Kirui became Kenya’s fifth champion in the event after winning a testing duel in the sun with Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola, finishing in 2 hours 08min 27sec.

In so doing, the 2017 Boston marathon winner extended his country’s record as the most successful nation in the history of this event at the IAAF World Championships.

Tola, the Rio 10,000 metrs bronze medallist and fastest in the field thanks to the 2:04.11 he recorded in winning this year’s Dubai Marathon, required medical treatment after struggling home in 2:09:49, just two seconds ahead of Tanzania’s Alphonce Simbu, who clocked 2:09.:51.

Home runner Callum Hawkins, who had featured intermittently in the lead through the first half of the race, finished strongly for fourth place in a personal best of 2:10:17, hugely encouraged by the crowds who lined the 10 kilometres route which wound through the centre of the city.

Kenya’s Gideon Kipketer, who seemed set for bronze for much of the race, was fifth in 2:10:56.

The 28-year-old Chelimo - a Kenyan-born athlete who qualified to compete for Bahrain last August - finished in 2:27:11 after resisting what looked like a decisive break from her 37-year-old Kenyan rival Edna Kiplagat inside the final mile and regaining a lead she would not relinquish.

Kiplagat, who had been seeking what would have been an unprecedented third world marathon title after taking the gold medal in 2011 and 2013, ended the day grateful for silver after finishing just a stride ahead of the fast-finishing American runner Amy Cragg.

As the leaders vied for gold, Cragg had been engaged in a struggle for the bronze medal with a second Kenyan, Flomena Cheyech Daniel, eventually finding the energy to sprint clear as she reached the final stretch  before the finish line on Tower Bridge.

Indeed, Cragg, her face set with effort, all but caught the flagging Kiplagat, with both women clocking 2:27:18.

The 38-year old home runner Alyson Dixon from Sunderland had led by 32 seconds at the halfway point and, hugely cheered, held on until shortly before the 30km mark, eventually finishing 18th in 2:31:36.

"This is the best moment of my career, easily," said Kirui. 

"I am so happy to win the world title because it is my first time at these Championships. 

"This was the best course and the best crowd I have seen at a marathon.

"I was not expecting to be world champion. 

"I feared the Ethiopian because he had such a fast time, so I just followed my plan to 35k and then felt my body to see how I was doing. 

"Good for me it responded well.”

Simbu was also jubilant after earning what was only his country’s second world medal, with the other, a silver, also being won in the men’s marathon by Christopher Isengwe at Helsinki in 2005. 

"I am very, very happy," he said. 

"This was my focus. 

"I thank God because he protected me, gave me power and strength. 

"I think Tanzanians are over the moon now because this is a great day for us."

For Hawkins, it was a day of mixed emotions. "It was tough,” he said. 

After what was only her fourth marathon, Chelimo commented: "I was not expecting to win today.

"I tried my best and I managed to become the world champion.

"Edna Kiplagat is strong. 

"At 35km I pushed, after some time Edna came and I said to myself, 'Let her go', 

"I already accepted to be second. 

"But then I caught her, I was encouraged and thought, 'Maybe I can try'and I succeeded.”