Two-time Olympic figure skating champion Yuzuru Hanyu, the only men's skater to surpass the 200-point barrier in the free skate Saturday, claimed his first Skate Canada title after runner-up finishes in 2013, 2015 and 2016.
Grabbing a 20-point lead after the short program on Friday, Hanyu scored 212.99 in the free skate to amass a total of 322.59, both scores being personal bests, for his 11th career Grand Prix title.
The 24-year-old Japanese landed four quads, including a quad loop, quad Salchow and quad toe loop, in a crowd-pleasing routine packed with footwork sequence and spins, to which the arena responded with flying Winnie the Pooh bears.
"I was absolutely determined to win Skate Canada and for the first time in a while I can feel in my heart that this performance is a victory over myself," said Hanyu.
"I haven't been able to perform (with virtually no mistakes) in both the short and free skates for a long time so I am delighted."
(Yuzuru Hanyu)
"Before coming to this competition I really put pressure on myself and wanted to exceed 300 points but more than that I wanted to win Skate Canada," said Hanyu.
"I overcame that pressure and although I wasn't perfect I thought I delivered two good programs (short and free) and so I'm pleased about that. I have achieved what I set out to do."
Canada's Nam Nguyen, third after the short program, rose up to second following the free skate to take silver with 262.77. Japan's Keiji Tanaka snatched the bronze with 250.02 after starting the day in fifth place.
"I'm happy but at the same time, I know if I had done better in the short program I would've been more relaxed in the free skate. I do feel that I'm improving, and that's what keeps me going," Tanaka said.
Earlier in the day, women's short program leader Rika Kihira was overtaken by Alexandra Trusova in the free skate, the Japanese settling for silver behind the Russian 15-year-old who won her senior Grand Prix debut.
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After a mislanding in her opening triple Axel, Kihira made no major mistakes at Prospera Place but admitted later even she was awed by Trusova, who tallied the world's highest scores this season for the free skate (166.62) and total (241.02).
(Rika Kihira)
Trusova, who was third after the short program, fell on her first of four quads but still managed to rewrite her own marks from last month.
Kihira earned 148.98 points to finish second in the long program and second overall with 230.33 points.
"I have to make sure I execute better quality jumps," the 17-year-old said.
"I was in awe (of Trusova's performance). Even with a perfect program I don't know if I'd be able to beat her score. A 230-plus score and I'm still second. It's a new era (for figure skating)," she said.
South Korean You Young took bronze, and Japan's Marin Honda, who was involved in a minor car crash on Tuesday, finished sixth.
(Alexandra Trusova)
