China’s Li Chengjiang has finished sixth in the men’s competition after the short program at the World Figure Skating Championships in Moscow.

　　Another Chinese skater Zhang Min came 22nd due to his errors in the same program.

　　Switzerland’s Stephane Lambiel performed a routine of exquisite beauty as he increased his lead.

　　The 19-year old landed his axels perfectly, pulling off some devastating combinations and spinning with a seraphic elegance worthy of the greats.

　　Three-time champion Evgeni Plushenko of Russia dropped to third position overall after a fall on his opening quadruple jump.

　　The Russian has been plagued by knee, back, hip and groin injuries since he won a fourth European title in Turin.