Shen Xue (R) and Zhao Hongbo of China celebrate after the pairs free skating of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2009/2010 in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 31, 2009. Shen and Zhao claimed the title of the event.

Figure skating legends Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo of China tabbed their comeback from two-year retirement with a convincing victory here on Saturday at the Cup of China Grand Prix.

The triple world title holders, who left the Chinese national team in early 2007, hit a high-flying 128.69 points in the free skating for their routine to "Adagio in G Minor" by T. Albinoni, and piled up their total score to 200.97 for their opening crown in the Olympic season.

Shen Xue (top) and Zhao Hongbo of China perform during the pairs free skating of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2009/2010 in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 31, 2009. Shen and Zhao claimed the title of the event.

Fellow Chinese Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao, finishing a disappointing fourth after Friday's short program, graded a flawless performance earlier on Saturday, sealing the runners-up prize with 124.57 points in free skating and 186.49 in total.

The Turin Olympic silver medalists beat Ukraine's Tatiana Volosozhar and Stanislav Morozov, on 170.79 points (62.98+107.81),to the third place overall.

Lubov Iliushechkina/Nodari Maisuradze of Russia, third after short program, slipped to the fifth after a few points deducted for Iliushechkina's falls in the free skating, which pulled them back to a total score of 153.30, with a 4.30-point deficit to fourth-placed Canadian Meagan Duhamel and Craig Buntin.

The third pair of hosts China, Dong Huibo and Wu Yiming finished the sixth out of eight pairs here on 146.49, while AmandaEvora/Mark Ladwig of the United States and French duo Vanessa James/Yannick Bonheur were left on the bottem.

Shen and Zhao nailed a beautiful but not perfect side by side triple toe loop on Saturday to begin their free skating, before hitting a consecutive duo of double axels with Shen committing a slice of unstable steps.

Their following performance, however, turned to be excellent. The combination spin, the group three lift, the death spiral, the spiral sequence and the group five toe lasso lift were all graded a level four, and the group five axel lasso lift earned them two extra points.

"The routine was actually a challenge to us. It demands fine performance with passion as well as high techniques," commented the 36-year-old Zhao at the post-competition press conference.

As a golden combination in China, Shen and Zhao, having won three world trophies in 2002, 2003 and 2007 but only two Olympic bronze medals in Salt Lake City and Turin, shouldered high expectations heading for next year's Winter Games in Vancouver.

The couple, however, don't want to push themselves too hard after making a successful comeback.

"We are sure to do our best in the following competitions, but the most important thing is to be fit and to resume the level of our best since both of us have a series of injuries," said Shen. "Our biggest aim is to show up at the Vancouver Olympics."

The Cup of China Grand Prix was the third stop of this season's six figure skating series, and skaters compete for a global prize money of 180, 000 U.S. dollars per individual event and receive points according to their placements.

Top six skaters/couples of the series will proceed to the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Tokyo, Japan in December.