NAGANO, Japan -- Alexei Yagudin earned a record number of 6.0s Tuesday to win the men's short program at the World Figure Skating Championships.

	Alexei Yagudin celebrates getting six 6.0 marks at World Championships.

Performing to "Winter," Yagudin landed all his elements, including a textbook quad-triple combination, and received six 6.0 scores, the most awarded to an individual in a world championships in a short program.

Yagudin, the Olympic gold medalist, even received the first ever 6.0 in required elements and a 6.0 for presentation from the Ukrainian judge Yuri Kliushnikov.

Russian compatriot Alexander Abt was second and American Timothy Goebel third.

Yagudin and Goebel led after Monday's qualifying. The short program is worth 30 percent of the total score and the men's free program on Thursday is worth the remaining 50 percent.

Earlier, Irina Lobacheva and Ilia Averbukh of Russia led after the compulsory dance program.

Victor Kraatz and Shae-Lynn Bourne of Canada were second while Povilas Vanagas and Margarita Drobiazko of Lithuania were third.

The Russians, who were in the top position after Tuesday's first dance, received marks ranging from 5.5 to 5.8 for technique and mostly 5.7s for timing and expression in the second quickstep dance.

Tuesday's event was missing some of ice dancing's biggest names and the Russians, the Olympic silver medalists, said it felt a little strange to be on top.

"For the first time in our career we are world champions -- in the compulsory dance," Averbukh said.

The compulsory dances are worth 20 percent of the final score while Thursday's original dance is worth 30 percent. Friday's free dance makes up the other 50 percent.

Marina Anissina and Gwendal Peizerat of France -- The Olympic gold medalists and 2000 world champions -- decided to retire from competition after Salt Lake City and plan to hit the show circuit.

Italy's Barbara Fusar-Poli and Maurizio Margaglio, who won the bronze medal at Salt Lake City and are the 2001 world champions, said they lost their enthusiasm for competition this year and decided not to compete at this event.

"We always wanted to beat them in competition," Averbukh said. "We are not used to the role of leaders yet. We've never even won a grand prix event and are usually second."

Americans Naomi Lang and Peter Tchernyshev placed ninth after the compulsory dance.