Turkey's Ramil Guliyev wrecked the dreams of 400m champion Wayde van Niekerk and comeback kid Isaac Makwala to seize the 200m world title.
South African Van Niekerk had been hunting the first 200m-400m double since Michael Johnson 22 years ago, while Makwala of Botswana had run a solo time trial to get this far after his initial controversial exclusion on medical grounds.
But the 27-year-old Guliyev, who switched allegiance from his native Azerbaijan in 2011, held off Van Niekerk (20.11 seconds) and Trinidad and Tobago's Jereem Richards (20.11) to win Turkey's first gold medal at a World Championships in 20.09 and pull off another upset at an unpredictable London 2017.
"This is not a shock," said the champion. "But it does not feel real.
"I have shown my best throughout this competition. I delivered my best race at the right time. I'm so happy to be world champion. This is the best moment of my career."
Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake was 0.13 seconds off bronze in fourth, another close miss for Britain to go with the fourth places for Laura Muir in the 1500m, Kyle Langford in the 800m and Callum Hawkins in the marathon.
Mitchell-Blake told BBC Sport: "I am glad to come through healthy. I feel like I have let the nation down today. I know I had the calibre to get a medal. I wanted to win. That's all I thought about when I go out there."
Olympic 400m hurdles champion Dalilah Muhammad had earlier been dethroned by her USA team-mate Kori Carter, as Britain's team captain Eilidh Doyle came home eighth.
It has been a week where many of the big names have struggled, but one of the sport's great champions, double Olympic and world triple jump gold medallist Christian Taylor, once again excelled on the biggest stage as he held off fellow American Will Claye in a thrilling, seesaw final.
Latest Stories
-
IGP calls on public to aid Police in ensuring peace during 2024 election
8 mins -
Miner jailed, fined for stealing motorbike worth GH¢13,500
44 mins -
Dozens killed in Pakistan sectarian violence
45 mins -
Police place GH₵20K bounty on group over election violence threats
45 mins -
From classrooms to conservation: 280 students embrace sustainability at Joy FM/Safari Valley’s Second Eco Tour
2 hours -
Jordan Ayew’s late goal not enough as Leicester lose at home to Chelsea
2 hours -
Global Crimea Conference 2024: Participants reject Russian claims to Soviet legacy
2 hours -
Jospong Group, Uasin Gishu County sign MoU to boost sanitation services in Kenya
2 hours -
Thomas Partey stunner helps Arsenal overcome Nottingham Forest
3 hours -
Over half of cyber attacks in Ghana, rest of Africa target government and finance, says Positive Technologies
3 hours -
Academic City unveils plastic recycling machine to address plastic pollution
3 hours -
Maddison scores twice as Tottenham inflict a fifth successive defeat on Man City
3 hours -
German-based Kanzlsperger makes medical donation to WAFA
4 hours -
It could take over 100 years for Ghana and other African countries to become ‘developed’ – Report
4 hours -
AEC 2024 renews momentum to lift Africa out of poverty despite global shocks
5 hours