US ice dance pair Chock, Bates take lead at worlds

US ice dance champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates took an early lead after the short programme at the world figure skating championships in Shanghai Wednesday with a career-best score.
The pair edged Canadian rivals Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje with 74.47 points, well ahead of last month's Four Continent's winners, who scored 72.68.
French hopefuls Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron settled for fourth place on 71.94, behind Italians Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte who were on 72.39.
It was a sweet start for Chock and Evans, who now have a day to prepare ahead of the final free dance on Friday.
But they are mindful of their experience at the Four Continents in Seoul, where they led at the first stage, only to slip into second place behind Weaver and Poje.
"Our experience at the Four Continents was huge for us," said Evans.
"We were in the same scenario, leading going into the free dance, and we weren't particularly thrilled with our free dance. We knew we could skate better."
Evans said the experience would help the couple "attack the programme" and skate "as if we were coming from behind".
Weaver and Poje -- who also won the December's Grand Prix Final in Barcelona -- were considered pre-tournament favourites in Shanghai.
Weaver said the pair were upbeat heading into the next stage of the competition.
"Andrew and I are very happy with our short dance today," she told reporters.
"We were able to focus and be in the zone."
The ISU World Figure Skating Championship are being held in Shanghai until Saturday.
Source: AFP