Britain's Lizzy Yarnold, meanwhile, leads the standings at the halfway mark of the women's competition.

Dukurs entered the World Championships eager to win back the title he had earned in 2011 and 2012 from Tretiakov, who had beaten the Latvian to gold at both the 2013 World Championships in St Moritz and the Winter Olympics in Sochi last year. 

Dukurs had a 0.17 second advantage at the halfway stage of the competition and was able to extend his lead over his arch rival by posting a third run time of 55.51sec, the fastest of the event.

His final of 55.68 secured him gold with his combined total of 3min 43.23sec 0.69 seconds faster than Tretiakov's time of 3:43.92, meaning he had to settle for the silver medal. 

There was more success for the Dukurs family, as Martins' brother Tomass saw off competition from Russia's Nikita Tregybov to take bronze in 3:44.75.

Olympic champion Lizzy Yarnold leads the women's competition after two of the four runs ©Bongarts/Getty Images



After the first two runs of the women's competition Yarnold tops the leaderboard, having broken the track record on her opening run of the competition, with a time of 57.44.

The 26-year-old Olympic champion, winner of the the European title last month, produced a second run of 57.62, giving her a combined time of 1:55.06 to lead from Canada's Elisabeth Vathje, a 0.07 further back on 1:55.13.

"We're only halfway through the competition with two runs still to come tomorrow morning, and I think it's going to be even more exciting," said Yarnold, who is chasing a maiden world title.

"There's only seven hundredths between the two of us [Yarnold and Vathje] so it's going to be a great race."

Additionally, the race for the bronze medal is likely to be compelling, as Canada's Jane Channell and Germany's Jacqueline Loelling are tied for third position at the halfway stage, with both women positing a combined time of 1:55.45.

The newly crowned World Cup winner Janine Flock of Austria is back in 11 place after two runs, 1.11 seconds off Yarnold's lead.

The final two runs of the women's race are due to take place tomorrow. 

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