Anton Chupkov (RUS) and Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) are the provisional leaders of the 2018 FINA Swimming World Cup ranking, with respectively 90 and 120 points, and winners of the first cluster of the competition. They are the first recipients of the US$ 50,000 prize money given to the best in each cluster. The second leg of the series was held in Doha (QAT) from September 13-15 and was highlighted by the establishment of five new World Cup records. 

Sarah Sjostrom, 2017 champion among women, was in great shape in Doha, winning five races - 50m, 100m and 200m free, and the 50m and 100m fly. In the butterfly races, she set two new best marks of the competition, with a 25.22 finish in the 50m and a 56.46 effort in the 100m. 

Still among women, the most prolific swimmer of the competition was Hungary's Katinka Hosszu, with an impressive 12-medal harvest, including seven gold. The Magyar great triumphed in the 400m and 800m free, 100m and 200m back, 200m fly, and 200m and 400m IM! Hosszu, winner of the Series between 2012 and 2016, is the second best of the ranking so far, with 90 points.

Yulia Efimova, from Russia, was also in great shape, collecting four medals. Her most notable results were the victory in all breaststroke events (50m, 100m and 200m). 

In the men's field, two swimmers made the treble in Doha: Mitch Larkin, from Australia, won the 100m and 200m back, plus the 200m IM, while Blake Pieroni (USA) was the best in the 100m (new WCup record in 48.11), 200m and 400m free. 

The remaining male swimmers with at least two gold medals in individual events were Michael Andrew, from the USA (victories in the 50m back and 100m fly), and Brazil's Felipe Lima (first in the 50m and 100m breast). 

Anton Chupkov, the Russian revelation and leader so far in the men's ranking, triumphed in the 200m breast, where he got the best male performance of the meet, with his 2:08.77 effort (951 points).

The 2017 winner, South Africa's Chad Le Clos, was not in the best conditions in Doha (had fever), while last year's runner-up, Russia's Vladimir Morozov "only" won the 50m free. 

Other countries with gold medallists in the Qatari capital were Spain, Ukraine (WCup record for Andrii Govorov in the men's 50m fly), Azerbaijan and Netherlands. 

The second cluster of the 2018 FINA Swimming World Cup will include the third and fourth leg of the competition (both in 25m-pool), respectively in Eindhoven (NED, September 28-30) and Budapest (HUN, October 4-6). 

Winners in Doha (QAT):

50m free: Men – Vladimir Morozov (RUS) 21.80; Women – Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) 23.99
100m free: Men – Blake Pieroni (USA) 48.11 (WCR); Women – Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) 53.13
200m free: Men – Blake Pieroni (USA) 1:47.20; Women – Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) 1:56.32
400m free: Men – Blake Pieroni (USA) 3:53.98; Women – Katinka Hosszu (HUN) 4:10.02
800m free: Women – Katinka Hosszu (HUN) 8:34.58
1500m free: Men – Marcos Gil Corbacho (ESP) 15:28.19
50m back: Men – Michael Andrew (USA) 24.49; Women – Kira Toussaint (NED) 28.01
100m back: Men – Mitch Larkin (AUS) 53.68; Women – Katinka Hosszu (HUN) 59.63
200m back: Men – Mitch Larkin (AUS) 1:57.45; Women – Katinka Hosszu (HUN) 2:11.00
50m breast: Men – Felipe Lima (BRA) 26.84; Women – Yulia Efimova (RUS) 30.43
100m breast: Men – Felipe Lima (BRA) 59.61; Women – Yulia Efimova (RUS) 1:06.27
200m breast: Men – Anton Chupkov (RUS) 2:08.77; Women – Yulia Efimova (RUS) 2:23.55
50m fly: Men – Andrii Govorov (UKR) 22.82 (WCR); Women – Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) 25.22 (WCR)
100m fly: Men – Michael Andrew (USA) 51.83; Women – Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) 56.46 (WCR)
200m fly: Men – Maksym Shemberev (AZE) 1:58.45; Women – Katinka Hosszu (HUN) 2:09.26
200m IM: Men – Mitch Larkin (AUS) 1:59.14; Women – Katinka Hosszu (HUN) 2:11.57
400m IM: Men – David Verraszto (HUN) 4:13.44 (WCR); Women – Katinka Hosszu (HUN) 4:39.5

4x100m free mixed: Netherlands 3:30.81
4x100m medley mixed: Netherlands 3:49.18

WCR - World Cup Record

Best performers in Doha:

MEN

1. Anton Chupkov (RUS), 200m breast, 2:08.77, 951 pts
2. Andrii Govorov (UKR), 50m fly, 22.82, 949 pts
3. Michael Andrew (USA), 50m back, 24.49, 945 pts

WOMEN

1. Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 50m free, 23.99, 960 pts
2. Katinka Hosszu (HUN), 100m back, 59.63, 924 pts
3. Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED), 100m free, 53.29, 913 pts

Top-8 rankings, and prize money distribution after Cluster 1 (Kazan + Doha):

MEN

1. Anton Chupkov (RUS) 90 pts - US$ 50,000
2. Michael Andrew (USA) 87 - US$ 35,000
3. Vladimir Morozov (RUS) 84 - US$ 30,000
4. Mitch Larkin (AUS) 72 - US$ 20,000
5. Blake Pieroni (USA) 57 - US$ 10,000
6. David Verraszto (HUN) 54 - US$ 5,000
7. Andrii Govorov (UKR) 48 - US$ 4,000
8. Felipe Lima (BRA) 45 - US$ 3,000

WOMEN

1. Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) 120 pts - US$ 50,000
2. Katinka Hosszu (HUN) 90 - US$ 35,000
3. Yulia Efimova (RUS) 78 - US$ 30,000
4. Kira Toussaint (NED) 66 - US$ 20,000
5. Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED) 63 - US$ 10,000
6. Femke Heemskerk (NED) 51 - US$ 5,000
7. Vitalina Simonova (RUS) 48 - US$ 4,000
8. Zsuzsanna Jakabos (HUN) 45 - US$ 3,000

Complete calendar of the 2018 FINA Swimming World Cup:

Cluster 1 (50m-pool)

1.    Kazan (RUS) – September 7-9
2.    Doha (QAT) – September 13-15 

Cluster 2 (25m-pool)

3.    Eindhoven (NED) – September 28-30
4.    Budapest (HUN) – October 4-6

Cluster 3 (25m-pool)

5.    Beijing (CHN) – November 2-4
6.    Tokyo (JPN) – November 9-11
7.    Singapore (SGP) – November 15-17