BOSTON - China's Sui Wenjing and Han Cong lead after the pairs short program as they seek their first world title.

Last year's silver medallists scored 80.85 points Friday to lead defending champs Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford of Canada, who earned 78.18.

Olympic gold medallists Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov of Russia were third with 77.13 points after taking last season off. Five-time world champion Aliona Savchenko of Germany, skating at worlds for the first time with new partner Bruno Massot, was fourth with 74.22.