Ilia Malinin is top of the men's standings after the short programme ©Getty Images

Ilia Malinin of the United States leads the men's standings after the short programme on the opening day of the World Junior Figure Skating Championships, marking the first action of the event at the Tondiraba lce Hall in Tallinn.

Dancing to Billie Jean by David Cook, he set a standard far ahead of the rest of the field with a score of 88.99 points.

Second to him is Canada's Wesley Chiu who scored 81.59, performing to Vincent by Govardo.

Home favourite Mihhail Selevko from Estonia is close behind the Canadian on 81.26 after completing his routine to the song Nothing Else Matters by Metallica.

American Liam Kapeikis and Tatsuya Tsuboi of Japan are fourth and fifth with scores of 79.83 and 79.15, respectively.

Stephen Gogolov of Canada, Andreas Nordeback of Sweden, Kazakhstan's Mikhail Shaidorov, Lucas Tsuyoshi Honda from Japan and Nikolaj Memola of Italy complete the top-10.

Of the 33 figure skaters, 24 have qualified for the free skating on Saturday evening (April 16).

Karina Safina and Luka Berulava of Georgia won the pairs short programme on the opening day of the World Junior Figure Skating Championships ©Getty Images
Karina Safina and Luka Berulava of Georgia won the pairs short programme on the opening day of the World Junior Figure Skating Championships ©Getty Images

The pairs short programme competition got underway too, with the duo of Karina Safina and Luka Berulava of Georgia setting the top mark with 67.77, performing to Moonlight by Viper.

Australia's Anastasia Golubeva and Hektor Giotopoulos Moore finished second today, scoring 61.72 to Fire Dance by Jennifer Thomas.

US pair Anastasiia Smirnova and Danylo Siianytsia were third with 60.38 after their routine to Hey Big Spender by Janice Hagan.

Brooke McIntosh and Benjamin Mimar of Canada were fourth on 58.00, while Germany's Leitizia Roscher and Luis Schuster were fifth with a total of 54.01.