Rio 2016: Tom Daley sends warning to rivals by topping 10m platform preliminaries

The 22-year-old led from the third round and finished with 571.85 points

Daley won London 2012 bronze in the event four years ago (Getty)

Tom Daley qualified for Saturday's men's 10 metres platform semi-final by finishing first in Friday's preliminary round.

The 22-year-old won London 2012 bronze in the event four years ago and has targeted gold this time around.

Daley led from the third round and finished with 571.85 points, which included a score of 103.60 from his fourth dive - the highest of the day.

China's Qiu Bo and Chen Aisen were second and third, respectively, with 564.75 and 545.35.

Both are Daley's main challengers for the title. The final takes place on Saturday evening.

China have won six of the seven completed events at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre so far this week, with Daley's event the final one of the Games.

Jack Laugher and Chris Mears won gold in the 3m synchronised springboard event, the only time China were denied off the boards.

European and Commonwealth champion Daley is in the final Olympic event. He claimed his second Olympic bronze after placing third with Dan Goodfellow in the synchronised 10m platform and restated his ambition to claim gold in his individual competition.

PA