Chock and Bates, who skated to George Thorogood's "Bad To The Bone", were given 75.04 points to top the standings at the event known as the Rostelecom Cup. 

Russia's Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev trail by just 0.12 points, while Canada's Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje came third with 69.81.

In the men’s short programme, Japan’s Shoma Uno secured his place at the summit of the rankings with a score of 98.59 points as he looks to replicate his gold medal-winning performance from last month's Skate America.

World champion Javier Fernandez of Spain finished second with 91.55 points and was followed by Russia’s Mikhail Kolyada, third with 90.28.

Anna Pogorilaya led a Russian one-two-three in the women's short programme with the world bronze medallist posting a score of 73.93 points. 

Compatriot Elena Radionova was two points behind, while Olympic gold medallist Julia Lipnitskaia returned to action following her withdrawal from Skate America due to injury and came third with 69.25. 

The Russian duo of Natalia Zabiiako and Alexander Enbert were strongest in the pairs short programme, registering a score of 69.76 points.

Just 0.25 points behind were closest challengers Aliona Savchenko and Bruno Massot of Germany, the bronze medallists at this year's World Championships in Boston.

Italy’s Valentina Marchei and Ondrej Hotarek completed the top three with 66.82.

Action in Russia's capital is set to continue tomorrow.