Japan's Kao Miura won his first figure skating ISU Grand Prix series event on Saturday after tallying 274.56 points in the Grand Prix Espoo in Finland to edge out compatriot Shun Sato.
The 18-year-old Miura led after the short program on Friday and his 181.02 in the free skate was enough to keep him atop the standings at Espoo Metro Areena in the fifth event of the series.
Nineteen-year-old Sato topped the free-skate scoring with 182.93, following a flawless performance involving three quad jumps, but had to settle for silver despite a personal best total of 273.34. Kevin Aymoz of France was third on 250.03.
"I was really happy to have won as I've let my rivals come from behind many times in the past at the Grand Prix series," Miura said. "I had the desire to win at any cost."
The maiden win qualified Miura for the six-man Grand Prix Final in December in Beijing after he finished second at the Skate Canada International on Oct. 28.
"I'm really happy to have sealed my place in the final. I'll head into it looking to win," Miura said.
Miura, who is in his second senior season, finished runner-up twice in Grand Prix series events last term when he also won the World Junior Championship.
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