GOTHENBURG, Sweden (AFP) - Canada's Jeffrey Buttle won his first men's title at the world figure skating championships here on Saturday.

The 25-year-old led all the way to take gold ahead of defending champion Brian Joubert of France with American Johnny Weir taking the bronze after the free skate final.

Joubert rallied after trailing in sixth position after the short prgramme, but despite an inspired performance to Metallica and O Verona from the Romeo and Juliet soundtrack he had to settle for his third world silver after 2004 and 2006.

Buttle performed flawlessly to the Ararat soundtrack by Michael Danna and despite not opting to attempt a quadruple jump outclassed his rivals scoring 245.17 points overall. Joubert scored 231.22 and Weir 221.84.

Buttle becomes the 11th Canadian man to hold the world title and first since three-time winner Elvis Stojko in 1997.