MOSCOW, Russia -- Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada captured the short dance at the World Figure Skating Championships.

Virtue and Moir, who won Olympic gold in front of the home crowd at the 2010 Vancouver Games and also claimed last year's world title, finished with a score of 74.29 on Friday.

Americans Meryl Davis and Charlie White were close behind after a score of 73.76 on Friday. Davis and White won the silver medal at the Vancouver Olympics and also finished as the runners-up to Virtue and Moir at last year's worlds.

France's Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat wound up third Friday with a score of 70.97, while another American team, Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani finished fourth at 66.88.

The free dance will take place Saturday.

04/29 14:49:25 ET