Dalaloyan became the first Russian to win gold in the all-around at the World Championships since 1999 as he posted a total of 87.598 at the Aspire Dome.

Defending champion Xiao registered the same total across the six apparatus but was forced to settle for silver on the tie-breaker, which saw each gymnast’s lowest score from the routines discarded.

Nikita Nagornyy completed the superb showing from Russia by securing the bronze medal on 86.331 points.

Victory for Dalaloyan came after the Russian team endured agonising disappointment in the team event in the Qatari capital earlier this week.

Each Russian gymnast made a mistake in the last two rotations, including Dalaloyan, as they were pipped to the gold medal by China.

Devastation turned to celebration for Dalaloyan today after he was seen hunched over behind the raised competition floor and stairs following Monday's (October 29) team final.

"I was surprised and can’t say anything more,” Dalaloyan said. 

"I need to probably go to my hotel, take a deep breath and realize that yes, I won this Championship."

The individual all-around final was a tense affair throughout as the destination of the gold medal appeared no clearer after each rotation.

Xiao led going into the final two apparatus but was usurped by the Russian with just one discipline left for each gymnast.

Dalaloyan managed to hold his nerve in the high bar, scoring 14.166, less than the 14.233 registered by Xiao but enough to draw him level.

The event continues tomorrow with the women's all-around final, with American star Simone Biles the red-hot favourite to claim the 12th World Championships gold medal of her career.