Sebastian Samuelsson seemed to have some problems with the rifle when he lay down to shoot but shot full and lost just over four seconds on Lukas Hofer's first lap.
The Italian performed an almost perfect race and was the man to beat after neither the Bö brothers nor anyone else could match his pace.
Samuelsson chased the Italian's time while the snowfall increased and had a tight feeling in the standing shooter.
After a spotless shooting even there, he was still five seconds behind the Italian.
Despite a strong last lap, he did not manage to erase that lead and crossed the finish line four seconds slower than the Italian.
It may well be enough for a podium.
Ponsiluoma opened strongly
Martin Ponsiluoma, who basically grew up on the track in Östersund, looked at home when he slipped into the horizontal shot.
He shot flawlessly even though he had the margins with him.
The last shot went in with the smallest possible margin and the world champion from Pokljuka in February went from there in the lead three seconds ahead of the Italian Lukas Hofer.
Two booms in standing a while later, however, crushed his chances of victory, when he went to the finish he was down in tenth place.
The competition is ongoing.