Simpson dream over
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Eventually dropping back into fifth place she finished in a time of 2.00.57, just over a second behind the race winner Yuliya Krevsun.
“I think I ran well tactically and put myself in a good position but I just wasn't strong enough,” said Simpson.
“It was a true run race; it could have played into anyone's hands – I’m just disappointed not to make the final.
“This year I've practically run the best ever but I think I got the hardest heat – I now know I need to keep improving.
“I don’t think it would have made a difference whether I had gone with the leaders early on or not.
“I’m disappointed because I’ve been in good form this season but as the final 100m showed – the other athletes came back and the same thing would have happened to me.
“It was always going to be tough against so many top athletes but sometimes it comes down luck I suppose and I didn't get lucky here.
“The false start situation was a first for me but I don't think it played a part. You've got to deal with these things. It's a bit frustrating.
“I was expecting to reach the final and I'm in shape to do that but I don't know what went wrong. I’ve been running really well this season.
“I'll go back and discuss this with my coach and try to learn from this whole experience so I can come back stronger.”
24 hours earlier the former Mount Charles school pupil Simpson had booked her place in the semi-final, despite her shoelace coming off half way through the race.
Simpson, who won last month's trials in Birmingham ahead of rivals Jenny Meadows and Marilyn Okoro, revealed: "My shoe came loose at 400m but thankfully stayed on.
"It's my fault for not tying my laces properly. But I felt good, and it was just a case of being strong and qualifying."
There was better success for Simpson’s rivals in the semi’s, with both Meadows and Okoro both booking their places in the final of the competition.
Meadows produced a storming finish to run down reigning champion Janeth Jepkosgei in the final few yards and claim second spot in her semi-final in Berlin, while Okoro finished in 2:01.01 to join Meadows in Wednesday's final.
The 800m world final starts at 8.35pm (BST) tonight.
