LJUDMILA BELOUSOVA AND OLEG PROTOPOPOV OF THE SOVIET UNION TONIGHT (WEDNESDAY) RETAINED THE WORLD FIGURE SKATING TITLE AT VIENNA.

IT WAS THEIR THIRD SUCCESSIVE VICTORY IN THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.

EXPERTS AT THE CHAMPIONSHIPS SAID THE SOVIET PAIR LACKED THEIR USUAL ARTISTRY. THE AUDIENCE SEEM ANGERED WHEN THE GERMAN PAIR WOLFGANG DANNE AND MARGOT GLOCKSHUBER WERE AWARDED LOW MARKS FOR A VARIED AND ALMOST FAULTLESS PERFORMANCE.

THE AUDIENCE ALSO APPARENTLY FELT THAT THE AMERICAN COUPLE, RONALD AND CYNTHIA KAUFFMAN, HAD BEEN UNDERMARKED FOR THEIR PERFORMANCE.

THE RUSSIAN COUPLE GAVE ONE OF THEIR WORST PERFORMANCES IN THREE YEARS, ACCORDING TO EXPERTS, AND NEARLY FELL A COUPLE OF TIMES.

THE FINAL MARKINGS WERE: SOVIET UNION 310.8 POINTS; WEST GERMANY 301.4 POINTS; U.S.A. 300.7 POINTS.