Kulizhnikov, the 26-year-old sprint world champion who won over 500m in the Norwegian city yesterday, clocked a time of 1 min 8.10 sec with Nuis finishing 0.02 back.

Another Russian, Denis Yukov, finished third, 0.62 adrift of Kulizhnikov after winning the opening day's 1500m event.

It means that Nuis has 400 points in the overall 1000m standings but his Russian rival now has 380 in second position.

Elsewhere, the tables were turned in the women's 500m as China's Jing Yu claimed the victory ahead of compatriot Hong Zhang, with the two skaters swapping their positions in the opening race over the distance yesterday.

Yu's time of 37.63 edged Zhang, the overall 500m leader, who was 0.19 behind.

Canada's Heather McLean clocked 38.02 for third place.

Triple Olympic champion Martina Sábliková of the Czech Republic won the women's 1500m in a time of 1:55.44, ahead of American Brittany Bowe who claimed her second silver in Stavanger after second place in yesterday's 1000m.

Bowe still leads the overall 1500m competition, with Dutch skater Marrit Leenstra coming third today in a time of 1:55.93.

The men's 5000m, meanwhile, provided home success as Håvard Bøkko claimed victory for Norway after stopping the clock at 6:23.51.

Russia's Aleksandr Rumyantsev did enough for second place, 1.98 behind the home favourite, while Canada's Jordan Belchos was 7.28 back in third.

The action in Stavanger concludes tomorrow.