The 20-year-old from Plymouth, winner of both the individual and synchronised titles at Delhi 2010 but only managed a synchronised silver this time around, dominated from start to finish to win with a score of 516.55 points.

He perfected his so-called "demon dive" - a back 2.5 somersault, 2.5 twist routine - before nailing a superb back 3.5 somersault with his penultimate effort to effectively seal his victory.

In the end, the Englishman's winning margin was a huge 82.85 as Malaysia's Ooi Tze Liang finished second on 433.70 and Canada's Vincent Riendeau placed third with 429.25.

"It was a lot better than this morning," Daley said afterwards.

"There were lots of positives, so I am really happy."

Matthew Mitcham of Australia, the 2008 Olympic champion and silver medallist behind Daley four years ago, could only finish fourth with 420.00.

The Australian,.who won gold with Domonic Bedggood in the synchronised event, admitted afterwards this had probably been his last competition before retirement, certainly as far as the individual event is concerned.

He said that there is the possibility of him focusing only on the two-man event so as to reduce his load, because he claimed his body cannot continue coping with the same load it has faced for 11 years now.

Esther Qin of Australia won gold in the 3m springboard contest ©Getty Images



There was success for Australia in the other event of the evening, when Esther Qin of Australia won the women's 3m springboard competition.

The Australian won gold with a score of 347.25 ahead of Canada's Jennifer Abel, the 1m springboard champion, who finished with 324.70 to take silver, having missed an opportunity to snatch victory with her final attempt.

England's Hannah Starling took the bronze medal, after just holding off 18-year-old Maddison Keeney of Australia.

It marked a second Australian victory of the week, to place them in third position on the diving medal table, behind England with four golds and Canada with three.

Malaysia were the only other nation to feature on the medals table, and they won one gold courtesy of 10m platform runner-up Ooi Tze Liang in the 3m springboard discipline.

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