Figure Skating Chock and Bates take ice dance lead in quest for third world title

BOSTON - Americans Madison Chock and Evan Bates are on track for a third consecutive global ice dance title after winning Fridays rhythm dance at the World Figure Skating Championships by nearly four points.

The Olympic champions scored 90.18 points and brought the TD Garden crowd to its feet with their electric dancing through the decades program to a wide mix of music that included everything from Jive Bunny to the Bee Gees and Miles Davis.

Canadas Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier were second, with Britains Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson third.

This was so fun, honestly, said Chock. We really love dance and this program really showcases so many styles of dance, and it comes with a lot of joy.

Skating right before the Americans, Gilles and Poirier, world silver and bronze medallists, set a sizzling pace with their entertaining Barbie and Ken at the beach program to music by the Beach Boys.

But Chock and Bates were up to the challenge.

Gilles and Poirier were second with 86.44, losing points on the make-or-break twizzles -- side-by-side spins across the ice which require perfect synchronicity for top marks.

I think its a friendly competition, Gilles said on their rivalry with the Americans. We have so much respect for them. They bring so much to the table, just like we do. It pushes us to skate better.

Fear and Gibson scored 83.86 points, setting them up for the first medal for a British team at a worlds or Olympics since Jayne Torvill and Christoper Dean returned from a decade-long layoff to win bronze at the 1994 Lillehammer Games.

Gilles and Poirier edged Chock and Bates to capture the Four Continents title last month by half a point, but the Americans gaping lead heading into Saturdays free dance makes them the