MOSCOW (AP) Russia's Semen Elistratov and Italy's Arianna Fontana led the men's and women's overall standings after the first day of the world short-track speedskating championships Saturday.
Elistratov won the opening men's 1,500 meters in front of his home crowd in Moscow and finished Saturday two points ahead of China's Wu Dajing, who took victory in the 500.
Elistratov won an extremely close 1,500 final by 0.008 seconds ahead of Sjinkie Knegt of the Netherlands, with Canada's Charles Hamelin third, 0.013 seconds further back.
Wu's win in the 500 came by 0.101 seconds from Hungary's Shaolin Sandor Yu, with Han Tianyu of China third.
In the women's events, Fontana holds a 15-point lead after winning the 1,500 and coming third in the 500, an event won by Chinese skater Fan Kexin, who moved to second in the overall standings.
Reigning world overall champion Shim Suk-hee of South Korea was second to Fontana in the 1,500 final by 0.08 seconds, with another South Korean, Choi Minjeong, in third, 0.03 seconds further back.
Britain's Elise Christie took silver in the women's 500, 0.273 seconds behind Fan, while Fontana recovered after a fall and was 10 seconds off the pace.
At the world championships, titles are awarded to the winners of various events, as well as to the overall best skaters according to a points system.
The championships end Sunday after the 1,000, 3,000 and men's and women's relays.
