Worlds 2016 - An Emotional Night (Free Dance)

The first final of these tumultuous World Championships belongs to the ice dancers. There doesn't seem to be a doubt in anybody's minds that Papadakis & Cizeron will leave Boston with another gold medal, but what about the other podium places? At the moment, it's the bronze that appears disputed between Chock/Bates and Weaver/Poje, but can the Shibutani siblings hold onto their silver position?

Anna Cappellini/Luca Lanotte's straight-line lift is one of the most difficult of the season. If they keep improving their difficulty level, maybe next season can be better for them. Their music is La Dolce Vita. Their score: 112.87. Overall: 182.72.

Lots of drama from Penny Coomes/Nicholas Buckland. He struggles a bit, but manages to keep the straight-line lift on one leg. Otherwise, everything goes smoothly. Love the choreographic spin at the end, symbolising the butterfly being thrown around by the hurricane. The music is, of course, Hurricanes and Butterflies by Muse. They get 104.92 points. Overall: 173.17.

Canada's Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, sworn to originality, skate to She Said by Jorane and Neverland by Takenobu
Photograph: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images North America

Madison Hubbell/Zachary Donohue have found their trademark style this season. Emotional routines fit them perfectly. Their free is set to Adagio for Strings by Daft Punk (no, the French duo aren't doing classical music, this is a piece from the soundtrack of Tron: Legacy). Their costumes are always very simple, but this time they work, as they emphasise the music by not distracting you from it. Their score: 104.94. Overall: 176.81.

Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier always put great effort into their presentation, which makes them one of the most innovative ice-dancers out there. Love the red eye shadow, the new costumes are beautiful, mirroring each other, and the choreography is to kill for. I can't get enough of these two. They get 102.37 points. Overall: 173.07.

Kaitlyn Weaver/Andrew Poje are terrific at expressing emotions, and this free skate is an emotional journey: from the doom atmosphere at the beginning to the hopeful sliver of light at the end. The sadness bit might not have been all fake, as their current position is not exactly ideal. The music is On the Nature of Daylight. He does an extra turn in the twizzles. Their score: 110.18. Overall: 182.01.

Madison Chock/Evan Bates don't put a single foot wrong tonight. For some reason though, I don't really like how Rachmaninoff's Concerto No. 2 looks on them. They have this sophisticated appeal to them that is a bit muffled by the classical music. Maybe it's because I associate lyricism with this type of music more, and sophistication with them. They get 113.31 points. Overall: 185.73.

Can you guess who the winners are? The French team reacts to their own scores
Phtoograph: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images North America

This might sound daft, but as I watch Gabriella Papadakis/Guillaume Cizeron, all I can think is: "This is poetry on ice." The routine, set to Rain in Your Eyes and Build a Home is a representation of their own struggles to move across the ocean and build a home there. Well, I'd say the move was very much worth it. Their score: 118.17. Overall: 194.46.

What a difference it makes to have a routine that speaks to the audience! Maia Shibutani/Alex Shibutani have had great routines before, but never one that transcends to the public quite like Fix You. I think the fact the song is known by so many people helps with that, but it's definitely them that make it extraordinary. This is my favourite free dance of the season. They get 113.73 points. Overall: 188.43.

This final has been a showcase of beautiful emotional performances, so who else to come out victorious, but the masters of lyricism, Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron? Fantastic skate for the Shibutani siblings as well, who do manage to keep their silver medal. As for the bronze, the battle for it is won by Madison Chock and Evan Bates.