The 2025/26 Challenger Series continues with an event in Almaty, Kazakhstan from the 1st-4th of October. The pairs event at this competition is not considered part of the Challenger series.
Here’s a rundown of who you can expect to see competing at this event and some information about them.
Women
| Skater | Country | Notable Results 24/25 | Notable Results 25/26 | Nationals | Program Information | Notable Jumps | World Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madeline Schizas | Canada | Worlds 2025 - 1th (190.79) | Kinoshita Group Cup 2025 - 10th (172.40) | 1st | SP: Stumbled Beginnings/Nina's Dream / FS: Butterfly Lover's Concerto | 3Lz+3T | 16th |
| Yi Zhu | China | Asian Winter Games 2025 - 5th (168.86) | Asian Open Trophy 2025 - 2nd (160.63) | 6th | SP: Stand By Me / FS: Ghost The Musical | 3F+2A+2Lo | 81st |
| Olesja Leonova | Estonia | Volvo Open Cup 2024 - 13th (99.09) | 14th (J) | SP: You? / FS: Succession | 3S<+2T | ||
| Sofiya Farafonova | Kazakhstan | Denis Ten Memorial 2024 - 13th (129.74) | SP: Rendez-vous/Miss Kookie / FS: Mistral gagnant/Pilgrims on a Long Journey | 3F+1Eu+3S< | 148th | ||
| Amira Irmatova | Kazakhstan | Bosporus Cup 2024 - 19th (111.16) | 3S+2T+2Lo | ||||
| Veronika Kovalenko | Kazakhstan | Denis Ten Memorial 2024 - 7th (110.44) | 3T+2A | ||||
| Russalina Shakrova | Kazakhstan | 2A+1Eu+2F | 262nd | ||||
| Nuriya Suleimen | Kazakhstan | SP: Merry Go Round of Life / FS: Stranger | 3Lo+2A | 171st | |||
| Haein Lee | Republic of Korea | Worlds 2025 - 9th (194.36) | Kinoshita Group Cup 2025 - 7th (183.48) | 6th | SP: My Way / FS: Carmen Suite 1. | 3Lz+3T | 24th |
| Ahsun Yun | Republic of Korea | Finlandia Trophy 2024 - 5th (187.68) | Kinoshita Group Cup 2025 - 9th (173.51) | 5th | SP: East of Eden / FS: I Dreamed a Dream | 3Lz+3T | 43rd |
| Josephine Lee | USA | Tallinn Trophy 2024 - 3rd (174.02, J) | Cranberry Cup 2025 - 5th (160.99) | 7th | SP: Objection (Tango) / FS: Scheherazade | 3Fq+2A<+2Aq | 77th |
Men
| Skater | Country | Notable Results 24/25 | Notable Results 25/26 | Nationals | Program Information | Notable Jumps | World Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semen Daniliants | Armenia | Denis Ten Memorial 2024 - 5th (216.89) | Skate to Milano 2025 - 11th (200.00) | 1st | SP: Vreir Astuahs / FS: Creep | 4T+3T | 74th |
| Vladimir Litvintsev | Azerbaijan | Denis Ten Memorial 2024 - 2nd (246.00) | 4T+3T | 26th | |||
| John Kim | Canada | JGP Ankara 2024 - 6th (176.62, J) | 5th | SP: Angels / FS: Neptune/Gangsta's Paradise | 3Lo+2A+2A | 143rd | |
| Matthew Newnham | Canada | 4CC 2025 - 12th (205.34) | 6th | SP: Samson & Delilah/I Belong to You / FS: Buenos Aires hora cero/Oblivion/Concierto para quinteto | 3F+3T | 141st | |
| Yudong Chen | China | Shanghai Trophy 2024 - 6th (222.33) | Asian Open Trophy 2025 - 4th (191.92) | 1st | SP: Devil May Cry / FS: Dynasties Clash/Oogway Ascends/Roman Boots | 3A+1Eu+3S | 76th |
| Qihan Zhao | China | JGP Wuxi 2024 - 8th (182.56, J) | 1st (J) | SP: Asturias/Uccen / FS: Exogenesis Symphony | 3F+3T | 198th | |
| Nika Egadze | Georgia | Worlds 2025 - 9th (263.03) | SP: Waltz / FS: Sailing/Verve/Sail | 4S+3T | 10th | ||
| Raffaele Francesco Zich | Italy | World University Games 2025 - 13th (199.16) | 6th | 3Lz+3T | 93rd | ||
| Dias Jirenbayev | Kazakhstan | Denis Ten Memorial 2024 - 9th (197.66) | Skate to Milano 2025 - 14th (189.14) | SP: Otono Porteno / FS: Morceaux de Fantaisie | 3F+2A+2A | 107th | |
| Nikita Krivosheyev | Kazakhstan | Bosporus Cup 2024 - 2nd (177.64, J) | SP: After The Nightmare/Swan Lake / FS: Light of the Seven/Protectors of the Earth | 3Lz+3T | 113th | ||
| Oleg Melnikov | Kazakhstan | Bosporus Cup 2024 - 7th (150.53) | SP: Still Loving You / FS: Shot | 3F+2T+2A | 245th | ||
| Mikhail Shaidorov | Kazakhstan | Worlds 2025 - 2nd (287.47) | SP: In The Air Tonight/No Good / FS: Confessa - The Diva Dance | 3A+1Eu+4S | 5th | ||
| Junhwan Cha | Republic of Korea | Asian Winter Games 2025 - 1st (281.69) | Kinoshita Group Cup 2025 - 1st (253.31) | 1st | SP: Rain, In Your Black Eyes / FS: Moulin Rouge (soundtrack) | 3A+2A | 17th |
| Younghyun Cha | Republic of Korea | Winter University Games 2025 - 12th (201.34) | Nepela Memorial 2025 - 9th (212.82) | SP: Reel Around The Sun / FS: Dune (soundtrack) | 3Lz+2A+2A | 108th | |
| Sihyeong Lee | Republic of Korea | Asian Open Trophy 2024 - 1st (234.08) | Kinoshita Group Cup 2025 - 9th (218.56) | 3rd | SP: Phantom of the Opera / FS: Le Bolero | 3Lo+2A+2A | 101st |
| Andreas Nordeback | Sweden | Worlds 2025 - 17th (229.85) | Lombardia Trophy 2025 - 7th (230.37) | 2nd | SP: Personal Jesus / FS: Romeo and Juliet | 3A+1Eu+3S | 60th |
| Jason Brown | USA | WTT 2025 - 2nd (273.15) | SP: Reel Around the Sun / FS: Say Something | 3F+2A+2A | 25th | ||
| Taira Shinohara | USA | JGP Bangkok 2024 - 5th (197.53, J) | 18th | SP: Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence / FS: Symphonic Suite Mononoke Hime | 3F+2A+2A | 148th |
Ice Dance
| Team | Country | Notable Results 24/25 | Notable Results 25/26 | Nationals | Program Information | World Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kristina Dobroserdova / Alessandro Pellegrini | Armenia | Bosphorus Cup 2024 - 6th (158.78) | Skate to Milano 2025 - 18th (125.11) | 1st | RD: Shania Twain medley / FD: Ladders/Dancing Leaves | 131st |
| Alicia Fabbri / Paul Ayer | Canada | Tallinn Trophy 2024 - 4th (185.05) | Kinoshita Group Cup 2025 - 5th (169.38) | 3rd | RD: Bombastic/Oh Carolina/Rock This Party / FD: Leave a Light On | 28th |
| Philomene Sabourin / Raul Bermejo | Spain | Pavel Roman Memorial 2024 - 6th (144.27) | Bolero Cup 2025 - 6th (142.31) | 3rd | RD: Macarena/La nina del panuelo colorado / FD: La Casa de Papel | 118th |
| Sofia Val / Asaf Kazimov | Spain | Ephesus Cup 2025 - 1st (176.51) | International Ice Dance Dordrecht 2025 - 1st (176.67) | 2nd | RD: Ricky Martin medley / FD: Exogenesis Symphony | 48th |
| Diana Davis / Gleb Smolkin | Georgia | Nepela Memorial 2024 - 2nd (201.87) | RD: Pretty Fly/Bills, Bills, Bills / FD: Sonata for Cello & Piano No. 1/A Taste of Elegance | 16th | ||
| Charise Matthaei / Max Liebers | Germany | NRW Trophy 2024 - 1st (180.93) | Lombardia Trophy 2025 - 8th (149.78) | 2nd | RD: Freed From Desire/Passion / FD: Experience/Circles | 59th |
| Gaukhar Nauryzova / Boyisangur Datiev | Kazakhstan | Maria Olszewska Memorial 2025 - 3rd (152.13) | International Ice Dance Dordrecht 2025 - 4th (137.97) | RD: Prince medley / FD: Yves Saint Laurent (soundtrack) | 64th | |
| Milla Ruud Reitan / Nikolaj Majorov | Sweden | Maria Olszewska Memorial 2025 - 1st (173.15) | Skate to Milano 2025 - 5th (168.60) | 1st | RD: Ricky Martin medley / FD: Romeo and Juliet | 54th |
| Oona Brown / Gage Brown | USA | Santa Claus Cup 2024 - 1st (190.08) | Lake Placid 2025 - 1st (187.48) | 5th | RD: Jump Around / FD: The Godfather (soundtrack) | 25th |
| Leah Neset / Artem Markelov | USA | Lake Placid 2024 - 4th (183.75) | Kinoshita Group Cup 2025 - 3rd (176.27) | 9th | RD: Be My Lover/Say My Name/Everybody/Spice Up Your Life / FD: Napoleon (soundtrack) | 20th |
