2018 Japan Open — the figure skating version of the Ryder Cup — took place this past weekend on Oct. 6, 2018, in Saitama, Japan. While the golf competition is between two teams, the United States and Europe, the skating event is a battle between teams from North America, Europe, and Japan, with each team consisting of two men and ladies. Unlike the traditional competition format, the Japan Open is a free skate only team competition—the format allows for each skater to perform in the men's or ladies free skate (placing and earning points), and then all four results are combined for a team score. The highest team total wins.
Comprised of reigning U.S. champions Nathan Chen and Bradie Tennell, 2017 U.S. bronze medalist Mariah Bell and 2014 Olympic Team Event bronze medalist Jeremy Abbott, Team North America finished third with 516.45 points. Chen had a rocky outing with three falls, resulting in a score of 144.96 points. Abbott, who officially retired from competition after the 2016-17 season, earned 124.06 points to place sixth. In the ladies competition, Tennell, fresh from a win at the recent Autumn Classic International, landed in the fourth spot with 126.86 points. Teammate Mariah Bell placed fifth with 120.57 points.
Team Japan won with 621.91 points, due to its men swiping the top spots (2018 Olympic silver medalist Shoma Uno earning 186.69 points followed by his teammate Nobunari Oda with 176.95 points), and its ladies taking the second and third spots (Kaori Sakamoto with 130.28 points and Satoko Miyahara with 127.99 points).
Olympic champion Alina Zagitova owned the ice as her performance earned her the top spot with 159.18 points, a whopping 28.90 points over second-place finisher Sakamoto. Zagitova's big win in the ladies free skate helped propel Team Europe into second place with a collective score of 558.14 points. Olympic bronze medalist Javier Fernandez competed for the first time since PyeongChang in February for a third-place finish with 157.86 points.
Japan Open concluded with Carnival on Ice, a show featuring the competitors and additional stars, including two-time Olympic bronze medalists Maia and Alex Shibutani and 2014 Olympic Team Event bronze medalist Jason Brown.
