The American was in fine form on home ice as the International Skating Union's Grand Prix of Figure Skating season began at the Winds Arena in Everett in Washington.

Chen, the world champion in Milan this year and a team bronze medallist at the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics, tallied up 90.58 points in front of a home crowd.

He pulled off a triple Axel to begin his routine but then pulled out of an under-rotated quad flip. 

A triple Lutz-triple toe combination and two level four spins were also part of his performance.

"I think this was a good start to my season for the short programme," the 19-year-old said. 

"Definitely, it wasn't the best in terms of the technical elements, but the performance was pretty good, so a lot to build on."

Czech skater Michal Brezina scored 82.09 to finish second with Julian Zhi Jie Yee of Malaysia currently sitting third on 81.52.

The pairs short programme was also held on day one with Russia's Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov claiming the halfway lead.

Their routine featured a big triple twist and a level-four lift, a death spiral and a side-by-side spin. 

Tarasova did under-rotate and touch down on a triple toeloop, as well as "two-footing" the throw triple loop.

But the display still saw the World Championship silver medallists clinch top spot on 71.24 points.

"We skated the short programme with many small mistakes," said Morozov. 

"It was difficult today, but we felt good. 

"We like our programme and we need to keep working hard on the short programme."

Russia also came second as Alisa Efimova and Alexander Korovin scored 62.38.

Germany's Minerva-Fabienne Hase and Nolan Seegert, making their Grand Prix debut, finished in a surprise third place on 60.04.

The men's and pairs events will conclude tomorrow with the free skates, while the women's and ice dance competitions will get underway.