Ilia Malinin skated a personal best short program to open his bid for a repeat world figure skating title. But he has familiar company near the top of the leaderboard. Japan's Yuma Kagiyama nearly skated a personal best as he bids for his first global title after previous Olympic and world silver medals.

The American sensation landed six quad jumps to repeat as world champion and cement his status as the Olympic favorite.

Defending champion Ilia Malinin pulled off the best performance of his career to take the lead after a stunning short program at the World Figure Skating Championships in Boston on Thursday. American Malinin,