Bulgarian marathon swimmer Petar Stoychev is a step closer to his sixth World Cup.

Stoychev ranked second in the last but one start for the World Cup in Singapore, Focus news agency reported.

He was leading most of the time but at the final sprint was left behind a German swimmer, Focus said.

Stoychev won the cup in the previous start in Hong Kong on October 1 where he ranked third in the 10km marathon but his score difference of 50 points with the second-best swimmer in the championship granted him the cup.

Stoychev would be the first marathon swimmer in history to win six world cups in this sport.

The other Bulgarian in the competition, Tihomir Ivanchev. ranked ninth.

The next competition would take place in Portugal on October 15, Focus said.