Lesun, individual world champion in Rome in 2012, is bidding to go one better than the silver medal he earned behind Pavlo Tymoshchenko of Ukraine in Berlin last year.

He has started his pursuit of gold in the Russian capital in the best possible manner as he posted a score of 1,189 points.

Egypt’s Yasser Hefny, himself a two-time world champion, was second behind the Russian with a total of 1,182.

Patrick Dogue of Germany ended just a point adrift of Hefny, who won the event in 2008 before successfully defending his title the following year, on 1,181.

Jun Woong-tae, a member of the South Korean trio who topped the podium in the team competition at the 2015 World Championships in the German capital, took fourth on 1,179.

China’s Guo Jianli finished on the same points total but had to settle for fifth.

The top 36 modern pentathletes after today’s qualification stage have secured their spot in the final, where they will all battle it out for the world crown.

Lesun had emerged as an early contender for top spot with a decent showing in the fencing round as he claimed 264 points to clinch first place in the discipline.

The Russian could then only manage 23rd position in the swimming but he still held a one-point advantage over Hefny, who was his nearest challenger after the completion of two events.

A 19th place finish in the combined discipline made for a tight conclusion to qualification but proved enough for Lesun to secure top ranking heading into Saturday’s (May 28) final.

The women’s race for gold takes centre stage tomorrow.

Germany and South Korea have already claimed a gold apiece as they won the women’s and men’s team relays respectively.