American clocks 19.52 in Tokyo to beat Kenny Bednarek followed by Bryan Levell, Letsile Tebogo and Zharnel Hughes.

With his orange hair flowing in the night breeze, Noah Lyles looked like a ball of fire fizzing around the track as he soared to a fourth consecutive world 200m title.

The 58,643 crowd – the largest of these World Championships so far – appreciated every moment of his 19.52 (0.0) victory.

Lyles bounced back from third in the 100m a few days earlier – a race won by Oblique Seville from Kishane Thompson of Jamaica – to capture sprint gold on Friday evening.

Runner-up Kenny Bednarek clocked 19.58 to make it a US one-two, while Bryan Levell of Jamaica took a surprise bronze in a PB of 19.64.

In fourth, Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo clocked 19.65.

Zharnel Hughes ran a season’s best of 19.78 – a time that is only five hundredths of a second outside his British record – but it was good enough for only fifth.

“I can't wait for 2027 to become the only man to win five 200m titles," said Lyles. "Today, I didn't have the start I had in the semi-final but I knew I was still moving fast. I studied my competitors. I knew their momentum was going to show up once we got closer to 150m but mine was going to build up after I hit that mark. Being patient was the most important thing. I controlled the race. I knew some of the guys were going to tighten up but I just stayed relaxed and got the job done.

"I am proud to be able to show all my skills. I had great speed endurance, that's something I tried to build up by doing 400 metres, and had during the 100m final.

"I don't have good memories from Tokyo in 2021. At that time I was depressed, but this time I am energized. I love what I do and I am happy. I have the best support staff and the best crowd I could have ever asked for. My face is blasted everywhere over Tokyo. This is amazing and such a joyous moment I am going to keep with me forever. Now I want to win the gold medal in the relay."

On coming back from defeat in Paris last year, Lyles added: "I wouldn't say this feels like redemption after last year. This is a very different feeling to last year. I don't think any number of world championship wins will ever replace that empty feeling that I had after failing to win the Olympic 200m title last year."

Bednarek said: "This is bittersweet. I know what I can do and being in lane eight is pretty tough but I just had to execute and try to get on the podium."

Hughes said: "It was, was a fast one, yeah, you know, obviously running out of lane nine it's kind of hard to really see where you're at in the race. You're running blind, so you know, you're being chased, but you don't know how close they are.

"I'm a chaser – it was pretty hard not seeing anyone out there – but nevertheless, I gave a good fight. That was my best tonight. Obviously, I would like to have been on the podium, because that's what everyone is aiming for, but today just wasn't my day. I'm not going beat myself up."

Tebogo said: "This is part of the game. You are not always going to win everything. You learn and we will see how I move on from this. It's still a humbling experience because I overcame so many injuries going back and forth to Europe.

“I will get back to work now and hopefully be back stronger. I believe I still have more in the tank. It didn't come the way I wanted it tonight but I am finishing my season healthy, and that's the best feeling ever. Noah deserved this title.”