The 2014 world champion scored a total of 15.000 points to finish ahead of compatriot You Hao at the Melbourne Arena.

You's routine was rewarded with 14.733 points, while London 2012 Olympic gold medallist Arthur Zanetti of Brazil was third on 14.700.

Chinese athletes also qualified for the weekend's finals in top spot in the men's pommel horse and women's uneven bars events.

Weng Hao topped the pile in the men's pommel horse with a score of 15.033 points, with Lee Chih-Kai of Chinese Taipei second on 14.900.

Tomomasa Hasegawa of Japan did enough for third thanks to his total of 14.733.

In the women's uneven bars, Lyu Jiaqi booked her place in the final as the first-placed qualifier by scoring 14.300 points.

Two-time world champion and Olympic team bronze medallist Fan Yilin, perhaps saving her best for the final, was second on 13.833, scoring 0.200 points more than Australian hope Georgia-Rose Brown.

Turkish gymnast Ahmet Önder got the better of 2015 World Championships bronze medallist Rayderley Zapata of Spain on the floor, top-scoring with a total of 14.266 points.

Zapata was second after his routine yielded 14.225 points and Carlos Edriel Yulo of the Philippines was third on 14.133.

Veteran Olympic and World Championships gold medallist Oksana Chusovitina of Uzbekistan qualified second in the vault event having scored 14.233 points.

The 43-year-old was beaten by Yeo Seo-jeong of South Korea, who managed 14.400 points, with Yu Linmin of China in third.

The top eight gymnasts on all of the apparatus will seal a place in the finals, due to be held this Saturday (February 23) and Sunday (February 24).