The top 24 all-around competitors and top eight in each individual event advanced to the finals at the Montreal Olympic Stadium.

In the absence of several American competitors, including Olympic champion Simone Biles, Murakami claimed an overall score of 55.933 points to lead the standings going into the final on Friday (October 6).

Ragan Smith of the United States finished in second with 55.932 points and Canada's Ellie Black scored 55.766 for third in the all-around standings.

Smith also topped the floor standings after her routine gave her 14.433 points to edge Murakami, who came second on 14.200.

Russian gymnasts were in emphatic form on the other apparatus, finishing top of two divisions.

Elena Eremina led the way in the bars with a score of 15.1 points, while compatriot Maria Paseka finished first in the vault after she posted an unbeatable 14.933.

Germany's Tabea Alt clinched first place in the beam standings with a score of 13.533 points.

Romanian Larisa Iordache was forced to pull out of the competition after suffering from a torn left Achilles tendon during her warm-up for qualifying.

Iordache had been one of the favourites for the women’s all-around final in Montreal.

It is the second successive year that an injury has prevented Iordache from taking part in a major competition.

After claiming a bronze medal in the team event at London 2012, she missed Rio 2016 due to a broken finger.

The men’s all-around competition in Montreal has already seen the withdrawal of Japan’s Kohei Uchimura.

His pursuit of an unprecedented seventh consecutive all-around title ended in disaster after the double Olympic all-around gold medallist suffered an ankle injury after landing his vault awkwardly.

Action is due to continue tomorrow with the men's all-around final.