The Bubble Race: Davis and Smolkin, Turkkila and Versluis, and Taschlerova and Taschler Battle for the Top 10 in ISU Ice Dance World Standings

As the summer training camps conclude and the 2026–27 figure skating season comes into focus, the reset of the International Skating Union (ISU) World Standings has created a volatile landscape. With points from the 2023–24 season dropping off the ledger, the battle to secure a spot in the top 10 of the ice dance rankings has become one of the sport's most compelling storylines.[5]

In the subjective discipline of ice dance, a top-10 world ranking is far more than a vanity metric. It is a structural advantage. High-ranking teams are guaranteed two assignments on the prestigious ISU Grand Prix circuit, ensuring maximum exposure to international judges. More importantly, a top-10 standing places teams in the final two warm-up flights at the World Championships and Olympic Games, where component scores historically trend higher.[5]

Currently holding the high ground on the bubble are Georgia's Diana Davis and Gleb Smolkin. Following their relocation to the Ice Academy of Montreal to train under renowned coaches Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon, the duo has seen a steady rise in their international consistency.[2]

Davis and Smolkin cemented their status as elite contenders with a 10th-place overall finish at the 2026 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Prague. Scoring 198.65 total points—including a 119.31 in the free dance—they banked a massive influx of ranking points that currently anchors their top-10 positioning.[1][2]

Breathing down their necks are the Finnish veterans Juulia Turkkila and Matthias Versluis. Known for their classical lines, exceptional edge quality, and deep emotional connection on the ice, the Finns are fighting to push past the Georgian team after finishing 11th at the 2026 World Championships and 12th at the Milano Cortina Olympics.[1][3]

To overtake Davis and Smolkin, Turkkila and Versluis will likely rely on their historical success on the ISU Challenger Series circuit. These early-season events, such as the Nebelhorn Trophy and the Finlandia Trophy, are crucial battlegrounds. A gold medal at a Challenger event awards 300 world standing points, allowing teams to build an insurmountable mathematical lead before the Grand Prix series even begins.[5]

Looking to disrupt the established order from slightly further back are the dynamic Czech siblings, Natalie Taschlerova and Filip Taschler. The duo possesses incredible power, speed, and athleticism, making them fan favorites on the international circuit.[4]

Despite a challenging 18th-place finish at the 2026 World Championships on home ice in Prague, the Taschlers have a high scoring ceiling. They will need to rely on an aggressive early-season schedule to make up ground, translating their explosive lifts into consistent, high-level grades of execution to catch the teams ahead of them.[1][4]

The teams on the bubble are also chasing a tightly packed group just above them. Lithuania's Allison Reed and Saulius Ambrulevicius, who finished 7th at the 2026 Worlds, and the American duo of Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko currently occupy the lower half of the top 10, but a single mistake could drop them into the bubble fight.[1]

The mathematical strategy of the ISU ranking system means that teams cannot afford to rest on their laurels. Because a skater's standing is calculated using their best results over the current and preceding two seasons, consistent podium finishes at smaller international events are just as vital as peaking at the major championships.[5]

As these bubble teams fine-tune their new rhythm dances for the upcoming season, the margins remain razor-thin. Every point earned in September and October could be the difference between skating in the penultimate group at the 2027 World Championships or being buried in the middle of the pack.[5]