Chris Walker-Hebborn, Liam Tancock ease into 100m backstroke semi-finals

Great Britain's Chris Walker-Hebborn and Liam Tancock have made strong starts to day two of the World Championships in Kazan by easing into the semi-finals of the men's 100m backstroke.

Walker-Hebborn, who won three gold medals at the European Championships last year, made a steady start to heat five and was just on the shoulder of the top three after the 50m turn.

In the home stretch, the 25-year-old, whose season's best is 52.08 seconds, soared to the front of the field to touch the wall first in a time of 53.64s.

In the following heat, 50m world-record holder Tancock impressed in the final 50m to finish third in 53.35s, which placed him fourth overall in the qualifying standings.

Walker-Hebborn claimed seventh spot.