This makes no sense as plenty of skaters have their Olympic or OQE scores as their season’s best score that earned them GP assignments.
The difference is between initial selection criteria, which include OWG/qualifier, and assignments through the alternates list.
For the Alternates List, I see nothing in the documentation, either in the original GP Selection Document or the GP Announcement, that precludes using OWG/qualifier placement on the SB list -- they're explicitly listed for the initial selection -- although OWG/qualifier scores can't be used to meet the GP minimum.
Most, if not all, skaters/dance team members aside from AIN1-2 will have met the GP minimum through last season's listed qualifying competitions (Championships, GP's, CS's), even if it wasn't their top score for the season.
For the few who don't -- Pairs being the problem child -- the GP Announcement states:
Skaters/Couples, placed in the top 75 Season’s Best are placed on the alternate list. However, those whoneed to score the minimum Grand Prix score as listed above can do so in the ISU Challenger Series 2026/27.
Gummenik scored 236.25, well over the Men's GP minimum (197.64) at Kinoshita Group Cup, which met the requirements for and counts as a CS event, as Dikidzhi earned 350 points for 1st, vs. 200 for a Senior B, and Gummenik earned 185 for 6th vs. 0 for a non-podium placement at a Senior B.
So, at least according to the GP Announcement, Gummenik has earned his minimums and should be at the top of the GP Men's Alternate list from his score at a CS.
However, the GP Announcement also says that winners of a CS event go to the bottom of the list, while the original select document says the winner should be slotted into the Alternates List based on their winning score. Which Dikidzhi is based on either his Kinoshita Cup victory or his score, but it's impossible to tell which. If Gummenik is put on the list, then he'll either be 2nd to Dikidzhi because of Dikidzhi's win, or at the top based on score.
