SKATING: Top skaters square off in Grand Slam event

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Professional and Olympic-eligible skaters, including 1998 silver medalist Michelle Kwan, squared off Friday night in interpretive freestyle programs, competing for a $40,000 top prize in the First Union Grand Slam of Skating.

Sixteen skaters were invited to the competition, sanctioned by the International Skating Union, and eight advanced to Saturday's semifinals.

The skaters, who were limited to three jumps, were scored by seven international judges on a scale of 1-to-6 on technique and presentation.

"It's a little bit awkward, but it's easier because you don't have to do a jump and a jump and a jump," Kwan said of the format. "It gives you more time to expand artistically, more time to express how you feel and more time to get your point across."

Other women advancing were Maria Butyrskaya of Russia; Lu Chen of China, a former world champion and two-time Olympic bronze medalist; and Yuka Sato of Japan.

Former world champion Kurt Browning of Canada also liked the setup and the competition.

"It makes it easier to present a better program," he said. "This is an experiment, and it is important that this is a success."

Todd Eldredge of the United States, another former world champion; 1998 Olympic gold medalist Ilia Kulik of Russia; and Evgeny Plushenko of Russia also advanced.

The four women and four men will go head to head Saturday, with the top two of each group advancing to the final round.

After the Grand Slam of Skating, the eligible skaters remain qualified for the Olympics and the world championships.

"This is the first time we are doing it, and we are confident it will work," ISU president Ottavio Cinquanta said. "It's important because the big names of the ice skating world will be together in competition."

Other women who competed Friday were Irina Slutskaya of Russia, a world silver medalist; Josee Chouinard of Canada; and Americans Nicole Bobek and Caryn Kadavy.