Nathan Chen of the U.S. competes in the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Final men's short program in Turin, Italy, December 5, 2019. /VCG Photo
American figure skating star Nathan Chen delivered a flawless and flamboyant short program on Thursday at the ISU Grand Prix Final in Turin leaving his great rival Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan a distant second.
Chen, winner of the competition the last two years, was smooth and relaxed skating to the music "La Boheme" composed by Armenian-French singer-lyricist Charles Aznavour based on a four-act Italian opera.
He nailed his three jumps as the last scored a bonus because it came in the second half of the program.
His total of 110.38 points was a personal best and only 0.15 points short of Hanyu's world record for a short program set in Moscow in 2018.
"I'm very happy with the score. But there are a lot of things I can improve on," said Chen, explaining that he "was a little shaky on" two of his jumps.
Nathan Chen (L) of the U.S. shakes hands with Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan before the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Final men's short program in Turin, Italy, December 5, 2019. /VCG Photo
Double Olympic champion Hanyu matched Chen for fluid and expressive style but missed the triple toe element at the end of a combination jump.
The error was costly and the adoring fans who had pelted the ice with Winnie the Pooh toys fell silent, or even started to cry, as 97.43 came up for the Japanese star.
Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan competes during the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Final men's short program in Turin, Italy, December 5, 2019. /VCG Photo
"To be honest, I am a little disappointed," Hanyu said. "Also, the point gap between me and Nathan is a little big."
Hanyu, who turns 25 this week, is returning to the six-skater elite event after a two-year absence. His score was good enough for second place.
Yuzuru Hanyu concludes his performance while his fans pelt the ice with the Japanese figure skater's favorite Winnie the Pooh toys during the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Final in Turin, Italy, December 5, 2019. /VCG Photo
The big surprise was sixth-ranked skater Kevin Aymoz who took third with a personal best of 96.71 despite a technical glitch at the start of his routine.
As the music began, Aymoz took a couple of steps only to realize they weren't playing his tune.
Kevin Aymoz of France competes in the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Final men's short program in Turin, Italy, December 5, 2019. /VCG Photo
After a painful delay, as the Frenchman stood waiting, Prince's "The Question of U" started and he set off.
"I felt so lonely standing there on the ice like I was the only one in the world," he said.
"But when the music did start I forgot totally and it was just a pleasure to share."
China's Sui Wenjing and Han Cong lead in pairs competition
Earlier on Thursday, China's two-time world champions Sui Wenjing and Han Cong backed up their billing as title favorites by taking the lead after the pairs' short program at the Palavela, the arena in Turin.
Sui and Han, gold medalists at the 2017 and 2019 world championships, scored 77.50 points to lead in the pairs competition, despite an error on their throw triple flip when Sui put her hand down on the landing.
China's Sui Wenjing (L) and Han Cong compete during the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Final pairs' short program in Turin, Italy, December 5, 2019. /VCG Photo
They're seeking to end China's 10-year wait for a pairs' gold at the finals after Chinese pairs won silver in each of the past three seasons.
"We were not really satisfied with today's performance," admitted Sui. "The skating and execution was a little tight."
Sui and Han were being chased by three Russian pairs, with Alexandra Boikova and Dmitry Kozlovsky in second, Daria Pavliuchenko and Denis Khodykin in third, and Anastasia Mishina and Alexander Galliamov in fourth.
China's another pair Peng Cheng and Jin Yang was fifth, while Canadian pair Kirsten Moore-Towers and Michael Marinarois was last going into Saturday's free skate.
(With input from AP and AFP)