The Italian Tommaso Giacomel was in a class of his own and won the World Cup competition ahead of home favourite Eric Perrot of France. Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen, Norway, came third.
Both Sebastian Samuelsson and Martin Ponsiluoma were in a close battle after the two opening prone shooting series, but in the first standing shot there were two misses each.
Samuelsson ultimately stopped at three blocks in total and finished eighth.
It wasn't perfect and there were a few bumps too many, Samuelsson tells SVT.
The Swede has shown good skiing form in Annecy, but things have been worse on the shooting range. That's not something that worries Samuelsson this Olympic season. Everyone at the world's top has a tough time shooting from time to time, he says.
"It's different people who win every time and I will win a race this season too. I'm not worried at all," says the 28-year-old, who took two individual podiums during the World Cup premiere at home in Östersund.
Ponsiluoma had five crashes and finished eleventh, but was the fastest of all on the tracks.
It's biathlon and it's not as easy as you think to go in and shoot zero. It's shaky, nerves and everything, Martin Ponsiluoma says to SVT.
The race's third Swede, Jesper Nelin (five crashes), finished in 27th place out of a total of 30 starters.
The next World Cup competition will be held January 8–11 in Oberhof, Germany.
