Defending World Cup champion Adam Malysz of Poland won the season-opening ski jumping event in Kuopio, Finland Friday, narrowly beating Martin Schmitt of Germany. Malysz, sixth after the first round, leaped 126.5 meters in the second round to collect a total of 254 points.
Malysz and Schmitt split last year's World Championship titles, with Malysz winning on the normal hill and Schmitt dominating on the large hill. Kazuyoshi Funaki of Japan finished third with 243.4 points.