MOSCOW — Carolina Kostner earned the Cup of Russia gold today, topping error-strewn overnight leader Fumie Suguri with an elegant free skate.

Suguri's mistakes allowed American Rachael Flatt to take the silver medal after posting the session's top technical score at the Megasport arena. Suguri of Japan finished third.

"I was quite nervous going into my program," said Kostner, who landed a triple-triple that she missed in her short program. "I got my confidence and then enjoyed my skating."

She fell on a triple toeloop later in the free skate, but that wasn't enough to deny her victory.

Suguri, meanwhile, skipped an early double loop, two-footed a triple salchow, and didn't attempt some other elements.

"I did a lot of mistakes on my jump," she said. "I was in very good condition over the last two weeks, so I'm very disappointed with how I did."

Flatt managed to come away with second place.

"I thought I skated very well but it wasn't my best program. ... But I had a lot of fun and it was very exciting," said Flatt, who adjusted her program after a wobbly landing on an early triple loop.

Kostner and Suguri remain in contention for a Grand Prix Final berth heading into the sixth and final preliminary competition, the NHK Trophy, in Japan next week.

Kim Yu-na and Joannie Rochette have already qualified for the Grand Prix final with two golds apiece. The other four final places remain open.