Get ready for some hot action at the ISU Grand Prix Cup of China this week when reigning World Champions Alysa Liu (USA) and Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA) will kick off their Grand Prix season while 2022 Olympic Pair Skating Champions Wenjing Sui/Cong Han (CHN) start their comeback. The Cup of China in Chongqing is the second event of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series 2025/26.  

The top contenders in Chongqing

ISU World Champion Alysa Liu (USA) leads the field

Alysa Liu (USA) is aiming for her first ISU Grand Prix medal © ISU

• ISU World Champion Alysa Liu (USA) is up against teammate and ISU Grand Prix Final Champion Amber Glenn. Liu has yet to win an ISU Grand Prix medal while Glenn struck gold at the Cup of China a year ago.
• Following a successful Olympic qualification competition, 2025 European silver medalist Anastasiia Gubanova (GEO) is hungry for more
• The Japanese trio of Hana Yoshida, Rinka Watanabe and Rino Matsuike have all qualified for the ISU Grand Prix Final in the past and are aiming at repeating their success
• 2023 ISU World silver medallist Haein Lee (KOR) returns to the ISU Grand Prix circuit and hopes for her first ISU Grand Prix medal

ISU World silver medalist Mikhail Shaidorov (KAZ) aims at first Grand Prix win

Mikhail Shaidorov (KAZ) won the silver medal at the Cup of China in 2024 and hopes for gold this time © ISU

• Reigning ISU World silver medalist Mikhail Shairodov (KAZ) is aiming at winning his first ISU Grand Prix title after coming close a year ago here in Chongqing
• 2024 Cup of China Champion Shun Sato (JPN) is back in town hoping to defend this title
• 2023 ISU World silver medalist Junhwan Cha (KOR) and 2024 ISU Grand Prix finalist Daniel Grassl (ITA) want to challenge for the podium
• Two-time ISU World bronze medalist Boyang Jin (CHN) hopes to make the home crowd proud

2022 Olympic Champions Wenjing Sui/Cong Han (CHN) to start comeback

Sara Conti/Niccolo Macii (ITA) are the reigning Cup of China Champions © ISU

• 2022 Olympic Pair Skating Champions Wenjing Sui/Cong Han (CHN) start their much anticipated comeback after retiring in 2022. This is their first competition since February 2022
• 2025 World bronze medalists and 2024 Cup of China Champions Sara Conti/Niccolo Macii (ITA) want to challenge for the gold again
• 2024 ISU Grand Prix Final bronze medalists Anastasiia Metelkina/Luka Berulava (GEO) come off a successful home ISU Challenger event in Tblissi two weeks ago and enter their first ISU Grand Prix with confidence.
• 2024 ISU Junior Grand Prix Final Champions Jiaxuan Zhang/Yihang Huang (CHN) debut on the ISU senior Grand Prix
• 2024 ISU European Champions Lucrezia Beccari/Matteo Guarise return to the ISU Grand Prix after missing the past season due to injury

ISU World Champions Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA) headline the Ice Dance

Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA) start at the Cup of China into the ISU Grand Prix  © ISU

• Three-time and reigning ISU World Champions Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA) begin their Olympic campaign in Chongqing with their first competition this season
• Olivia Smart/Tim Dieck (ESP) want to build on last season’s success when came sixth at the ISU World Championships 2025
• 2025 ISU European silver medalists Evgeniia Lopareva/Geoffrey Brissaud (FRA) and 2022 ISU Four Continents Champions Caroline Green/Michael Parsons (USA) are in the medal hunt as well
• Shiyue Wang/Xinyu Liu (CHN) continue their comeback after securing an Olympic Ice Dance spot for China last month

The schedule of the ISU Grand Prix Cup of China is as follows:

Friday, October 24: Rhythm Dance, Women’s, Men’s & Pairs Short Programs
Saturday, October 25: Free Dance, Women’s, Men’s & Pairs Free Skating
Sunday, October 26: Exhibition Gala

ISU Grand Prix Standings

Check out who is on their way to qualify for the ISU Grand Prix Final:

Men      Women        Pairs      Ice Dance

For full entry lists and further information regarding the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series please visit here.

Where to Watch

Follow the Where to Watch News here.

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Follow the ISU Grand Prix events:

The schedules of each ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating event are available below:

5. 17 - 19 Oct 2025         Grand Prix de France in Angers (FRA)
6. 24 - 26 Oct 2025         Cup of China in Chongqing (CHN)
7. 31 Oct-2 Nov 2025     Skate Canada International in Saskatoon (CAN)
8. 07 - 9 Nov 2025           NHK Trophy in Osaka (JPN)
9. 14- 16 Nov 2025         Skate America in Lake Placid (USA)  
10. 21 - 23 Nov 2025        Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki (FIN)  

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final: 

5. 04 - 07 Dec 2025        Nagoya (JPN)