The 26-year-old traded placed with his friend and team-mate before eventually securing gold with 29 hits at the Code Paradero Shooting Range.

Quiquampoix, the reigning Olympic silver medallist, dropped his form in the final series to finish with 28.

He did beat the Rio 2016 gold medal winner, however, as Christian Reitz of Germany settled for the bronze medal with 24 hits.

There was disappointment for China as their three finalists, Olympic bronze medallist Li Yuehong, Lin Junmin and Yao Zhaonan, finished fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.

China enjoyed better fortunes in the women's 50m rifle 3 positions final as 2014 junior world champion Pei Ruijiao was the winner.

It came in her first ever World Cup event at senior level.

The 22-year-old defeated India's Anjum Moudgil and Chinese team-mate Sun Ting to win with 455.4 points.

Moudgil managed 454.2 points for second and Sun shot 442.2 for third.

Pei had earlier set a qualification world record of 1,178 points to reach the final.

Action is due to continue tomorrow at the Mexican range.