By Carissa Feng
Cup of China, the second event of the 2025-2026 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series, took place in Chongqing, China Oct.24-26, 2025.
Women
Amber Glenn, the two-time U.S. Champion, took the Cup of China title once again this season, defeating World Champion Alysa Liu by 2.71 points.
The 2024 Grand Prix Final Champion opened her short program with a triple Axel and earned a score of 73.04, which was third in the segment. In her “I Will Find You” free skate, which is her free skate from the 2024-2025 season, Glenn delivered a perfect triple Axel and achieved 141.74 points with a total score of 214.78. This is Glenn’s second straight gold medal at Cup of China.
Glenn’s next assignment is Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki, Finland, where she hopes to qualify for the Grand Prix Final again.
In China, Liu competed two programs from last season — “Promise” by Laufey for her short program and “MacArthur Park Suite” by Donna Summer for her free skate. In China, Liu showcased a new combination of triple lutz-triple loop in her short program, which earned her 11.88 points. She earned a season’s best of 74.61 in the short program and was the leader after the short program. But in the free skate, some under-rotations and a level-three step-sequence and layback spin caused her to finish second in the free skate (137.46) and second overall (212.07). This is Liu’s first-ever Grand Prix medal. Her next assignment is Skate America held in Lake Placid, New York.
Japan’s Rinka Watanabe attempted three triple Axels in China, one in the short program and two in the free skate, including one in combination with a triple toe-loop. However, she fell on the combination and the toe-loop was also called under-rotated. Watanabe also had three under-rotated jumps in the program. Watanabe, who was second after the short program with a personal best score of 74.01, finished fifth in the free skate (124.62), but was able to secure the bronze medal with a total score of 198.63. Her next Grand Prix event is also Skate America, competing with Liu again.
The 2023 European champion, Anastasiia Gubanova, representing Georgia, placed fourth, just 0.75 points out of third (197.88). Her free program was the third best free skate (131.60 points). Her next event is Skate America, which will be her last Grand Prix as she plans to retire from competitive skating following the Olympic season.
The four-time World Junior silver medalist, Jia Shin, from the Republic of Korea, who competed in France the week prior, finished in fifth place with a total of 195.43 points, while Japan’s Rino Matsuike placed sixth with an overall score of 188.06.
Men
Like Amber Glenn, Japan’s Shun Sato won his second straight Cup of China, the second Grand Prix gold medal of his career. He earned his season’s best scores in both segments (94.13) and (183.99), as well as a season’s best overall score of 278.12.
The 2024 Grand Prix Final bronze medalist led after the short program and remained in first place after the free skate by landing three solid quadruple jumps and delivering a great performance. His next assignment is NHK Trophy in Osaka, Japan.
Daniel Grassl, from Italy, placed second in both programs, securing the silver medal. In his Conclave free skate, Grassl opened the program with a clean quadruple Lutz and quadruple loop, but his quadruple salchow was under-rotated. He received a free skate score of 179.01 and an overall score of 269.43 to take the silver medal. He will compete at Skate America for his next Grand Prix assignment.
The 2025 World silver medalist, Mikhail Shaidorov, of Kazakhstan, who was third after the short program, attempted five quadruple jumps in his free skate, including the quadruple salchow which he does as the second jump in a sequence with triple Axel and a Euler. However, he received quite a few under-rotations on his jumps and fell on a quadruple toe. He placed third in the free skate with a free skate score of 174.34 and received a total score of 262.67 to secure the bronze medal. His next Grand Prix assignment is Skate America, where he will compete against Daniel Grassl again.
Tomoki Hiwatashi from the United States of America received personal best free skate of 166.64 and a personal best overall score of 245.71 to finished in fourth place. Hiwatashi was named to the event in place of teammate Camden Pulkinen. The 2019 World Junior Champion will compete now at Skate Canada in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
The two-time Olympian and two-time World Championship bronze medalist, Boyang Jin, placed fifth. He received season’s best scores for both his short program (86.62) and free skate (146.19), as well as a personal best overall score (232.81). His next assignment will be NHK Trophy in Japan. He now has a very high possibility of representing China again in the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in Milan.
Vladimir Litvintsev of Azerbaijan placed sixth and received a season’s best score in his free program of 148.80. (222.64 overall).
Pairs
The main storyline of the pairs event was the return of Olympic Champions Wenjing Sui and Cong Han of China, who are on competitive ice for the first time since the 2022 Olympics in Beijing. Cup of China was their first time performing in front of skating fans and a home crowd after more than three years. While they did not win the gold at this event, the team stood up on the podium and took the first bronze medal. They received an overall score of 202.92 (72.45 in the short program and 130.47 in the free skate). Since 2022, Sui has been working as a figure skating choreographer, and Han did become certified to be an international judge. However, Han has put judging on hold now while he resumes his partnership with Sui. As the bronze medalist of the Cup of China, the couple decided not to attend the exhibition because they did not have time to prepare an exhibition program as they have been focusing on their programs for this season. They are preparing to compete in the NHK Trophy in two weeks.
Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava, of Georgia, took the lead after the short program and won the title with a total of 217.24 points. This is their second Grand Prix season at the senior level. Their next assignment for the Grand Prix will be Skate America.
The two-time World Championship bronze medalist, Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii of Italy, took their silver medal with an overall score of 209.88. Conti and Macii will next compete at the NHK Trophy.
Jiaxuan Zhang and Yihang Huang placed fourth. They won the Skate to Milano Olympic Qualifying event and helped China, get a quota for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Their next assignment will be Finlandia Trophy.
Dance
Three-time World Champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates made their season debut and claimed the gold medal in China. For a recap of the dance event, visit Ice-Dance.com.
