Mark Williams and Zhao Xintong played out a compelling opening day of their World Snooker Championship final at the Crucible as the Chinese star built a healthy lead overnight of 11-6.
At 50 years of age, Williams is the oldest Crucible finalist in history as he tries to claim a fourth world title, 25 years after his first. Meanwhile, Zhao is 22 years his junior and the 28-year-old is the youngest World Championship finalist since 2011.
The younger man showed no sign of nerves in the opening session on Sunday afternoon as he played the more consistent snooker to build a 7-1 lead, with Williams unable to get out of the starting blocks.
The Welshman showed his trademark fight on Sunday evening and eventually won the session 5-4 to close the gap slightly at 11-6 but it’s the first-time finalist who remains in complete control heading into the final two sessions on Bank Holiday Monday.
Williams’s poor eyesight has caused him to claim he is playing “half-blind” while Zhao – who is somewhat of a controversial figure as he competes at this World Championship as an amateur after recently returning from a ban for being party to match-fixing in snooker.
Relive all the action from day one of the World Snooker Championship final between Mark Williams and Zhao Xintong below:
Snooker World Championship final - Mark Williams v Zhao Xintong live updates
- Mark Williams takes on Zhao Xintong in the World Championship final | Live on BBC Sport and TNT Sports
- Zhao builds big 7-1 lead in opening session, before Williams hits back to narrow the gap to 11-6 overnight
- Latest score: Mark Williams 6-11 Zhao Xintong (best of 35)
- Williams beat Judd Trump to become the oldest Crucible finalist in history
- Zhao is playing as an amateur after serving a ban following a match-fixing scandal
Mark Williams 6-11 Zhao Xintong
22:00 , Luke BakerMark Williams was clinging on throughout this session but did enough to give himself at least a fighting chance at 11-6 down.
He’ll still need to make history though as no one has ever overcome an overnight deficit of five or more frames in a World Championship final. If anyone can, though...
Mark Williams 6-11 Zhao Xintong - WILLIAMS WINS FRAME 17
21:47 , Luke BakerAnother chance for Williams and it’s a great pot to the right corner, clipped in! Moves 46-43 ahead and needs up to the blue on the colours.
Yellow to green is the key shot, goes round the back of the green, bounces off the cushion and leaves himself perfectly on it to the corner!
Applause greeting every shot, brown and blue are duly added and he’s got himself over the line.
Mark Williams wins frame 17 to close the gap to 11-6. He’s just about alive in this final.
Mark Williams 5-11 Zhao Xintong
21:43 , Luke BakerThis safety tussle on the final red is critical. Two points between the men and a huge frame in the context of the match.
After a few shots each, Williams tries a back double to left middle which just misses. On we go with the safety battle.
Williams finds himself behind the green and although he hits the red, he leaves Zhao a pot. NO! Misses by quite a way and the red is pottable for Williams to the middle. The chance is there for the Welshman!
NO! He misses as well. The red stays on the near jaw and bounces out
Mark Williams 5-11 Zhao Xintong
21:37 , Luke BakerPlays a red down the right cushion with the rest. Clean pot - really good! Remaining two reds are on the bottom cushion though and need removing.
Clips one off the black! Good shot and that’s pottable. It’s hard work but that’s good. Final red is tight to the bottom cushion though. The black puts Williams 45-43 ahead and he decides to play the snooker off the red.
Decent shot. Gets a snooker, although it’s easy to hit for Zhao
Mark Williams 5-11 Zhao Xintong
21:35 , Luke BakerNow then, now then. With the break on 29 and the lead at 43-15, Zhao plays the pink up to the yellow pocket but it stays out!
Murmurs and “come on Mark”s go round the Crucible. It’s now or never for Williams - he’s got to take this unexpected chance and close the gap to five frames overnight.
Already he’s leaving himself too straight on the blue and having to pull out impressive pots to keep the break going though.
Mark Williams 5-11 Zhao Xintong
21:31 , Luke BakerClose but no cigar for Williams with a long red to right corner. Strikes it well but it hits both jaws and stays out. Solid starter from Zhao and he could do some damage at this visit.
Mark Williams 5-11 Zhao Xintong
21:26 , Luke BakerWilliams still potting his way out of trouble as his cueball goes wandering on almost every shot. But he leaves himself no margin for error.
Tough pot to right corner rattles both jaws and stays out. Zhao makes a couple of pots but runs out of position himself. 14-14 now.
Mark Williams 5-11 Zhao Xintong
21:23 , Luke BakerWilliams in first and he pots a red and the white pulls up just short of the middle pocket. But he quickly misses a red and Zhao punishes him with a crunched pot to the right corner. Clean strike.
But he’s the wrong side of the blue, so can’t pot a red after that. Just six points for him as well - 6-6.
Mark Williams 5-11 Zhao Xintong
21:20 , Luke BakerThis is a huge, huge frame in this World Championship final. If it goes 12-5 overnight, it’s hard to see Zhao losing.
11-6 would see him in complete control but with Williams clinging on by his fingernails.
Time for the Welsh Potting Machine to dig deep
Mark Williams 5-11 Zhao Xintong - ZHAO WINS FRAME 16
21:18 , Luke BakerThis one is a gut punch for Mark Williams and his fans. Zhao knuckles down and takes care of business, potting the remaining five reds with colours to move 19 points behind with 27 left.
All the colours are on their spots and Zhao calmly clears the table. Ruthless.
Zhao Xintong pinches frame 16 with a total clearance of 71 to move 11-5 ahead.
Mark Williams 5-10 Zhao Xintong
21:14 , Luke BakerCueball control hasn’t been perfect from Williams - a lot of times he’s left himself the wrong side of the blue. Potting himself out of trouble so far though, with a lot of mid-rangers.
Eventually his luck runs out though. When on 63, he misses a cut ont he red to right corner. He’s 63 points ahead with 75 remaining and Zhao is in the balls here.
This would be a painful, painful steal if he pinches it.
Mark Williams 5-10 Zhao Xintong
21:11 , Luke BakerWilliams will need to go into the cluster of reds again at some point. Before that, he cherry-picks the loose ones and takes his break beyond 40.
He finds an extra red at the bottom o the pack which takes him on to 52 and that brings a couple more reds into play. Followed by a crunched blue into the top pocket. Still trucking along with this break. A few more pots to get to snookers required.
Mark Williams 5-10 Zhao Xintong
21:07 , Luke BakerWilliams opts to play aggressively to start frame 16 as he smashes open the reds early in the break. He’s leaving it all out there.
There’s been so few frames today that he’s won in one visit, I’m sure he’d love to finish this one cleanly. Good start to the break and makes a touch cut to the left corner on a red with the extension on his cue to keep rolling on 25.
Mark Williams 5-10 Zhao Xintong - ZHAO WINS FRAME 15
21:03 , Luke BakerZhao really is a scoring machine when he gets going. So good to watch in full, break-building flow.
He keeps Williams firmly in his seat and looks set to produce a total clearance and a third century of the match but inexplicably misses the pink. Still, another frame on the board
Zhao Xintong wins frame 15 to lead 10-5. Two frames left this evening.
Mark Williams 5-9 Zhao Xintong
21:00 , Luke BakerOn 23, Williams tries to pot a red past the black to the left corner but clips the black and misses it.
After a safety battle, Zhao gets his chance to respond and quickly wipes out Williams’s lead. Looks to build one of his own
Mark Williams 5-9 Zhao Xintong
20:52 , Luke BakerVintage Mark Williams to start frame 15! Floats in a long red to the left corner - he plays that slow pot better than anyone else in the history of the game.
Goes into the pack of reds on 16 but doesn’t get much luck - he’s only left with a tough long red to the green pocket. Not easy at all. And he gets it! Drifts to the left draw but just about drops.
Sigh of relief and the break continues on 17
Mark Williams 5-9 Zhao Xintong - WILLIAMS WINS FRAME 14
20:49 , Luke BakerWilliams having to work hard with a couple of shots but pulls out some decent pots to keep the break going. He goes beyond 20, then 30.
That keeps building and eventually reaches frame-ball, which he pots, leaving him 68 points ahead with 67 remaining. Cuts in a thin red with his next shot.
He’s not playing at his very best but he’s working hard, digging deep and grinding out the breaks and frames.
Mark Williams wins frame 14 to narrow the gap to 9-5
Mark Williams 4-9 Zhao Xintong
20:41 , Luke BakerZhao misses a long red and leaves Williams right in among the balls. “Come on Mark” are the cries from the crowd. This is a superb chance for the Welshman. Can he make the most of it?
Mark Williams 4-9 Zhao Xintong - ZHAO WINS FRAME 13
20:37 , Luke BakerCheers as Williams pulls out a superb long pot on a red to get himself back in. This time, the balls are just waiting for him to clean up the frame.
A mid-range red to the left corner ends up being frame-ball and it’s in the heart of the pocket. A good thin cut on the black to follow makes it even tougher for Zhao. He plays on for a little bit but the frame is soon sealed.
Mark Williams wins frame 13 and closes the gap to 9-4
Mark Williams 3-9 Zhao Xintong
20:30 , Luke BakerHe’s battling for position throughout this break and eventually that catches up with Williams. The break ends at 39 and the lead is 40-14.
Four reds left, so Williams is in control but Zhao far from out of this frame
Mark Williams 3-9 Zhao Xintong
20:29 , Luke BakerWilliams tries to nudge past a red to land on the black but is left without a pot on it. Goes for a risky green instead and punches it into the pocket! Incredible shot!
Keeps the break going on 32 but it was so gutsy. Miss and he would’ve left Zhao bang in. Big moment
Mark Williams 3-9 Zhao Xintong
20:26 , Luke BakerZhao misses a black off the spot when he’s on 14 and looks frustrated as he goes back to his seat. It leaves Williams bang in among the balls.
He quickly eradicates his opponent’s small and tries to build on of his own. A little cannon on the cluster of reds works out ok, freeing a few more to pot.
Mark Williams 3-9 Zhao Xintong
20:21 , Luke BakerThis is such a huge five frames for Williams. He has to win 3-2 at the barest of bare minimums and really, 4-1 should be the baseline. He’d trail 10-7 overnight if he were to do the latter.
Promisingly, the Welsh Potting Machine crunches a long red into the right corner with his first shot. Can’t land on a colour, so only a single point, but it was nice cueing.
WATCH: Zhao Xintong restores six-frame lead
20:15 , Luke BakerThat was a key frame before the interval for Zhao Xintong
Zhao Xintong re-establishes his six-frame lead over Mark Williams at the mid-session interval. 👏#WorldChampionship pic.twitter.com/leJUC1XRaj
— TNT Sports (@tntsports) May 4, 2025
Mark Williams 3-9 Zhao Xintong - ZHAO WINS FRAME 12
20:03 , Luke BakerIt’s Zhao who gets the next chance as well. After those first couple of frames, he’s settled down nicely.
He calmly stays around the pink and black spot, racking up the points and passes the snookers required stage.
He misses a black when on a break of 56, with a lead of 74 in the frame and Williams decides not to get ou of his chair to play on.
Zhao Xintong wins frame 12 and is back to six frames ahead at 9-3
Mark Williams 3-8 Zhao Xintong
19:55 , Luke BakerZhao makes 18 when he gets in first but then breaks down. This feels like a frame that could get tactical and it feels like a big one, just before the mid-session interval
Mark Williams 3-8 Zhao Xintong - ZHAO WINS FRAME 11
19:51 , Luke BakerA good response by Zhao as he wins the frame in quick-fire fashion. He’s so smooth around the table that the break passes beyond 50 in a matter of moments.
He gets to the snookers required stage, then there’s a chance of a century but falls short.
However, Zhao Xintong wins frame 11 and extends his lead to 8-3.
Mark Williams 3-7 Zhao Xintong
19:45 , Luke BakerAggressive split of the pack when Zhao is on 9 - attacking shot choice. But then he misses the pot to left corner! He leads 14-1 but he would’ve wanted more there.
Williams left a red which he pots and then a stunning black floated along the bottom cushion keeps him going. But then another red along the same cushion stays out. 14-9 to Zhao
Mark Williams 3-7 Zhao Xintong
19:43 , Luke BakerOooof! Williams punches in a long red to the left corner. Cracking pot!
But he’s left with a heinously tricky pot on the black to the right corner and he over-cuts it. Unlucky. Chance for Zhao to settle this evening though.
Mark Williams 3-7 Zhao Xintong - WILLIAMS WINS FRAME 10
19:41 , Luke BakerThis is more like it from Williams and he gets over the line to claim a second frame of the evening.
Mark Williams wins frame 10 and closes the gap to 7-3. Zhao still in control but Williams is clawing his way back into it.
Mark Williams 2-7 Zhao Xintong
19:38 , Luke BakerMistake from Zhao as he plays a safety but knocks the red into the black over the corner pocket and it drops in, giving Williams seven penalty points.
He then accidentally pots the blue off another safety shot that he just whacks in hope. Cracks showing?
Williams should be able to win the frame from here, needing just a few more pots
Mark Williams 2-7 Zhao Xintong
19:35 , Luke BakerIt wasn’t a pot but a brilliant shot by Williams to get out of a snooker behind the brown. He comes off four cushions and comes to rest on a cluster of three reds, which leaves it safe. Huge applause and cheers from the crowd.
And Williams earns himself a chance just two shots later when he pots a good red but leaves the black over the corner pocket trying to drop it in dead-weight. His lead is 38-8
Mark Williams 2-7 Zhao Xintong
19:29 , Luke BakerNo the easiest scoring chance and Williams adds 20, to lead 37-7, before playing safe. This frame is fully up for grabs still
Mark Williams 2-7 Zhao Xintong
19:26 , Luke BakerAnd the break quickly ends at just seven, as he misses a long red up to the top corner pocket. Williams leads 15-7 as he comes back to the table with a second chance to score
Mark Williams 2-7 Zhao Xintong
19:24 , Luke BakerWilliams in first again in frame 10, with a nice red followed by dropping a black dead-weight into the corner pocket, which is urged in by a raucous crowd.
But then a mistake. With the break of 15, he misses a pink to the far jaw of the left middle pocket and he he looks frustrated as he heads back to his seat. That’s a momentum-killer.
Zhao gets a chance, although the black is tied up so it’s hardly a gilt-edged one.
Mark Williams 2-7 Zhao Xintong - WILLIAMS WINS FRAME 9
19:20 , Luke BakerExactly the start Williams needed. Cued the ball nicely, let Zhao know he’s here to play and killed the frame off in one visit.
Misses a pink on 86, so no century but that doesn’t matter - the roar of the crowd tells you how important that was.
Mark Williams wins frame 9, the first of the evening session and closes the gap to 7-2. Big.
Mark Williams 1-7 Zhao Xintong
19:18 , Luke BakerAlready this is much better by Williams as he goes about his business and doesn’t make any mistakes during the break as a black takes his lead to 69 with just 67 points remaining, leaving Zhao needing snookers.
He then adds a nice pot ona red to left middle and that will stop Zhao coming back to the table at all. Can he make a century in addition to winning this first frame?
Mark Williams 1-7 Zhao Xintong
19:13 , Luke BakerA Crucible roar greets Williams crunching in the opening pot of the evening and the break quickly goes beyond 20.
At that point, he faces a key shot, trying to split the main cluster of reds after potting the blue to try and set up a frame-winning chance.
It’s ok. Slightly hampered but he has a red to the right corner and this is now a real opportunity to score heavily.
Mark Williams 1-7 Zhao Xintong
19:08 , Luke BakerThe players have been re-introduced for the evening sesh. Huge reception for Mark Williams as the crowd try to roar him back into this match.
Here we go. Big evening ahead
Mark Williams v Zhao Xintong ready to resume
19:05 , Luke BakerRight, it’s time to turn our attention back to this final. Zhao Xintong, while far from perfect, was ruthless enough in the opening session and built a 7-1 lead over Mark Williams.
The pressure will now be on the Welshman, who needs a strong second session to get himself back into this showpiece. Nine frames tonight and he needs at least six of them.
Snooker fans fuming as refunds denied after O’Sullivan game ends early
18:45 , Luke BakerSnooker fans have expressed outrage after being denied refunds for the cancelled fourth session of the World Championship semi-final.
Ronnie O’Sullivan’s anticipated clash with Zhao Xintong ended prematurely, with the Chinese player securing a dominant 17-7 victory.
The unexpected result left Saturday afternoon’s session at the Crucible devoid of competitive play.
Disappointed ticketholders, many expecting to witness seven-time world champion O’Sullivan in action, were informed that no refunds or exchanges would be offered.
The World Snooker Tour cited its box office terms and conditions as the reason for the decision.
Snooker fans fuming as refunds denied after O’Sullivan game ends early
Who is Zhao Xintong?
18:27 , Luke BakerThe 28-year-old is playing as an amateur in Sheffield, and before the start of the season hadn’t competed in a professional tournament since 2022.
But given he already with a Triple Crown title in his pocket, this isn’t any ordinary amateur snooker player.
Read more:
Who is Zhao Xintong? The Chinese ‘amateur’ in the World Championship final after ban
Late Welsh snooker legends will be watching over me in World Championship final, says Mark Williams
18:15 , Luke BakerMark Williams believes two legends of Welsh snooker will be watching over him as he takes on Zhao Xintong in the final of the 2025 World Snooker Championship.
The proud Welshman claiming the crown would end a poignant 12 months for snooker in Wales on a high after six-time world champion Ray Reardon died last July and 1979 winner Terry Griffiths passed away in December.
They were both icons of the sport and Williams is keen to honouring them by lifting the trophy, while he believes both may give him a helping hand.
Late Welsh snooker legends will be watching over me in World final, says Williams
Williams reveals remarkable history with Zhao
18:01 , Luke BakerAfter his semi-final win, Williams reflected on first coming across Zhao as a pre-teen in an exhibition event.
“I know he's an amateur [in this tournament], but we all know he's not an amateur,” said Williams. “I played him in an exhibition quite a few years ago. I think he was only about 12.
“There were about 500 people in there live, probably two or three million people watching on TV as it was in China. It was 1-1 in this exhibition and he went and knocked in breaks of 130 and 138 or so, and won 3-1, the little s***!
“And here we are 16 or 17 years later, I’m playing him in the world final, which is unbelievable.”
‘Half-blind’ Mark Williams makes World Snooker Championship history to set up intriguing final
17:30 , Luke BakerA full quarter of a century after winning the World Snooker Championship for the first time at the age of 25, a now 50-year-old Mark Williams will try to claim a fourth world title when he strides out at the Crucible Theatre on Sunday afternoon.
If the veteran Welshman always exudes an air of nonchalance, no matter how high the stakes, surely even he will have one or two butterflies fluttering as he begins a best-of-35 encounter with Zhao Xintong, when he will take his place as the oldest finalist in Crucible history.
He didn’t outwardly show any nerves as he brushed aside world No 1 Judd Trump 17-14 in a captivating semi-final, turning a match that was 8-8 overnight into a relatively comfortable triumph, but afterwards acknowledged that he was feeling the pressure when Trump began to hit back from 16-12.
Read Luke Baker’s full report from the Crucible semi-final:
‘Half-blind’ Mark Williams makes World Championship history to set up tasty final
Zhao Xintong establishes dominant lead
16:32 , Luke BakerIt was a dream first session for Zhao Xintong as he built a huge 7-1 lead over Mark Williams. There’s a long way to go in this race to 18 frames but the Chinese ‘amateur’ was too ruthless for the 50-year-old Welshman.
This evening’s second session is now massive. There are nine frames to be played and Williams needs to win it 6-3 you feel. That would see him trail 10-7 overnight, which is at least a recoverable deficit.
Zhao Xintong ends the opening session of the World Snooker Championship final with a commanding lead of 7-1 against Mark Williams! 👏#WorldChampionship pic.twitter.com/ikEEVqI2wd
— TNT Sports (@tntsports) May 4, 2025
Mark Williams 1-7 Zhao Xintong - ZHAO WINS FRAME 8
16:14 , Luke BakerZhao is just floating around the table now, looking so composed and absolutely in control.
There’s no century to finish as he misses a pot on 83 but he has dominated this opening session.
Zhao Xintong wins frame eight to lead 7-1 at the end of the opening session. This has been a snooker demonstration so far.
Mark Williams 1-6 Zhao Xintong
16:09 , Luke BakerWOW! What a shot by Zhao Xintong - all-out attack and he takes on a two-ball plant to right corner that sends reds everywhere but nails it and lands nicely on the blue.
Superb stuff by Zhao and creates a second opportunity in this frame. The break moves to 30, with the lead at 42 and he’s still plum in among the balls.
Mark Williams 1-6 Zhao Xintong - ZHAO WINS FRAME 7
15:59 , Luke BakerThis is getting very, very concerning for Mark Williams. Zhao ruthlessly takes his chance and a goes on to make a century with a total clearance.
Zhao Xintong wins frame 7 with a knock of 104 and now leads 6-1. Williams is bang up against it
Mark Williams 1-5 Zhao Xintong
15:53 , Luke BakerWhat has Zhao done there?! He misses a routine blue to the right middle when on 15 but, on the stretch, Williams then rattles the red out. He’s really not looking comfortable out there.
So Zhao is straight back in and splits the reds nicely early on during this second opportunity. He’s playing far from perfect snooker but being given so many opportunities by Williams
Mark Williams 1-5 Zhao Xintong
15:48 , Luke BakerA brief break in play as someone in the crowd isn’t feeling well but it’s all resolved quite quickly. Williams promptly misses a pot on a red though and leaves Zhao a simple pot to get himself going. What can he make here?
Mark Williams 1-5 Zhao Xintong - ZHAO WINS FRAME 6
15:43 , Luke BakerAnd he does exactly that. A comfortable clearance to the pink, a break of 34 and he’s across the line.
Zhao Xintong marches on and wins frame 6 to extend his lead to 5-1.
Mark Williams 1-4 Zhao Xintong - ZHAO WINS FRAME FIVE
15:28 , Luke BakerWilliams plays on for snookers but it’s a forlorn hope and quite quickly, Zhao makes the pot he needs to seal it.
Zhao Xintong wins frame five and re-establishes his three-frame advantage.
WATCH: Zhao Xintong wins dramatic third frame
14:50 , Luke BakerThe third frame felt like a key moment in this first mini-session, with a dramatic end
WHAT AN ENDING TO FRAME 3!!!
— WST (@WeAreWST) May 4, 2025
Dramatic stuff from Zhao Xintong and Mark Williams early in the final #HaloWorldChampionship pic.twitter.com/mIKIgE7tGc
Mark Williams 1-3 Zhao Xintong - WILLIAMS WINS FRAME 4
14:46 , Luke BakerNot particularly pretty but Williams finally makes enough to get past the snookers required stage, leading 51-28 with only 22 points left on.
Zhao plays on for snookers and lays a couple but Williams successfully escapes and finally gets over the line.
Mark Williams wins frame 4 to finally get on the board at 3-1 down at the mid-session interval
Mark Williams 0-3 Zhao Xintong - ZHAO STEALS FRAME 3 ON THE FINAL BLACK
14:23 , Luke BakerSo ti all comes down to the final black. Zhao has a think snick to the right corner AND GETS IT! What a steal!
Zhao Xintong pinches frame 3 on the black to take a 3-0 lead.
Mark Williams 0-2 Zhao Xintong
14:21 , Luke BakerSafety battle on the final green, which Williams eventually wins with a nice pot. Zhao now needs all four colours to pinch the frame, while Williams needs just the brown.
Zhao clips it in from long range and is left with a tricky cut on the blue to the yellow pocket. Great pot and comes all the way round the table to have a chance at the pink down the cushion to the green pocket... It’s there! Screws well down the table and back up for a black.
It’s still tough to the left corner but this would pinch the frame. NO!!! He rattles it out of the jaws. 44-40 to Williams as he returns to the table with a sigh of relief.
Mark Williams 0-2 Zhao Xintong - ZHAO WINS FRAME 2 WITH A CENTURY
13:49 , Luke BakerXintong really has settled well here. He looks in awesome form already. When given the chance, he cleanly takes out the second frame. Clears the ball with minimal fuss and when he pots the final black it’s a first century of the final, exactly 100 points.
Williams got in first but Zhao Xintong wins frame 2 to double his lead.
Mark Williams 0-1 Zhao Xintong - ZHAO WINS FRAME 1
13:31 , Luke BakerAnother few points for Zhao as Williams fouls a couple of times from a tough snooker, so the lead is 64-0. He’s edging closer to the finish line.
Then a fatal mistake from Williams as he fails to get the cueball back to baulk with a safety, leaving Zhao an easy red to get going again. And he soon clinches the frame with a few more pots before eventually clearing the table for a second 50+ break of the frame to get off to the perfect start
Zhao Xintong wins frame 1 of the 2025 final
Mark Williams 0-0 Zhao Xintong
13:24 , Luke BakerCompelling safety battle and Zhao currently keeping pace with Williams, in an area you’d think he’d be outgunned. If he can indeed match the Welshman tactically, he’ll be in a great spot.
The Chinese star then flukes a red to left middle as it flicks off the pink and goes in. Doesn’t land on a colour but rolls up behind the brown and leaves Williams in all sorts of trouble with reds spread if he makes an error.
Mark Williams 0-0 Zhao Xintong
13:14 , Luke BakerAnd we’re underway in the 2025 World Snooker Championship final. Zhao breaks off and leaves Williams a look at a long red to the right corner but it rattles in the jaws.
Nice simple starter for Zhao tot he green pocket and he’ll have the first scoring opportunity.
