Two-time Olympic champion Chen Aisen of China managed a narrow victory to beat the pace-setter Yang Hao by 1.55 points and snatched the platform title while China collected three last gold medals on the last day of the FINA/NVC Diving World Series in Beijjing on Sunday March 5.
China collected nine titles out of 10 on offer as Jack Laugher of the Britain brought the remaining one in the men's 3m springboard.
Yang Hao, who won the men's 10m platform synchro with Chen on the first day, led the individual platform final after five dives, 0.25 points higher than the Olympic champion Chen.
photo credit: Tao Xiyi (Xinhua)
Both Chen and Yang took the same dive 5255B for their last dance which saw Chen turned the table with 93.60 and beat Yang's 91.80.
Chen won the event with a total of 556.25, with a day-high 99.90 for his 109C and four 90 plus dives while Yang collected a total of 554.70 with five 90 plus dives except his poor fifth dive 109C (83.25). Thomas Daley of Britain came third 520.35.
"I have to say it was a real great showdown in the final that all of us performed very well," said Chen.
"I did not expect to win the title since I came back to training less than two months ago and I am now only about 50% to 60% compared to my best form. I will continue to take part in the next World Series meet and try my best to find back my techniques and peak form."
photo credit: Wang Lili (Xinhua)
Daley was happy with his bronze medal in his first competition since Rio Olympic Games.
"It is the first time since the Olympics that I take part in the individual event. I am very happy to compete with Chen and Yang who are very, very talented and special divers.”
“It is always my goal to try to beat them. When I was in Beijing 2008, I was Baby Daley, now I am grown-up Daley, I am getting older, I will take good care of my body, and train smartly. My goal is to get to 2020 Olympics and then I will be Grandpa Daley,” smiled the British star.
“Today’s performance was not particularly my best, as I have only trained for three weeks on 10m platform but today I was steady. Next week I will try to be sharper. The more you dive, the more you compete, the more you feel consistence and confidence. This is why I come to World Series and compete with top divers regularly, to get more experience."
Kim Mi Rae of DPR Korea enjoyed an early lead in the women's 10m platform by 35.15 until she made an error in her fourth dive 207C and slumped to third place. Si Yajie, 2013 world champion, came from behind to win the title 406.60. Olympic champion Ren Qian finished second 398.75.
"I am very happy because I have not won a gold medal in the big events for a long time. My trade mark is consistence while my entry is not as good as the Korean girl. This gold medal brings me a lot of confidence. I hope I can come back to the top," said the Rio silver-medallist.
China's Lian Jie/Lian Junjie took the victory in the mixed 10m platform synchro in 329.28, ahead of Iuliia Timoshinina/Viktor Minibaev of Russia 305.64 and Meaghan Benfeito/Vincent Riendeau of Canada 302.34, respectively.
The FINA/NVC Diving World Series will next stop in Guangzhou, China, from March 9-11.