The 25-year-old got off to the perfect start as she took advantage of a fall from Russia's Ekaterina Konstantinova and beat Olympic champion Jorien Ter Mors of The Netherlands in the 1500m race, clocking a time of 2min 39.501sec to clinch the gold medal.

Mors’ compatriot Suzanne Schulting did enough to claim bronze as she crossed the line in 2:39.662.

Clearly buoyed by her earlier triumph at the Sochi 2014 venue, where she was disqualified from all three of her races, Christie then reigned supreme in the 500m, posting 43.923sec to secure her second gold medal of the day.

Dutchwoman Lara van Ruijven took home the silver medal as she was over a second adrift of the winning time, while France's Veronique Pierron earned bronze.

Dutchman Sjinkie Knegt, reigning world overall and 3,000m world champion, produced a superb performance when it mattered as he edged Russia’s Semion Elistratov, Olympic gold medallist over 1500m and double European champion in 2014, to claim the 500m title.

Knegt clocked a time of 41.920, with Elistratov not far behind as the Russian pipped team-mate Dmitry Migunov to silver.

Earlier on the opening finals day, Elistratov did manage to top the podium as he won the men’s 1500m, making the most of the surprise absence of the Dutchman to secure gold in 2:24.034.

Hungary sealed their one and only medal of the day thanks to Shaolin Sandor Liu in second and Freek van der Wart did enough to hold off the challenge of Frenchman Sebastien Lepape for bronze.

In the overall classification, Christie leads the way on 68 points, followed by Van Ruijven with 23 points and Dutch duo Schulting and Mors are tied for third on 21.

In the men’s event, Elistratov has a commanding advantage over Knegt as the Russian has 55 points, 20 more than the Dutchman, and Liu occupies third place on 21 points.

Action at the 12,000-seater Iceberg Skating Palace is due to continue tomorrow with the men’s and women’s 1,000m, 3,000m and relay finals tomorrow, where the overall champions will also be crowned.