China's 14-year-old Si Yajie won the women's world 10m platform gold on Thursday with compatriot Chen Ruolin, the previous world and Olympic champion, in silver and Ukraine's Iulia Prokopchuk third.

"I am very excited with this gold," beamed Si, "Overall, my performance was quite good, especially the first four dives where I was consistent."

Si triumphed with 392.15 points, with defending title-holder Chen, a four-time Olympic champion, who won world gold on Monday in the 10m platform synchro, fewer than four points adrift on 388.70.

"I am pretty satisfied with my final, except for the fourth dive, which went a bit wrong," said Chen.

"The competition is as it is; someone wins, and someone has to lose. The key is how you manage your failure.

"Having strong opponents in the Chinese team is an additional motivation for me to perform well."

European champion Prokopchuk scooped the bronze on 358.40, more than 30 points behind the Chinese pair.

"I can't believe I'm seated here, with my first medal at a World Championships around the neck," said the Ukrainian.

It was the sixth diving title won by China out of the seven contested so far in Barcelona with only Germany's win by Sascha Klein and Patrick Hausding on July 21 in the men's 10m platform synchro blotting the copy book.

Victoria Lamp of the USA took the lead in the opening round on Thursday with an excellent armstand dive, but Chen and Si were only just behind.

The Chinese pair recorded identical scores in the second and third rounds as they moved clear of the rest of the field.

Chen, who will only turn 21 in December, faltered in the fourth round, enabling Si to move 8.25 points clear and although Chen outscored Si in the final round, it was not enough to make up the 3.45 points to claim gold.