Short track delivered its usual blend of choreography as China won the mixed 2000 meter relay at the season-opening ISU World Tour stop in Montreal on Sunday, highlighted by a textbook late surge and perfectly-timed pass from Liu Shaoang.

The Chinese squad's race plan unfolded conservatively, with Wang Xinran skating the first leg and staying at the rear. After five laps, Sun Long seized an opportunity while South Korea and the Netherlands were briefly entangled, surging into second place.

China moved into the lead shortly afterward, at the contest's midway mark.

As the number of trips around the track wound down, the field tightened into the familiar, frantic fight: a Canadian skidded off the track, and a Dutch skater muscled past Zhang Chutong to push the Chinese side down to third with three laps remaining.

That's when Liu took over. The Olympic relay gold medalist exploded off the final exchange, carved up the inside on the penultimate corner and crossed the line first to wrap up China's victory in 2:39.528. The Netherlands finished second, and Canada third, while South Korea were later disqualified due to a foul.