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Tatiana Totmianina and Maxim Marinin beat their nearest competition by a 14.75-point margin.

U.S. champions Rena Inoue and John Baldwin, the only couple to hit a throw triple axel in competition — at U.S. nationals and in Saturday’s short program — couldn’t duplicate the magic. She fell on their signature move, and they also struggled with some spins and their side-by-side triple toe loops.

“I didn’t give her quite the throw I gave her in the short program,” Baldwin said. “I was more cautious.”

But they were fast and, unlike many of the other couples, didn’t tire deep into their program. That was a problem for nearly every duo that skated earlier.

Inoue and Baldwin wound up seventh, one spot down from their short program standing but the best full-field international finish for a U.S. pair since the 2002 worlds.

With their fans chanting, waving Chinese flags and shaking colorful rattles, Shen and Zhao capped their first competition of the season with a spectacular performance. The two-time world champions missed the entire season as he recovered from an August torn Achilles’ tendon. He hurried back from the injury and showed no sign of any physical problems.

On both of their throws, a triple salchow and a triple loop, she soared much higher than the boards. Their flying triple twist was immense and they moved as one in their circular steps, making “Madame Butterfly” come to life.

“Today was very difficult, especially after these two months where I got injured,” he said. “We got a good result. I am very happy about that.”

The top Americans were passed by Germany’s Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy, whose “Conquest of Paradise” was mesmerizing. Although she two-footed a throw triple flip, the rest of the well-choreographed routine made up for it — particularly three gorgeous lifts and a double twist.

It was a strong performance for a pair whose coach, 1998 Olympic bronze medalist Ingo Steuer, is accused of spying for East Germany’s Stasi in the late 1980s.

Veterans Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov drew chants of “Heroes, Heroes” from their Russian compatriots after a playful yet complex routine to music from Fellini films. On one intricate lift, he swung Petrova between his legs and flipped her over before the dismount.

But their marks seemed very low, good only for sixth in the free skate. It was about the only case of strange scoring all night.

The other Americans Marcy Hinzmann and Aaron Parchem put together one of their best skates and finished 13th, which is where they were after the short program.

“It’s a lot to take in right now,” Hinzmann said, “but I think it is all going to hit me when I realize we did something really amazing here.”