evgeny was ahead of his opponent only in additional indicators.
In Moscow, Peter, as part of the Red Machine, will try to take revenge.
At the same time, the current champion will have a doubly difficult time, because he was forced to combine training with the closing of the session at the medical university.
“He is preparing for the Channel One Cup and already understands that the title imposes responsibility.
Of course, he gets tired, but he definitely wants to pass one exam this week or early next.
It’s always like this with Zhenya, there’s no getting away from it, ”TASS quotes his coach Tatyana Mishina.
But ice dancing for the first time in the history of the competition will not be presented in full.
At the moment, this species in the country is experiencing a serious crisis.
Victoria Sinitsina - Nikita Katsalapov and Alexandra Stepanova - Ivan Bukin do not perform this season, and Diana Davis - Gleb Smolkin missed the first half of the season due to their unwillingness to leave the United States.
Under the circumstances, the organizers decided to limit themselves to essentially demonstration performances.
But, finally, Vasilisa Kaganovskaya - Valery Angelopol, who missed the Chechen Republic due to the illness of their partner, will take to the ice.
According to their mentor
Angelica Krylova, wards will perform a free program.
In addition to them, Sofia Tyutyunina - Andrey Bagin, Elizaveta Shanaeva - Pavel Drozd and current champions of the country Elizaveta Khudaiberdieva - Yegor Bazin will perform.
At the same time, the coach of the first two duets, Alexander Zhulin, noted that the skaters have the right to skate any dance of their choice.