Gold medalist Anton Chupkov of Russia checks on the results after the men's 200m breaststroke final at FINA World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, on July 26, 2019. Chupkov set a new record with 2 minutes 6.12 seconds. (Xinhua/Wang Jingqiang)

GWANGJU, South Korea, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Russian swimmer Anton Chupkov set a new world record of two minutes and 6.12 seconds in the men's 200m breaststroke final at the 18th FINA World Championships here on Friday.

Chupkov beat the previous record of 2:06.67 set in 2017 by Ippei Watanabe of Japan, edging Matthew Wilson of Australia who led the semifinals with a time of 2:06.67 equaling the previous record.

Wilson touched home in 2:06.68 to take the silver, and Watanabe timed in 2:06.73 to pocket the bronze.