Cao, Wang's title-winning partner in the synchronized, ranked second with 492.85 to pocket his 13th medal at the worlds and Olympic Games combined - only Russian legend diver Dmitriy Sautin (17) has won more medals than him in these two tournaments.

The three-time Olympic gold medalist has clinched at least one medal in the recent three Olympic Games and five aquatic worlds.

"No matter whom I compete with, I tried to treat the event in the same way," said the 27-year-old veteran. "Today I think I could do better in the height of my jump, if so, maybe the points would be higher."

Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Jack Laugher bounced back from his poor fourth dive to take the bronze with 473.30. The Briton slipped to the sixth place after collecting only 37.80 in the fourth round but clawed back to the podium with a 91.20 in his fifth and a 97.50 in the last dive.

China extended its dominance in the discipline by winning the title for a record nine times, including at each of the recent eight editions. The most recent non-Chinese athlete to win the title in this event was Alexandre Despatie of Canada in 2005.