Justin Bieber beats One Direction to the top of Billboard 200 chart after fourth album Purpose sets a new record

Published: 07:51 EST, 23 November 2015 | Updated: 08:22 EST, 23 November 2015

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It's been the most fiercely contested chart battle of the year so far.

And Justin Bieber, 21, has claimed the spoils after his album Purpose pipped One Direction's Made in the A.M. to the top of the Billboard 200 Chart.

The Sorry singer has experienced the most successful week of his career to date, scoring 649,000 equivalent album units in the week since Purpose's release on November 13, with 522,000 units in actual album sales.

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Renaissance man: Justin Bieber, 21, (pictured at the AMAs on Sunday night) has claimed the spoils after his album Purpose pipped One Direction's Made in the A.M. to the top of the Billboard 200 Chart

And the impressive figures make for even better reading for the Canadian superstar, as he set a new units record for the period Billboard have been incorporating online streams and digital downloads into its chart.

The record is Bieber's sixth number one (including live albums) and is the biggest selling album since Taylor Swift's blockbuster album 1989 in November last year.

Purpose put an end to One Direction's record streak which saw their first four albums debut at number one on the Billboard 200.

See more of the latest news and updates on Justin Bieber's new album Purpose

Second place: Purpose put an end to One Direction's record streak which saw their first four albums debut at number one on the Billboard 200

Doing the double: One Direction scooped the favourite group and artist of the year gongs at the American Music Awards on Sunday

However, it's not all doom and gloom for the English four-piece, as they reversed the position in the UK top 40, scoring the fastest selling album in the UK this year so far.

Made in the A.M. became the band's fourth record to top the charts, shifting an impressive 93,000 units, just 3,000 ahead of Bieber.

Despite both acts doing impressive numbers, they are almost certainly going to be blown away in next week's charts on both sides of the Atlantic by Adele's 25, with early indications showing it is on track to be the fastest-selling album EVER.

Experts believe the album, which isn't available on streaming services, is on track to break the 2.5million sales barrier for its debut week.

Wet, wet, wet: Justin performed a dramatic medley of Where Are You Now?, What do You Mean? and Sorry? at the AMAs

There is small consolation for Bieber however, as his single Sorry leapfrogged Adele's Hello to the topspot of the UK singles chart, and two more of his singles, Love Yourself and What do You Mean? are in the top five - the first time an artist has achieved the feat since posthumous releases by John Lennon.

Not only that, but Bieber has beaten a near 60-year record by Elvis Presley for most singles in the UK top 40 at any one time, with eight.

His single Sorry also became his first ever single to top the Billboard 100 singles chart after again dethroning Adele's Hello.

Both Justin and One Direction attended the American Music Awards on Sunday with Bieber performing a dramatic medley of Where Are You Now?, What do You Mean? and Sorry? on the rain soaked stage, while 1D scooped the favourite group and artist of the year gongs.