Aleksandra wins as she has the most difficult TES of all competitors here. Her BV is 2 - 5 points higher. That's Eteri's school! Her presentation though is a bit juniorish. And she also looked nervous during the first half of the program - her sit spin was rough. Then she found the confidence and the second half was much more impressive - kind of Nugumanova #2 with better jumps.
Gulyakova's skating is not what I like. Somewhat stiff with old style transitions. Jumps good though.
Japanese youngsters skated both quite well. The speed of Matsuoko's spins is amazing. Still she is not Lipnitskaya as her positions are not that difficult. And they also have to work on the jumps.
All in all I think that scores and placements are quite fair.
Kinda Disagree, i thought the gap between Sasha Trusova and Nastya should have been higher although the placements in general are fair.
The transitions on Trusova's SP were crazy difficult, easily some of the most difficult in ladies figure skating (including seniors), i thought the 3Ltz was +3 worthy for the transitions in and out, the height and the rippon variation
https://youtu.be/DtXMAr4mMk4?t=118
I don't know how judge n.1 gave her 5.75 on transitions. The program wasn't 100% clean (she lost speed in the first spin although i wouldn't call it rough, and the landing in the combo wasn't spot on) but very entertaining and she played with the audience which is soo rare to see in juniors.
Even Danill was shaking his head a little in the KnC when he saw the score, but i understand this is the first event of the season so if she shows consistency she will easily get higher scores, especially on the PCS in her case.
On the other hand Gulyakova had a clean SP (nice height and flow on her jumps), but the program itself was bland.
Riko Takino: Nice skater to watch, good skating skills, nice clean opening combo, the 3ltz a little messy, she was clearly lacking in transitions in the first half of the program: the first three elements with no transitions in and out. Nice to see Oda Nobunari as a coach.
Matsuoko: great spinner, jumps Satoko's like (always the question mark on the rotation). Programs from the two japanese are similar, not so original i would say.