Zhao Xintong completed a remarkable victory over Mark Williams in their World Snooker Championship final at the Crucible, as he impressively triumphed 18-12 to become China’s first world champion.
The Chinese star had built a healthy 11-6 lead overnight and extended that on Monday afternoon as he punished Williams’s mistakes to win six of the eight frames on offer and head into the final session 17-8 ahead, with 18 the target for victory. Williams gamely fought back to take the first four frames and force a mid-session interval but but Zhao got over the line to make history.
At 50 years of age, Williams was the oldest Crucible finalist in history as he tried to claim a fourth world title, 25 years after his first. Meanwhile, Zhao is 22 years his junior and the 28-year-old was the youngest World Championship finalist since 2011, as well as now first Chinese world champion.
Zhao is somewhat of a controversial figure as he competed at this World Championship as an amateur after recently returning from a ban for being party to match-fixing in snooker but his place in the history books is now secure.
Relive all the action from the second day of the World Snooker Championship final between Mark Williams and Zhao Xintong below:
Snooker World Championship final - Mark Williams v Zhao Xintong live updates
- Zhao Xintong beats Mark Williams 18-12 to become the first Chinese world champion
- REPORT: Zhao Xintong becomes the most complicated world champion in snooker history
- Zhao led 11-6 overnight and extended that to 17-8 on Monday afternoon, before sealing the win despite a mini Williams fightback
- Final score: Mark Williams 12-18 Zhao Xintong (best of 35)
- Williams, 50, is the oldest Crucible finalist in history while Zhao is playing as an amateur after a ban for match-fixing
Zhao Xintong becomes the most complicated world champion in snooker history
21:36 , Luke BakerThe long-overdue moment that a first Chinese winner of the World Snooker Championship finally arrived was supposed to be one of unalloyed joy. Yet now it’s here, there is an air of hesitancy around the celebrations – entirely because the man in question is Zhao Xintong.
Snooker is already a huge deal in China, with a market of 1.4bn people dwarfing the traditional hotbeds of this still quaintly British sport, but having their own world champion has always been touted as the occurrence that would send it stratospheric.
It is Zhao who takes that coveted mantle. The 28-year-old from Xi’an cut a swathe through qualifying and the main stage of the World Championship to triumph in spectacular style. Perhaps he was never truly tested in the championship or perhaps he simply overwhelmed his opponents with his consistency.
Either way, China finally has its first world champion. So far, so fairytale. Except Zhao immediately becomes the most complicated world champion in snooker history.
Read Luke Baker’s full report from the Crucible:
Zhao Xintong becomes the most complicated world champion in snooker history
Zhao Xintong speaks to the media
21:34 , Luke BakerZhao Xintong has given his thoughts to the world’s media in his winner’s press conference.
“Unbelievable, it’s still unbelievable,” he said. “I was nervous, there was big pressure, I know I can’t miss. If I miss, he will come back. It took a lot of concentration and I had to be careful.
“That moment at the end was perfect. When I shook hands with Mark, I was nearly crying.
“It’s very good for China, I’m very happy to do this for them.
“I don’t how I play so well here. It’s the Crucible but now I’m the champion.
“I believed I could come back from my ban and do well soon. but I can’t believe I’m the world champion in such a short time. I’m so proud of myself. I’m back now. I’m so happy to be back and I will keep going.”
Mark Williams is in for his press conference
21:05 , Luke BakerMark Williams is in for his press conference as he speaks with the world’s media.
Some very kind words for Zhao.
“Zhao winning it could be huge for the sport,” said Williams. “It could end up opening floodgates everywhere.
“I’ve got nothing but admiration for him - to do what he’s done. He’s been out for two years, bashed everyone up in qualifying and come here and bashed everyone up in main tournament. It’s an unbelievable achievement.
“There’s not enough good words to say about him. Everyone has got to get behind him and just watch him.
“He could dominate or at least give Trump and Kyren a go. Snooker needed someone like him to come through, like what happened with Luke Littler in darts. His style is so effortless and his cue power.”
Zhao Xintong is world champion
20:56 , Luke BakerRemarkable scenes at the Crucible after Zhao Xintong’s victory
Zhao Xintong is world champion
20:39 , Luke Baker“There’s a new superstar of the game and he’s over there”.
Lovely words from Mark Williams, who salutes his opponent Zhao Xintong.
Zhao draped in the Chinese flag handed to him by the crowd.
Mark Williams 12-18 Zhao Xintong - ZHAO IS WORLD CHAMPION
20:36 , Luke BakerAND HE’S DONE IT! ZHAO XINTONG IS THE FIRST-EVER CHINESE WORLD CHAMPION.
It’s remarkable from Zhao and he gets over the line, beating Mark Williams 18-12 in the final.
He deserved this win - he’s been absolutely sublime in this final and throughout the tournament
Mark Williams 12-17 Zhao Xintong
20:34 , Luke BakerZhao with a golden chance to wrap this up. Nice cannon early in the break separates two reds. He clears the black spot and the lead climbs beyond 40 points.
A few more pots required to get over the line. He’s edging ever closer. The break is at 40, one more red and then he pots the black! Snooker required for Williams. This should be it now.
Mark Williams 12-17 Zhao Xintong
20:31 , Luke BakerZhao doesn’t look as comfortable as before here and the break ends at 23 when he misses a red to the top right corner. He hangs his head as he walks back to his chair.
Can Williams punish him? No! Scores 8 and then misses a red to the left corner with the rest. Reprieve for Zhao and another opportunity.
Mark Williams 12-17 Zhao Xintong
20:28 , Luke BakerIs that the mistake from Williams? He goes for a long red to right corner, it bounces out and Zhao is left plum on a red to the right corner.
Chance for the Chinese cueman here, if not to win it, then to make a substantial contribution. Black slightly tied up and pink only available to one corner but it’s an oportunity.
Mark Williams 12-17 Zhao Xintong
20:24 , Luke BakerOk, here we go. Mid-session interval over. Can Mark Williams continue his unlikely fightback or will Zhao Xintong finally wrap it up? We’re about to find out.
WATCH: Mark Williams lands remarkable fluke
20:08 , Luke BakerThe luck has turned in this match. Exhibit 1:
The luck is on Mark Williams' side now... 👀#WorldChampionship pic.twitter.com/koxtcuLrjV
— TNT Sports (@tntsports) May 5, 2025
Mark Williams 12-17 Zhao Xintong - WILLIAMS WINS FRAME 29
20:07 , Luke BakerA penny for Zhao Xintong’s thoughts right now...
Williams is playing exhibition stuff. He smashes a remarkable double to the right middle just after reaching the snookers required stage to ensure Zhao stays in his seat. The Chinese cueman has a wry smile on his face.
Mark Williams wins frame 29 and he’s won all four frames before the mid-session interval... He’s still got such a long way to come back but the seeds are being planted
Mark Williams 11-17 Zhao Xintong
20:04 , Luke BakerEverything is finding the heart of the pocket for Williams at the moment. And every little nudge of the ball is going his way. He looks to have snookered himself on a red and but squeezes past the pink just enough, by a mere millimetre, to pot it to the left corner.
It really does feel like the rub of the green in this match is turning and the crowd are roaring in every Williams pot.
Williams reaches 56 and faces a tricky green to right middle but it’s there. He’s only a couple of pots away from getting over the line.
Mark Williams 11-17 Zhao Xintong
20:01 , Luke BakerThin cut on a red with the break on 25 finds the right corner but Williams is left with a slightly dodgy blue to the corner. Good pot - cueball was so close to the object ball but he avoided the push shot.
White isn’t exactly on a string here but Williams is looking more and more confident with every pot. The red wipes it feet on 37 but drops in! He’s still going, here
Mark Williams 11-17 Zhao Xintong
19:57 , Luke BakerHuge roars from the crowd and a smirk from Williams as an outrageous fluke on a red gets him in among the balls. He misses the pot to right corner, the red flies along the bottom cushion, cannons another red that rattles the jaws of the left corner and stays out but the original red follows it and does go in the left corner pocket. Wild!
The blue is available to follow and Williams sets to work trying to build a substantial lead.
Mark Williams 11-17 Zhao Xintong - WILLIAMS WINS FRAME 28
19:50 , Luke BakerWilliams passes 50 and the winning line in this frame starts to come into sight. A few more pots still needed though.
He plays a little cannon on the cluster of reds when he’s on 52 and pokes home a red despite hampered cueing over another couple.
He then frees a couple more reds and there’s a century within sight for the Welsh Potting Machine. Ultimately falls short as he misses a pot on the stretch when on 96 but it’s a third straight frame.
Mark Williams wins frame 28 and now he’s just 17-11 behind. One more frame before a mid-session interval. Is Zhao Xintong getting just a shade worried...?
Mark Williams 10-17 Zhao Xintong
19:45 , Luke BakerZhao in first but a bit unlucky with position and misses a tough, thin cut on a red to left corner on just 6.
That allows Williams in and the black is quickly freed up. This is a decent scoring chance for the Welshman and he calmly starts to build a lead, picking off reds with colours to take his break beyond 30 and counting.
Mark Williams 10-17 Zhao Xintong - WILLIAMS WINS FRAME 27
19:37 , Luke BakerGutsy stuff from Williams. He grinds out another frame as a blue to the corner moves him to the snookers required stage.
Zhao doesn’t bother getting out of his seat and it’s a second frame on the spin.
Mark Williams wins frame 27 and closes to 17-10. Two more frames before the mid-session interval.
Mark Williams 9-17 Zhao Xintong
19:34 , Luke BakerRemarkable shot from Zhao as he connects with two reds simultaneously and sends one into the right corner but rattles the tricky green to follow int he jaws.
That means Williams is back in with a fairly simple red and pots a mid-range blue to the right corner to follow. He cleans up a couple of loose reds to move 49-1 ahead. Chance to seal the frame here with this visit.
Mark Williams 9-17 Zhao Xintong
19:31 , Luke BakerWilliams comes round off three cushions after potting the blue and smashes into the pack of reds. It looks like he’s on nothing initially but with hampered cueing, he can roll in a red to right corner.
Break still going strong as he passes 30 but a little cannon into the pack on 37 leaves him without a pot. Break ends - a solid 37-0 lead.
Mark Williams 9-17 Zhao Xintong
19:26 , Luke BakerAnother lovely long pot from Williams as a red is crunched into the right corner and there’s a blue to follow - he’s in again...
Won the last frame in one visit, can he do so once more?
Mark Williams 9-17 Zhao Xintong - WILLIAMS WINS FRAME 26
19:24 , Luke BakerRemarkably, Williams goes on to clear the table for his first century of the match - a sublime 101.
Mark Williams wins frame 26 to keep the match going at 17-9.
Mark Williams 8-17 Zhao Xintong
19:22 , Luke BakerWilliams gets in and actually looks pretty tidy around the table. The break passes 30, 40 and then gets up to 60. He pots the blue before the final red to move 36 points ahead with 35 remaining.
He’s going to win this opening frame - good on him,
Mark Williams 8-17 Zhao Xintong
19:14 , Luke BakerZhao makes 30 and then sees a red to the right corner drift to the far jaw, so the break ends. He’ll wait for another opportunity
Mark Williams 8-17 Zhao Xintong
19:12 , Luke BakerZhao strokes in a beautiful long red to the right corner and cuts in a black to follow.
This is a chance for the Chinese cueman. Will he finish the job at the first time of asking
Mark Williams 8-17 Zhao Xintong
19:11 , Luke BakerHuge ovation for both players as they come out to the arena. This could be a very quick session - or not, you never know...
Zhao Xintong just needs one more frame
18:57 , Luke BakerIt’s only one frame required for Zhao Xintong to become China’s first snooker world champion.
He dominated this afternoon’s session and the job is all but done.
Zhao Xintong is just one frame away from becoming a World Champion 👀#WorldChampionship pic.twitter.com/PByO4PZOfA
— TNT Sports (@tntsports) May 5, 2025
Zhao Xintong 17-8 Mark Williams
18:44 , Luke BakerCan Mark Williams put up any sort of fight tonight or will Zhao Xintong get the job done quickly? It feel like a forlorn hope for the Welsh Potting Machine
World Snooker Championship prize money
18:25 , Flo CliffordA reminder of what’s on the line...
The winner will receive £500,000 and there is a total prize fund of £2,395,000.
Winner: £500,000
Runner-up: £200,000
Semi-finalists: £100,000
Quarter-finalists: £50,000
Last 16: £30,000
Last 32: £20,000
Last 48: £15,000
Last 80: £10,000
Last 112: £5,000
History in the making
18:11 , Flo CliffordZhao Xintong is set to become the first-ever Asian player to win the world title, and only the third qualifier to win it since the World Championship moved to its iconic home at the Crucible.
He made 12 centuries in qualifying and has continued to motor through the competition to make a first final, four years on from winning the UK Championship title.
Match-fixing scandal casts shadow over World Championship
17:50 , Flo CliffordThe high-profile saga engulfed snooker in early 2023 as 10 Chinese players were charged with varying degrees of match-fixing, and ultimately Liang Wenbo and Li Hang were banned from the sport for life. Former world No 11 Liang’s behaviour was identified as “particularly disgraceful” by the WPBSA disciplinary commission that carried out the hearing.
The two biggest names caught up in the scandal were 2021 Masters champion Yan Bingtao, who is currently serving a five-year ban until December 2027, and Zhao, who was ranked ninth in the world when his suspension began, having added the 2022 German Masters title to his shock UK Championship crown.
It is worth repeating that Zhao did not personally fix any matches – hence his punishment being on the more lenient end of the scale – but he was found guilty of being party to another player fixing two matches and betting on snooker matches himself. He saw a 30-month suspension reduced to 20 months following early admissions and his guilty plea but there are those within the sport who wanted to see harsher punishments for every single player caught up in the mess.
Who is Zhao Xintong? The Chinese ‘amateur’ on the brink of World Championship glory after ban
17:35 , Flo CliffordThe 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 has a Triple Crown title in his pocket, this isn’t any ordinary amateur snooker player.
For Zhao’s story over the last few years is complex. After brilliantly winning the UK Championship back in 2021 to properly announce his arrival, the left-hander has spent the past two years banned from snooker for his role in the match-fixing scandal that engulfed a number of the sport’s biggest Chinese players.
Who is Zhao Xintong? The Chinese ‘amateur’ on the brink of snooker glory after ban
Tonight's session
17:20 , Flo CliffordThe final session of this year’s World Snooker Championship could go to ten frames, but Zhao Xintong needs just one to cement his place in the history books.
The 28-year-old leads 17-8.
Three-time champion Mark Williams needs the comeback of his life to pull off a fourth title.
'Probably the best potter I have ever seen' - Mark Williams
16:47 , Flo CliffordMark Williams has taken to social media to while away the hours before this evening’s session, writing (edited for typos): “Oh well, that was tough, I've not got enough cue power to combat tough conditions like Zhao. His cue power is superb. Probably the best potter I have ever seen.
"Last session in a few hours. Support I have had this last two weeks has been amazing from the crowd and everyone,” followed by three clapping emojis.
A match too far for Mark Williams?
15:53 , Flo Clifford“It's taken too much out of Mark Williams for him to get to the final, you can see it's a match too far,” says former champion John Parrott on BBC Two.
It does certainly look that way, with some routine misses in this afternoon’s session doing him no good at all.
Zhao one frame away from world title
15:49 , Flo CliffordAt the close of this afternoon’s session Zhao Xintong leads 17-8 and is just one frame away from becoming the first Asian player to win the World Snooker Championship.
The 28-year-old has looked utterly nerveless throughout the tournament so far, but can he maintain that, with history on the line this evening?
Play resumes at 7pm BST.
Mark Williams 8-17 Zhao Xintong
15:43 , Flo CliffordNerves of steel. Zhao knocks in the brown and with it, takes the frame. He leaves the pink in the jaw of the bottom pocket, but it doesn’t matter. One frame away from a first world title.
Mark Williams 8-16 Zhao Xintong
15:41 , Flo CliffordA delightful pot by Williams, firing the red into left-middle from a tight angle, and just narrowly missing the pink off its spot.
Impressive stuff from the Welshman - but then he misses a red to the bottom right pocket, leaving it on the lip, with the frame evenly poised at 37-36, and it feels like he’s lost his chance to take this last frame of this session.
Mark Williams 8-16 Zhao Xintong
15:37 , Flo CliffordThe quality looks to have dropped off a little in this final as Zhao misses a yellow and both miss reds. Williams gives a rueful shake of the head as the white cannons off red into the blue, leaving it not so obvious where his next red is.
He makes do for a bit but then attempts a long-range red to blue bag; “oohs” from the crowd as the black is just awkwardly positioned enough to make it a tough pot, and it glances off the cushion. Zhao leads by 21 in this frame.
Mark Williams 8-16 Zhao Xintong
15:31 , Flo CliffordZhao aims to tuck the white behind the yellow again but it drifts wide, and that’s a missed chance.
But Williams fouls again, aiming to just clip a red but getting nowhere near, and - just his luck - Zhao rifles in a long-range red, and the Chinese player is back on top.
Mark Williams 8-16 Zhao Xintong
15:20 , Flo CliffordAn incredibly relaxed Zhao plays a delightful shot on a red to far pocket, knocking the white against the jaw to leave it above the black.
He finishes with a one-handed trick shot on the pink to right pocket; it doesn’t pay off, but the frame is secured nevertheless, and the crowd liked that too. Zhao needs two more frames to become world champion.
Mark Williams 8-15 Zhao Xintong
15:06 , Flo CliffordWilliams goes for a bit of showboating on the blue to right centre and it clatters off the jaw, but no matter, it’s a break of 66 and he’s still in this match. The evening ticket holders can breathe a sigh of relief.
Mark Williams 7-15 Zhao Xintong
15:03 , Flo CliffordWilliams secures the frame, 47 ahead with 43 remaining, and we will indeed be going into the final session tonight.
Mark Williams 7-15 Zhao Xintong
14:53 , Flo CliffordIt just has not been Mark Williams’ day. He misses an opening long-range red and leaves the cue ball in prime range for Zhao - but he can’t knock it into the yellow bag!
Shouts of “Come on Mark,” now he sinks a red and the Crucible erupts into applause. The crowd want this to go to the evening session; there’s a risk it won’t.
A long-range blue to the yellow pocket is greeted with similar enthusiasm.
Mark Williams 7-15 Zhao Xintong
14:49 , Flo CliffordAnother brilliant fluke by Zhao as he aims the blue to left-centre, and it rattles across to the opposite pocket.
Williams catches a red too thick and leaves Zhao perfectly positioned on a loose red to the top pocket. He moves smoothly through the colours, cleans up the table, and Williams has a real mountain to climb.
Mark Williams 7-14 Zhao Xintong
14:38 , Flo CliffordIt’s not the best break-off by Williams and Zhao takes advantage immediately with a sharp long pot on the opening red. It leaves him in an awkward position for the green, though - but he flukes it into right middle, flicking the white on its way! Amazing.
A characteristically assured start by the former UK champion as he works his way through the pack.
Mark Williams 7-14 Zhao Xintong
14:16 , Harry Latham-CoyleA healthy slice of luck along the way, but Zhao Xintong’s position gets stronger and stronger - a 3-1 surge to the mid-session interval and Zhao is just four frames away from being crowned world champion.
Mark Williams 7-13 Zhao Xintong
13:58 , Harry Latham-CoyleThis is far from a simple break to build. The black is out of commission, pincered by a pair of reds, while the pink is up on the green spot. A 51 is therefore excellent compiled with sharp use of the blue...and it gets even better as Zhao rifles in a ludicrously good red down the right-hand side of the table.
50 ahead, 51 remaining with three reds left up. Play safe? Not this chap’s style! Another magic moment as he finds a glorious pot again. Mark Williams needs two snookers...and that’ll be the end of the frame as the black ricochets into the middle. Zhao re-establishes a six-frame advantage.
Mark Williams 7-12 Zhao Xintong
13:45 , Harry Latham-CoyleThreaded home! Zhao leaves one of the two remaining reds over the pocket and Mark Willliams finds just the right line to nudge it in without the cue ball following it down the chute. The frame is his.
Mark Williams 6-12 Zhao Xintong
13:37 , Harry Latham-CoyleMark Williams has a long old think about whether to take a thin cut on after Zhao Xintong’s failed escape gives him seven points. In the end, he puts his opponent back in the predicament - and this time, Zhao’s extrication is spot on.
Williams soon has another chance, though - but loses concentration! A brilliant pink helped set him up with a great opportunity to win the frame but a simpler pot of the same colour fails to fall. The Welshman was already walking to his next shot. How costly could that be?
Mark Williams 6-12 Zhao Xintong
13:20 , Harry Latham-CoyleA pink to the left corner moves Zhao Xintong 60 clear with just 59 remaining. One more red will make sure that Mark Williams will not return to the table...it’s there.
Contributions of 46 and 30 and the opening frame of the day is his.
Mark Williams 6-11 Zhao Xintong
13:14 , Harry Latham-CoyleUp to 30 Zhao accelerates before plucking a plant out of the bundle of reds. He’d have liked another of the bunch to pop free, but there’s one more in the open to come.
In it goes via the rest. Can he burst the balls this time? Ooh, unfortunate, catching the wrong red and running aground on 46. Back up to balk he plays after a solid, but not frame-winning, start.
World Snooker Championship final
13:09 , Harry Latham-CoyleOut the players come, Zhao Xintong to the slightly strange strains of Redbone - I’ve heard worse walk-on music, in truth, but didn’t necessarily have the 28-year-old down as a fan. Apparently he became aware of it via the Marvel smash hit Guardians of the Galaxy.
Tom Jones croons Mark Williams out. Rather easier to find the Welsh connection there.
