Just behind in points, in second place, is Kaori Sakamoto - bronze medalist at Beijing 2022.
Third place is American Alysa Liu. Her compatriot Amber Glenn, one of the favorites, first landed a triple Axel - but then completely missed another jump and is essentially out of medal contention for the free skate.
18-year-old Russian skater Adelia Petrosian, competing under a neutral flag, made a strong impression with a Michael Jackson-inspired program, earning the fifth-highest score.
The top 24 out of 29 skaters advance to the free skate.
