The Israeli led from start to finish in heat five of the 1500m to finish in pole position after 2min 16.379sec.

The 31-year-old was closely followed by Italy's Yuri Confortola and Shogo Miyata in 2:17.181 and 2:17.299.

A photo finish was required to determine who would claim second place and a direct qualification into the semi-finals.

Miyata also progressed after finishing among the four fastest third place finishes across the seven quarter-final heats.

Bykanov did not fare quite as well in the 500m, finishing bottom of his heat in 42.818 seconds.

Canadian Steven Dubois powered into the quarter-finals after crossing the finish line in 40.967.

He will meet World Cup leader Sandor Shaolin Liu of Hungary in his heat in what is set to be a thrilling contest.

In the women's 1500m, South Korea's Kim Ji-yoo led the way with a time of 2:23.634 in heat two while her compatriot Lee Yu-bin, who won the season's first World Cup event in Beijing, awaits her in the final semi-final heat after progressing in 2:40.502.

Polish skater Natalia Maliszewska continued her good form in the 500m after triumphing in China to pip home skater Zhang Yuting to first place.

It was Canadian Kim Boutin, however, that recorded the fastest time of the round in 43.211 to go into the second quarter-final heat as the hot favourite.

The Netherlands' squad comprised of Suzanne Schulting, Yara van Kerkhof, Jens van 't Wout and Melle van 't Wout lived up to expectations in the mixed 2000m relay to set the fastest time of 2:41.122.

The Dutch outfit, led by Schulting, won gold in the women's 3000m relay earlier in the year at the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships.

Schulting also won gold in the three individual events at the competition in Dordrecht.