The three-time world champion from Russia was the first to skate. He landed a quadruple jump and seven triple jumps in skating to music from the movie "Gladiator."

He gestured at his wrist, indicating how he felt about skating well before noon.

"I was showing the people my watch like `Look at the clock, it's still so early,"' Yagudin said.

Yet seconds after the music started, he completed a quadruple toe loop and added another double toe loop in combination. He could have gone through the motions after that, but he went on to complete seven triple jumps, including a triple-triple.

"I think I did really well, to be the first skater and open the Europeans," Yagudin said. "The jumps are less powerful than I would skate for the real program."

The qualifying counts 20 percent and reduces the 35-man field to the top 30 - 15 from each group - for Tuesday's short program. The men's final is Thursday and counts for the remaining 50 percent.

Yagudin scored all 5.7s and 5.8s for his routine, which held up to be the best of the day.

His major rival, compatriot Yevgeny Plushchenko, started the afternoon qualifying and failed twice at quads, reducing both to triple toe loops.

"I was tired," Plushchenko said.

Although he landed seven triples in all, his attempts at combinations were awkward single jumps tagged on to a triple. His technical marks were straight 5.6s but the artistic marks in the 5.7-5.8 range.

Still, Plushchenko won his section with Romania's Gheorghe Chiper second. Yagudin and Plushchenko head into the short program tied as winners of their individual groups.

Plushchenko beat Yagudin last year for the European crown when Yagudin was hampered by a broken hand. Yagudin came back to soundly beat Plushchenko at the world championship two months later.

Russia's Alexander Abt was in extreme discomfort skating with a sinus infection yet still completed seven triple jumps and just missed a quad to finish second to Yagudin.

A weary Abt was supported by coach Rafael Arutunian as they left the rink. Abt then went to the hospital.