The defending champions were impressive throughout their Pool A contest, with Artem Bondarenko proving to be the star of the contest.

Bondarenko would score four goals in the tie, with the Russian team eventually easing to a 9-2 victory.

The result placed them top of the Pool A standings, with the host nation Sweden occupying second place after their win over Finland yesterday.

In Pool B, the United States claimed a convincing victory over Germany as they swept past the European nation by a 9-4 scoreline.

The most dominant performance of the day was achieved by Norway, as they triumphed 10-1 against Belarus to top the standings.

This is the 37th edition of a tournament historically dominated by Sweden and 2016 winners Russia, as well as the former Soviet Union.

Finland are the only other nation to have claimed the men's world title, having won the annual competition back in 2004.

Bandy, a winter sport played on ice in which skaters use sticks to direct a ball into the opposing team's goal, was officially recognised by the International Olympic Committee in 2001.

It featured as a demonstration sport at the 1952 Winter Olympic Games in Norway’s capital Oslo.

Action will continue tomorrow, with all eight teams due to be in action.