Canada's McIntosh surges to second gold of world championships
McIntosh, who won 400 freestyle gold on Sunday, was pushed hard by Alex Walsh in the middle portion of the race but surged ahead in the final lap to touch the wall in 2:06.69, with the American taking silver in 2:08.58.
Three-times Olympic champion McIntosh is looking to match Michael Phelps's feat of winning five individual titles at a single world championships, which the American great achieved at the 2007 edition.
Fellow Canadian Mary-Sophie Harvey bagged the bronze ahead of China's Yu, who caused a stir at the national championships in Shenzhen in May by winning the 400 IM and 200 butterfly titles, as well as coming second in the 200 IM, all with qualifying times for Singapore.
Monday's evening programme kicked off with a thrilling battle between Qin Haiyang of China and Italian Nicolo Martinenghi in the men's 100 breaststroke.
Paris Olympics champion Martinenghi led through the first 50 but Qin, who swept the breaststroke events at the 2023 world championships in Fukuoka, fought back in the final 25 meters to clinch gold in 58.23 seconds.
Denis Petrashov took a stunning bronze in 58.88 to earn a first medal for Kyrgyzstan at a swimming world championships.
Gretchen Walsh was the hot favourite in the women's 100 butterfly and she did not disappoint.
The American shot out of the blocks and was on course to break her own world record but flagged slightly at the end to finish in 54.73, the second-fastest time in history.
The 22-year-old now has the eight fastest times in the event.
Walsh, who finished ahead of Belgian Roos Vanotterdijk (55.84) and Australia's Alexandria Perkins (56.33), had been a last-minute withdrawal from the women's 4x100 freestyle relay on Sunday, still not feeling 100% after illness swept through the U.S. team camp in Thailand just before the championships.
Asked about overcoming the illness and performing at her best on Monday, she said: "It took a lot of guts. I think I just wanted to go out here and do it for my team.
"Represent the flag well and I think that race just... It came out of somewhere. But I'm really, really happy."
In the men's 50 butterfly final, France's Maxime Grousset (22.48) edged Swiss Noe Ponti by 0.03 with Thomas Ceccon of Italy taking bronze.
"I don't know how I swam this final... a very fast final. Noe swam fast too. Overall, I am proud of myself," Grousset said.
In the women's 100 breaststroke semi-finals, American world record holder Lilly King failed to qualify for Tuesday's finals, while 2012 Olympic champion Ruta Meilutyte also missed the cut.
Regan Smith once again got the better of Australian Kaylee McKeown in the women's 100 backstroke semi-finals, with the American finishing 0.23 seconds ahead of her rival.
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