Bretschneider was hoping to deliver a surprise victory, as Sophie Scheder had done yesterday in the women’s event.

However he could only manage a fifth place finish in the floor discipline with a score of 14.500, with the United States’ Danell Leyva topping the standings on 14.900.

The German then looked out of contention for the overall win after he could only manage sixth in the pommel horse, having achieved a tally of 13.400.

A score of 14.666 saw Russia’s Nikolai Kuksenkov triumph in the discipline.

Bretschneider ignited his challenge for the all-round title after producing a stunning routine on the rings for 14.633, with his fellow German Marcel Nguyen scoring 14.500 to finish second.

After ending sixth in the vault, which was won by China’s Cen Yu, Bretschneider earned a second place finish in the parallel bars with a score of 14.800.

His team-mate Nguyen won the discipline on 15.300, but it put Bretschneider into the lead in the overall standings.

The 26-year-old’s nearest challenger Leyva was able to win the high bar by scoring 15.733, but a tally of 15.266 proved enough for the home favourite to win the all-round title.

Bretschneider finished the competition on a final total of 87.132, with his American rival taking second on 86.631.

"For Andreas this success is the result of his work done,” said Germany’s head coach Andreas Hirsch.

“He can be very proud of himself and has now strengthened going into the preparations for the Olympic qualifiers."

The bronze medal was won by Russia’s Kuksenkov, after he finished on a tally of 86.432.

It meant that the second home gymnast Nguyen missed the podium positions, with his score of 86.132 only good enough for fourth.