Markus Eisenbichler topped individual qualification at the Ski Flying World Championships ©Getty Images

Germany's Markus Eisenbichler topped individual qualification on day one of competition at the International Ski Federation (FIS) Ski Flying World Championships in Planica in Slovenia.

With a total of 222.5 points, Eisenbichler was a clear leader ahead of Austria's Michael Hayböck on 216.

Eisenbichler is a four-time ski jumping world champion and won three gold medals at the 2019 FIS World Nordic Ski Championships.

Halvor Egner Granerud of Norway was a close third on 215.6 points, with very little between second and fifth.

Another German, Karl Geiger, and Norwegian Daniel-André Tande rounded off the top five with totals of 215.4 and 215.3.

Tande is the reigning champion in the individual event.

Poland's Kamil Stoch, a three-time Olympic ski jumping champion, was sixth, marginally ahead of Norway's Robert Johansson in seventh.

Stoch was the silver medallist in 2018 behind Tande.

Defending champion Daniel-André Tande qualified in fifth ©Getty Images
Defending champion Daniel-André Tande qualified in fifth ©Getty Images

Four finishers have not qualified for tomorrow's event, with only 40 ski jumpers making the cut.

Those who missed out were the United States' Decker Dean, Finland's Niko Kytosaho, American Patrick Gasienica and Ukraine's Yevhen Marusiak.

Dean missed out on the final place by just 0.1 points to Finland's Eetu Nousiainen.

The Czech Republic's Filip Sakala was disqualified due to issues with his suit, while Swiss pair Gregor Deschwanden and Dominik Peter did not start after a member of their team tested positive for COVID-19.

Two of four individual rounds are scheduled for tomorrow, before the event reaches its climax the following day.

A team contest is timetabled for Sunday (December 13) and Norway are the reigning champions.