SHANGHAI - China's Chen Ruolin won the women's 10 metres platform diving title at the world championships on Thursday after compatriot and close rival Hu Yudan's nerves got the better of her.

China's Chen Ruolin shows her gold medal for the women's 10m platform diving final at the 14th FINA World Championships in Shanghai July 21, 2011.  [Photo/Agencies]

Chen, who combined with Wang Hao to win the 10 metres platform synchro gold earlier, scored 405.30 points, while Hu finished on 394.00 after scoring just 42.90 points in the fourth round of dives.

Mexico's Paolo Espinosa, who won the title in Rome in 2009, took bronze (377.15).

"I was defeated by Hu Yadan at the World Cup (last year), and it harmed my confidence," Chen, the Beijing Olympic champion in the event told reporters.

"The key to my victory is consistency. Hu is still young, she needs to take part in more competition to mature."

"Next, I will focus on the London Olympics."

Chen had never won the individual platform title at the worlds before, finishing with silver at Melbourne in 2007 and behind Espinosa in Rome two years ago.

It looked like she would have to settle for second again as Hu opened up a lead of almost 10 points after three rounds and seemed set to win the title.

But Hu said nerves had got to her during the final and she blew her lead over Chen in the fourth round.

"I felt so nervous that I floundered on dive two and four," she said. "I did not think too much before the last dive, just hoped I coulc dive at normal level.

"It's a pity that I did not win the gold."

The host country has now won all seven diving titles on offer so far at the outdoor pool at the Oriental Sports Centre, with just three more -- the men's and women's three-metre springboard and men's 10-metre platform -- up for grabs.