Urmanov
3a/3toe perfect. looked off line in air on 3a still got 3toe. playing to
crowd now. 3lutz perfect, this is looking good. Flying sit.....he looks
possessed. Isn't blue velvet sexy on a man? (Not!) Could hear a pin drop in
the arena....perfect 2a. Seriously though, the costumes not as bad as it
has been in the past. Less froofy. "Now we've got a competition on our
hands" says Chris. He is gushing again. This could be a long group. A
lesser man would'nt have even tried the toe on the end of the triple axel
Chris says. Nicky tells us that his step sequence enthralled the crowd
Marks 5.5-5.8 tech
straight 5.8, 1 5.9 pres.

Yagudin
Circus outfit, still god-ugly. 3a/3toe, not much speed, just hung on to
both of those jumps. Could've gone on either, great 3lutz....crowd are
clapping to the music....clean high double axel. Nice use of the
music..."lovely phrasing of the choreography".....hydroblading move, right
hand on the ice--is that allowed? Blinding fast sit to finish. Chris is
gushing again about how he's put the qual performance behind him, how he
put it all together "the circus came to town big time" - must Nicky be so
predictable? I preferred Urmanov (pick yourselves up girls!) the judges
agree 5.6-5.9 tech 5.7-6.0 from the Finnish judge, it's a five to four
split with him in front....this could be messy, and Plushy's on the ice!

Plushenko
Another classical Russian piece, wahoo......triple axel triple toe....3lutz
landed with arms crossed.....flying camel, great position, into donut on
stick....fast steps with double axel at end. hey he robbed those leg kicks
from ELvis! Biellman to finish.....I hope the ISU have a good computer,
because if it's a cheapy model, it's gonna blow up. Each one has just come
out and gone "top this!" Russian nationals must have been wow.....Helsinki
baby! And there was room for another turn in the lutz, I swear.
Marks Tech 5.6-5.8 Pres 5.6-5.9 5 in 3rd 3 1st, 2nd place.

Urmanov, PLushy Yags

Piluta
Big pop on what was probably a triple axel....does 3axel? 3toe......great
spin.....Forever Flamenco is the music, starts off slow, here's the fast
bit....good solo triple lutz..... He's got great spins this guy!
Marks tech 4.9-5.3, did they kill him or what? Pres 5.3-5.6 fifth at the
moment, behind Ivan Dinev

Vlaschenko
Is he really only 24? I thought he'd been around forever! Slow, bluesy
music. Splat on triple axel, big splat. I knew I liked him too much! Clean
triple lutz...great steps....played it safe, clean double axel. Fast combo
spin.....he looks disappointed, such a shame...
Marks tech 4.9-5.3,more than generous after Piluta 5.4-5.9
pres.............I think he was 5th

Tobel
Bluesy music again, all in black......oh no!!!!!!!! splat on the 3a, a huge
one, and that was his combo. Oh, good lad, triple lutz, triple
toe.....deduction on flying spins, chris says only 7 turns...nice step,
both are chuckling.......3 triple lutz on its own....change foot sit.......
There does not look a happy man....such a huge axel, apparently
underrotated.......Nicky says he;s "a little bit quirky" chris asks "a
little?" Really good footwork
Tech 4.9-5.2 pres 5.0-5.7 - 8th place ordinals from 6th to 11th

TOP TEN
Urmanov
Plushenko
Yagudin
Dinev
Vlaschenko
Restencourt
Pliuta
Tobel
Vidrai
Danilchenko