Israel's Olympic champion Artem Dolgopyat has won the last two World Cups in the men's floor exercise ©Getty Images

Olympic champion Artem Dolgopyat started his bid for a third consecutive International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) World Cup victory and the overall title in the men's floor exercise by topping qualification in Baku.

The Israeli gymnast scored 14.866 at the National Gymnastics Arena in Azerbaijan's capital - 8.766 for execution and 6.1 for difficulty.

Nicoló Mozzato of Italy was the next-best performer with 14.366, while Greece's Antonios Tantalidis was also among the eight who progressed to the final with his 14.166.

Ukraine's Illia Kovtun has already secured the World Cup title in the men's parallel bars with triumphs in Cottbus, Doha and Cairo.

He was second in qualifying in Baku, scoring 14.966 to the 15.100 posted by Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Ferhat Arıcan of Turkey.

Italy's Salvatore Maresca, a bronze medallist at the World Championships, topped qualifying in the men's rings with 14.800.

He was followed by Turkish pair İbrahim Çolak and Adem Asil with 14.666 and 14.633, respectively.

The trio are engaged in a three-way battle for the overall World Cup title.

Slovenia's Tjaša Kysselef placed fifth in women's vault qualifying at the FIG World Cup in Baku ©Getty Images
Slovenia's Tjaša Kysselef placed fifth in women's vault qualifying at the FIG World Cup in Baku ©Getty Images

Naomi Visser of The Netherlands leads the way in the women's uneven bars, recording a score of 14.566.

France's Lorette Charpy and Romania's Ioana Stănciulescu scored 13.733 and 13.266, respectively.

The day's other qualifying event was the women's vault.

Slovenia’s Tjaša Kysselef is the favourite for the overall World Cup title, but only progressed in fifth place with her average of 13.216.

Valentina Georgieva of Bulgaria led the way with 13.416, followed by Slovenia's Teja Belak on 13.366.

The second day of qualification in the other disciplines is set to take place tomorrow.