World champion Javier Fernandez was bettered in the Rostelecom Cup short program and heads into Saturday’s free skate in second place.
Fernandez, who became the first Spanish World champion last season, landed all of his jumps in the short program in Moscow on Friday but, uncharacteristically, performed no quadruple jumps.
Russian Adian Pitkeev, the 2014 World junior champion, landed a quadruple toe loop and totaled 87.54 points, while Fernandez tallied 86.99. American Ross Miner was in third.
Fernandez, who won Cup of China two weeks ago, will clinch a berth in December’s Grand Prix Final in Barcelona if he finishes in the top three after Saturday’s free skate.