Usain Bolt shattered his own world record with another sensational performance to win the 100 metres at the World Championships in Berlin.

The triple Olympic champion stormed to victory in Berlin's Olympic Stadium in 9.58 seconds, comfortably beating the mark of 9.69secs he set in Beijing last year.

Defending champion Tyson Gay set an American record of 9.71 to claim the silver with former world record holder Asafa Powell third in 9.84.

Britain's Dwain Chambers was sixth in 10.00, a season's best for the 31-year-old.

The race had bee much-hyped but the Jamaican superstar duly delivered, powering out of the blocks at the first time of asking in the final and seizing control of the race within 30m.

From there it was only a matter of the time and the large crowd exploded as Bolt streaked across the line to create another piece of sporting history.

Bolt's coach Glen Mills had predicted after the Olympics that his protege could run 9.54 and was so nearly proved spot on.

Unlike Beijing, this time Bolt's shoelaces remained tied and there was no celebrating with arms outstretched metres from the line.

Instead, the 22-year-old had to content himself with a couple of glances from side to side as he approached the line, before staring intently at the clock as he waited for the time to register.

"I was feeling good after the semis. I knew it was going to be a great race and I executed it," Bolt said. "It's a great time, a great feeling, I feel good in myself and I knew I could do it.

"There was a big build up, great atmosphere. It wasn't going to be an easy race but I had a perfect start and just went from there.

"I came out here to do my best and I did what I had to do. There'll be no partying for me ahead of Tuesday. I'll rest up as always, I need to rest up for the 200m."

Gay, who ran the third fastest time ever and was still comfortably beaten, said: "I ran the best I could. I just wanted to give my best tonight, it wasn't enough but I'm happy to have the national record.

"I knew I had to put out a championship performance. I gave it my best and that's all I could do."

Powell, who has been struggling with an ankle injury this season, added: "I was relaxed before the race. A lot of things have happened this year but to come back and get third place, I'm very happy.

"When I saw the time, I knew I had to go out and catch him. But even after the finish I couldn't catch him."

Chambers was happy to have made the final.

"It doesn't get any easier when you get older but it's all worth it. Competing against the rest of the world is great," he added.

"I am going to recuperate, have fun with the rest of the team and get ready for the 200m and have fun."

Earlier in the day, Chambers' fellow Briton Tyrone Edgar had crashed out in the semi-finals, a false start seeing him disqualified.

He said: "I'm disappointed right now because I feel I could have been in the final. I've trained all year, not to come here and be disqualified when I didn't think I really did (do a false start).

"I got a brilliant start. I was ready to roll today and that's the bottom line."

USAIN BOLT FACTFILE

1986: Born August 21 in Trelawny, Jamaica.

2002: At the age of 15 Bolt wins gold in the 200m and silver in both the 4x100m and 4x400m relays at the 2002 World Junior Championships in Kingston.

2003: Wins gold in the 200m at World Youth Championships in Sherbrooke.

2004: Becomes first junior to break the 20-second mark in the 200m, clocking 19.93 seconds.

2005: Claims gold medal in the 200m at the Central American and Caribbean Championships with a time of 20.03secs.

2007: Wins 200m silver at World Championships in Osaka, and also wins silver as a member of the 4x100m relay.

2008: May 3 - Posts the second-fastest 100m time in history at the Jamaica Invitational, clocking 9.76secs.

May 31 - Breaks the world record in the 100m at the Reebok Grand Prix, posting a time of 9.72secs in only his fifth race over the distance.

July 13 - Beats his personal best in the 200m, finishing in 19.67 seconds in Athens to register the fastest time over the distance in 2008 and the fifth-fastest 200m time ever.

August 16 - Wins 100m gold at the Beijing Olympics, lowering his previous world record to 9.69secs.

August 20 - Completes Olympic sprint double, winning the 200m in a new world record time of 19.30secs.

August 22 - Runs third leg as Jamaica score Olympic 4x100m relay victory in world record time of 37.10secs.

November 23 - Voted IAAF World Male Athlete of the Year.

2009: April 29 - Escapes serious injury when his BMW M3 car skids off road outside of Kingston and overturns. Requires minor foot surgery.

May 17 - Wins Manchester Great City Games 150m in world best time of 14.35secs. Covered first 100m in 9.91sec and last 100m with flying start in 8.70secs.

June 10 - Wins 2009 Laureus World Sportsman of the Year.

August 16 - Wins gold medal in 100m at World Championships in Berlin, with new world record time of 9.58 seconds.