MENS WORLDS 2021 - Who will finish top 6 in Stockholm?

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Who will finish top 6 in Stockholm. I can enter up to 10 and these are the 10 I chose. Who do you pick?

This was tough. I also wanted to put in Han Yan and Semenenko (even though I dont know much about him). Keegan made the 10th choice.

 

[tony]

Mens skating really is where it's at now and will be in 2022. Kevin Aymoz, Matteo Rizzo, Daniel Grassl, Han Yan, even Alexei Bychenko and Michal Brezina - all of these skaters are capable of the top 10 and a lot of them are even capable of being in contention for (likely) bronze. Yet on a good day, one of these skaters could very well finish 16th in this pack.

The depth is really just endless, as opposed to ladies where the top 10 is almost surely 3 RUS, 3 JPN, 2 USA/2 KOR or maybe Hendrickx getting in.

 

[olympic]

I chose Chen and Hanyu (natch), Uno, Kolyada, Zhou and Boyang to fight it out for the Bronze. I think Brown or Messing might have an inspired competition.

US, RUS, JPN and CHN have arguably done the most with competitions during YKW. Most of Europe, CAN and KOR not so much, meaning the former may have skaters battle ready for Worlds. Uno just prior to YKW was pulling it back together and Kolyada was finally showing some consistency. Boyang was actually stronger than normal in the Fall and Zhou has improved by leaps and bounds. If he skates a strong SP, it will score big and put him in a big position to medal

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Mens skating really is where it's at now and will be in 2022. Kevin Aymoz, Matteo Rizzo, Daniel Grassl, Han Yan, even Alexei Bychenko and Michal Brezina - all of these skaters are capable of the top 10 and a lot of them are even capable of being in contention for (likely) bronze. Yet on a good day, one of these skaters could very well finish 16th in this pack.

The depth is really just endless, as opposed to ladies where the top 10 is almost surely 3 RUS, 3 JPN, 2 USA/2 KOR or maybe Hendrickx getting in.

Agree 100%. When I was doing this I had in my mind to put in at least one of the Italians and then by the time it was all over I ran out of entries

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I chose Chen and Hanyu (natch), Uno, Kolyada, Zhou and Boyang to fight it out for the Bronze.

Twinsies!!!

 

[Karen-W]

Okay, who is the 1 person who thinks Uno and Hanyu will finish top 6 but that Nathan won't?

Men is so hard to predict because, as a couple others pointed out, there are at least 8-9 other guys who, reasonably, could have been included in this poll - Brezina, Rizzo, Grassl, Semenenko, Bychenko, Aymoz, Yan, Cha, Vasiljevs...

 

[screech]

I chose Chen and Hanyu (natch), Uno, Kolyada, Zhou and Boyang to fight it out for the Bronze. I think Brown or Messing might have an inspired competition.l

I'm actually a bit nervous for Keegan. As Canada's lone entry (which wasn't a clear-cut decision) in an Olympic qualifying year, I don't think he's ever skated with quite this much pressure before.

When is the last time Canada had a lone entry in the men's event?

 

[rfisher]

Don't count out Kagiyama. He's better than Uno IMHO.

 

[olympic]

I failed to mention that Rizzo and Grassl are dark horses for the final group. I don't think they can medal but if they land a quad and others at the top fail, they could shake up the standings. I know Aymoz did very well pre-YKW but he is more miss than hit

 

[jlai]

Okay, who is the 1 person who thinks Uno and Hanyu will finish top 6 but that Nathan won't?

Men is so hard to predict because, as a couple others pointed out, there are at least 8-9 other guys who, reasonably, could have been included in this poll - Brezina, Rizzo, Grassl, Semenenko, Bychenko, Aymoz, Yan, Cha, Vasiljevs...

A fanyu?

 

[Karen-W]

A fanyu?

Well, now Uno has fallen behind both Yuzu and Nathan in the poll but I still want to know who thinks Nathan won't finish in the top 6. ?

 

[meggonzo]

Well, now Uno has fallen behind both Yuzu and Nathan in the poll but I still want to know who thinks Nathan won't finish in the top 6. ?

You can click on the votes number and it will show the usernames that voted for each choice.

 

[Firedancer]

Chen, Hanyu, Uno, Zhou, Kolyada and Kagiyama. But I really think Brown could make it if others make mistakes.

 

[Karen-W]

Chen, Hanyu, Uno, Zhou, Kolyada and Kagiyama. But I really think Brown could make it if others make mistakes.

I picked Kvitielashvili over Kolyada just because I think that he's going to implode at the immense pressure to hold onto 2 spots for Russia. Plus, Russian men are the leaders of #TTW every season, so, yeah, lol.

 

[Erin]

I'm actually a bit nervous for Keegan. As Canada's lone entry (which wasn't a clear-cut decision) in an Olympic qualifying year, I don't think he's ever skated with quite this much pressure before.

When is the last time Canada had a lone entry in the men's event?

So am I, but I think I would be nervous no matter who they were sending.

I think 1980 is the last time Canada had only one entry for the men - Brian Pockar, who finished 12th. I guess the good news is that two years later Pockar himself kicked off a medal streak for Canada in the men’s event that lasted over a decade from four different men, so dropping down to one man for Beijing doesn’t have to mean all is lost for Canadian men.

 

[skateboy]

I have faith in my Boyang Jin for top 6!

 

[Firedancer]

I picked Kvitielashvili over Kolyada just because I think that he's going to implode at the immense pressure to hold onto 2 spots for Russia. Plus, Russian men are the leaders of #TTW every season, so, yeah, lol.

Lol .... I hesitated on Kolyada and almost went with Brown because Kolyada probably will implode.

 

[olympic]

^I'm not so sure about Kolyada being out of it. He has been more consistent generally the past 2 seasons, although his consistent quad arsenal is limited to the 4T. I haven't seem him consistent w/ 4S and he never really got any traction with the 4Z. Still, he has impeccable SS and clean programs w/ 4Ts could do it.

Uno reverting back to his pre 2018 form (which was kinda happening) - and/or- Zhou showing ISU judges multiple quads with his incredibly improved spins, transitions and much better overall SS would still make it a contest for the bronze. He IS the current World Bronze Medalist. Yet, I feel Uno in top form beats both, probably

I think Boyang Jin is right there: He has multiple quads on a good day (gorge 4Z) but I see ISU judges not quite giving him the same appreciation on other elements and PCS in comparison to the aforementioned.

People are touting Kagiyama so I guess I will have to watch a recent video of his programs. I still don't find him to be a medal threat but wouldn't be surprised by a high finish. Brown is improved on EVERYTHING, as long as it's not a quad. He really is the Carolina Kostner of the men's competition which means he is not a medal threat (until he miraculously lands one) but highly regarded and fan fave.

I know Kvitelashvili had a good competition recently but I think historically he is more miss than hit.

From what I remember, Rizzo in good form gets top marks from ISU judges and he has a 4T. He has a shot to make the final group in the SP if any of Kolyada, Zhou, Uno, Jin make a mistake. Yet he does crack up enough in the LP to let someone like a clean Brown even quad-less pass him.

I think Grassl is still quite young and more of a skater trying to gain experience than one who is in a fight at the top.

Messing is the smartest pick for CAN but he can be explosive yet messy. It's all over the place. He could be 7th or fighting for a higher placement w/ someone like Jin if he starts making mistakes again. I don't see him as a medal threat based on what I saw at SkAm.

Aymoz is a true wild card. He skates w/ his heart but out of all these competitors, he is the biggest train-wreck on a bad day and I don't see that he is necessarily consistent.

For now, I have it more specifically -

1. Chen v. Hanyu
3. Uno, Kolyada, Zhou
6. Jin
7. Kagiyama, Rizzo, Brown, Messing, Cha
Outside TOP 10 - Kvitelashvili, Aymoz, Grassl, Brezina, Yan

If Kvitelashvili or Aymoz implodes, then Grassl, RUS #2 or even Brezina (though unlikely) might crack the top 10. Heavy politik from RUS for 3 spots in 2022?

ETA - OOPS. I forgot about Han Yan and Cha. I think the judges aren't that into Yan lately. I don't think he is highly competitive with most of the aforementioned men. Cha was quadless (?) at the recent Korean Nationals. He scores very well with quads but he seems right now to being doing well enough to be in the top 10

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

^I'm not so sure about Kolyada being out of it. He has been more consistent generally the past 2 seasons, although his consistent quad arsenal is limited to the 4T. I haven't seem him consistent w/ 4S and he never really got any traction with the 4Z. Still, he has impeccable SS and clean programs w/ 4Ts could do it.

Uno reverting back to his pre 2018 form - and/or- Zhou showing ISU judges multiple quads with his incredibly improved spins, transitions and much better overall SS would still make it a contest for the bronze. Uno in top form beats both probably

I think Boyang Jin is right there: He has multiple quads on a good day (gorge 4Z) but I see ISU judges not quite giving him the same appreciation on other elements and PCS in comparison to the aforementioned.

People are touting Kagiyama so I guess I will have to watch a recent video of his programs. I still don't find him to be a medal threat but wouldn't be surprised by a high finish. Brown is improved on EVERYTHING, as long as it's not a quad. He really is the Carolina Kostner of the men's competition which means he is not a medal threat (until he miraculously lands one) but highly regarded and fan fave.

I know Kvitelashvili had a good competition recently but I think historically he is more miss than hit. From what I remember, Rizzo in good form gets top marks from ISU judges and he has a 4T. He has a shot to make the final group in the SP if any of Kolyada, Zhou, Uno, Jin make a mistake. I think Grassl is still quite young and more of a skater trying to gain experience than one who is in a fight at the top.

As per usual I agree with just about all you say.... except Jason... his music choices have startled me to beyond pearl-clutching over the past 2/3 years. I would love a solid return to his signature River Dance Free.... something that gets me on my feet again. I even find his outfits disasterous now.

LOL, sometimes I think well after Jason has retired we're gonna see him up in the broadcast booth with Johnny, and both their hairstyles and outfits are going to be on blast.

 

[Sylvia]

Re-posting in this relevant thread:

I'd actually like to see Italy earn three spots in men next season. They certainly have the talent between Rizzo, Grassl and Frangipani to deserve three spots. But, so does Russia, the US, Canada and Japan. I don't think the results can fall just perfectly enough for all of those countries to earn 3 spots (I don't think Canada can with only 1 entrant this year), not especially when you factor in China's two strong men, Aymoz, Kvitelashvili, Vasiljevs.

94 voters in this poll so far - close race for the 6th spot!

Yuzuru HANYU Votes: 93 98.9%
Nathan CHEN Votes: 93 98.9%
Shoma UNO Votes: 80 85.1%
Mikhail KOLYADA Votes: 79 84.0%
Vincent ZHOU Votes: 77 81.9%

Boyang JIN Votes: 40 42.6%
Yuma KAGIYAMA Votes: 36 38.3%
Jason BROWN Votes: 35 37.2%
Keegan MESSING Votes: 9 9.6%
Morisi KVITELASHVILI Votes: 8 8.5%