Xiao, winner of the all-around title in Montreal last year, leapfrogged Russian Nikita Nagornyy with a total of 87.332 points to finish the qualification phase in first place at the Aspire Dome.

Nagornyy held on to second with a score of 87.098, while American Sam Mikulak impressed on his way to ending third having amassed 86.598 points.

The top 24 athletes all secured their place in the final, due to be held on Wednesday (October 31).

None of the nations competing today were able to better Russia's score of 258.402 on the team qualification leaderboard.

China came closest as Ruoteng's performance saw them end narrowly adrift of the Russian total with 257.836.

Japan, led by star name Kōhei Uchimura, qualified in third on 253.312 points.

Uchimura, the reigning Olympic all-around gold medallist and 2015 world champion, has opted not to compete in the individual event as he continues his recovery from an injury.

The team final is scheduled to take place on Monday (October 29).

There were surprises in qualification for the apparatus finals as Northern Ireland's Rhys McClenaghan crashed out of contention for gold on the pommel horse.

McClenaghan arrived in Doha having won the event at the Commonwealth Games and European Championships but came off the apparatus during his routine, ending his chances of making the final.

Britain's Max Whitlock failed to reach the floor final as the reigning Olympic champion did not finish inside the top eight.

Whitlock did not disappoint on the pommel horse - an apparatus which he also claimed Olympic gold on in 2016 - as he topped the standings with a score of 14.966.

Women's qualification begins when the event resumes tomorrow.