French pair Papadakis-Cizeron defend world ice dance title

Boston (Massachusetts), April 1: French pair Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron earned the highest score so far for free dance to defend their ice dance title at the 2016 World Figure Skating Championships.

Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron led the field into Thursday's free dance, scoring 118.17 points to stand top of the standings with an overall 194.46, reports Xinhua news agency.

Siblings Maia and Alex Shibutani of the United States, the last to perform, held off the pressure to perform beautifully their routine set to popular band Coldplay's song "Fix You".

They settled for the silver, posting 113.73 for the free dance and 188.43 overall.

Their compatriots Madison Chock and Evan Bates, the 2015 world silver medallists, bagged the bronze, scoring 113.31 for a total of 185.77 points.

Earlier on Thursday, Gracie Gold of the United States took a slim lead in the women's short programme-opener with 76.43.