TOKYO, March 21 (UPI) -- Brian Joubert won the short program competition Wednesday at the men's World Figure Skating Championships in Japan.
Joubert, a two-time runner-up at the Worlds, totaled 83.64 points and is just ahead of Jeffrey Buttle, who had a score of 79.9 going into the free skate portion of the competition on Thursday.
Daisuke Takahashi was in third at 74.51 with Johnny Weir and Evan Lysacek in fourth and fifth places, respectively.
Weir fell during a triple jump in his program Wednesday but, with a score of 74.26, is in position to finish among the three medalists with a strong free skate. Lysacek's score is 73.49.
Two-time defending champion Stephane Lambiel fell on his first jump of the short program and wasn't able to fully recover. He is in sixth.
