The Cup of China is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union (ISU), organized and hosted by the Chinese Skating Association (), and part of the ISU Grand Prix Series. The first competition was held in 2003 in Beijing as a replacement for the Bofrost Cup on Ice. The Cup of China has been interrupted three times in its history: in 2018 when the Chinese Skating Association elected to forgo hosting any international skating events in order to prepare its venues for the 2022 Winter Olympics, and then in 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Medals are awarded in men's singles, women's singles, pair skating, and ice dance. Skaters earn points based on their results at the qualifying competitions each season, and the top skaters or teams in each discipline are invited to then compete at the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. Three skaters are tied for winning the most titles in men's singles (with two each): Jeremy Abbott of the United States, Jin Boyang of China, and Shun Sato of Japan. Four skaters are tied for winning the most titles in women's singles (also with two each): Mao Asada of Japan, Amber Glenn of the United States, Irina Slutskaya of Russia, and Yuna Kim of South Korea. Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo hold the record for winning the most titles in pair skating (with four); while Nathalie Péchalat and Fabian Bourzat of France, and Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto of the United States, are tied for winning the most titles in ice dance (with three each).
History Beginning with the 1995–96 season, the International Skating Union (ISU) launched the Champions Series, which was later renamed the Grand Prix Series. At its inception, this consisted of five qualifying competitions and the Champions Series Final. This allowed skaters to perfect their programs earlier in the season, as well as compete against the skaters with whom they would later compete at the World Championships. This series also provided the viewing public with additional televised skating, which was in high demand. Skaters earned points based on their results in their respective competitions and the top skaters or teams in each discipline were invited to compete at the Champions Series Final.
The first edition of the Cup of China was held in 2003 in Beijing. It replaced the Bofrost Cup on Ice, which had been one of the founding events of the Grand Prix Series, after the Chinese Skating Association reached a more lucrative television contract with the ISU. Timothy Goebel of the United States won this inaugural men's event, Elena Liashenko of Ukraine won the women's event, Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo of China won the pairs event, and Tatiana Navka and Roman Kostomarov of Russia won the ice dance event.
In 2018, the Chinese Skating Association declined to host any international skating events so as to prepare its venues for the 2022 Winter Olympics. Finland hosted a replacement event, the Grand Prix of Helsinki, instead.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a number of modifications were made to the structure of the 2020 Cup of China, with only skaters from China permitted to compete. On 9 July 2020, the General Administration of Sport of China announced that no international sporting events would be held in China in 2020 except for test events for the 2022 Winter Olympics. The ISU announced on 13 July that the 2020 Cup of China would be held as scheduled due to its connection to the Beijing test event, the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. On 29 October 2020, the Chinese Skating Association announced that the Cup of China would be held with no audience presence.
The 2021 Cup of China, originally scheduled to be held in Chongqing, was cancelled because of travel and quarantine restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Gran Premio d'Italia in Turin served as its replacement. On 21 July 2022, it was confirmed that the 2022 Cup of China was cancelled due to China's ongoing COVID-19 travel restrictions. The MK John Wilson Trophy in Sheffield, England, in the United Kingdom, served as its replacement.
The 2026 Cup of China is scheduled to be held from 6 to 8 November in Shenzhen.
Medalists
Men's singles +Men's event medalists Year Location Gold Silver Bronze 2003 Beijing Timothy Goebel Brian Joubert Li Chengjiang 2004 Jeffrey Buttle Li Chengjiang Stefan Lindemann 2005 Emanuel Sandhu Stéphane Lambiel Andrei Griazev 2006 Nanjing Evan Lysacek Sergei Davydov Emanuel Sandhu 2007 Harbin Johnny Weir Evan Lysacek Stéphane Lambiel 2008 Beijing Jeremy Abbott Stephen Carriere Tomáš Verner 2009 Nobunari Oda Evan Lysacek Sergei Voronov 2010 Takahiko Kozuka Brandon Mroz Tomáš Verner 2011 Shanghai Jeremy Abbott Nobunari Oda Song Nan 2012 Tatsuki Machida Daisuke Takahashi Sergei Voronov 2013 Beijing Yan Han Maxim Kovtun Takahiko Kozuka 2014 Shanghai Maxim Kovtun Yuzuru Hanyu Richard Dornbush 2015 Beijing Javier Fernández Jin Boyang Yan Han 2016 Patrick Chan Sergei Voronov 2017 Mikhail Kolyada Max Aaron 2018 No competition held 2019 Chongqing Jin Boyang Yan Han Matteo Rizzo 2020 Chen Yudong 2021 Competitions cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2022 2023 Adam Siao Him Fa Shoma Uno Mikhail Shaidorov 2024 Shun Sato Mikhail Shaidorov Adam Siao Him Fa 2025 Daniel Grassl Mikhail Shaidorov
Women's singles +Women's event medalists Year Location Gold Silver Bronze 2003 Beijing Elena Liashenko Yoshie Onda Fumie Suguri 2004 Irina Slutskaya Viktoria Volchkova Joannie Rochette 2005 Mao Asada Shizuka Arakawa 2006 Nanjing Júlia Sebestyén Yukari Nakano Emily Hughes 2007 Harbin Yuna Kim Caroline Zhang Carolina Kostner 2008 Beijing Miki Ando Laura Lepistö 2009 Akiko Suzuki Kiira Korpi Joannie Rochette 2010 Miki Ando Akiko Suzuki Alena Leonova 2011 Shanghai Carolina Kostner Mirai Nagasu Adelina Sotnikova 2012 Mao Asada Yulia Lipnitskaya Kiira Korpi 2013 Beijing Anna Pogorilaya Adelina Sotnikova Carolina Kostner 2014 Shanghai Elizaveta Tuktamysheva Yulia Lipnitskaya Kanako Murakami 2015 Beijing Mao Asada Rika Hongo Elena Radionova 2016 Elena Radionova Kaetlyn Osmond Elizaveta Tuktamysheva 2017 Alina Zagitova Wakaba Higuchi Elena Radionova 2018 No competition held 2019 Chongqing Anna Shcherbakova Satoko Miyahara Elizaveta Tuktamysheva 2020 Chen Hongyi Angel Li Jin Minzhi 2021 Competitions cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2022 2023 Hana Yoshida Rinka Watanabe Loena Hendrickx 2024 Amber Glenn Mone Chiba Kim Chae-yeon 2025 Alysa Liu Rinka Watanabe
Pairs +Pairs' event medalists Year Location Gold Silver Bronze 2003 Beijing 2004 2005 2006 Nanjing 2007 Harbin 2008 Beijing 2009 2010 2011 Shanghai 2012 2013 Beijing 2014 Shanghai 2015 Beijing 2016 2017 2018 No competition held 2019 Chongqing 2020 2021 Competitions cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2022 2023 2024 2025
Ice dance +Ice dance event medalists Year Location Gold Silver Bronze 2003 Beijing 2004 2005 2006 Nanjing 2007 Harbin 2008 Beijing 2009 2010 2011 Shanghai 2012 2013 Beijing 2014 Shanghai 2015 Beijing 2016 2017 2018 No competition held 2019 Chongqing 2020 2021 Competitions cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2022 2023 2024 2025
Records
+ Discipline Most titles Skater(s) Years Men's singles 2 2008;2011 2019–20 2024–25 Women's singles 2 2012;2015 2024–25 2004–05 2007–08 Pairs 4 2003–04;2006;2009 Ice dance 3 2004;2007;2009 3 2010;2012–13
Cumulative medal count Men's singles
Women's singles
Pairs
Ice dance
Total medals
References
External links
Cup of China at Skating Scores