Mark Williams edged past Judd Trump 17-14 in a closely-fought and captivating World Snooker Championship semi-final to set up a mouthwatering clash with Zhao Xintong in the Crucible final.
Beginning all square at 8-8 this morning, Williams soon moved into the ascendency with some outstanding near-perfect snooker, punishing the slightest mistakes by world No 1 Trump with frame-winning breaks, and the Welshman earned a 13-11 lead in their race to 17 going into the evening session.
He then carried on that momentum to move 16-12 ahead and although Trump hit back with a couple of frames, the Welshman got over the line in style, with a century to reach the final for a fifth time. He lost his first one in 1999 but has won three since and will now go for a fourth crown against rising star Zhao, who enjoyed a well-earned day off after thrashing seven-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan 17-7 with a session to spare on Friday evening.
Relive the action from Judd Trump vs Mark Williams and all the key action from the World Snooker Championship below.
World Snooker Championship 2025
- Mark Williams beats Judd Trump 17-14 in Crucible semi-final
- Williams reaches fifth Crucible final at the age of 50 - 25 years after he first won the title
- REPORT: ‘Half-blind’ Mark Williams makes World Snooker Championship history to set up intriguing final
- Final score: Judd Trump 14-17 Mark Williams (best of 33)
- First semi-final over after Zhao Xintong thrashed Ronnie O'Sullivan with session to spare
- Final score: Ronnie O'Sullivan 7-17 Zhao Xintong (best of 33)
‘Half-blind’ Mark Williams makes World Snooker Championship history to set up intriguing final
22:26 , 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:
‘Half-blind’ Mark Williams makes World Championship history to set up tasty final
Mark Williams reacts to victory
21:35 , Luke BakerWilliams spoke to the BBC after his triumph.
“I was starting to twitch towards the end, I'm not going to lie. I nearly missed the black in the last frame - I did feel a bit of tension on the back arm.
"I'm never normally nervous at any stage but I was in that break. I can't believe I'm in another final - I don't know how I'm doing to be honest.
"I came here with not much form, I lost in the first round in the past few tournaments, but I wasn't really too concerned.
"I worked in the club from half past eight every morning for four or five hours, me and Lee [Walker, Williams' coach], and we've been putting the hours in just to try to get a bit of form, trying with contacts and without contacts.
"I really struggled with my eyes in the past couple of tournaments and I've tried everything - contacts, varifocals. I left it for Lee to decide because he knows if I'm playing alright and how I'm hitting them, and he said he thought I was better off going without them.
"Lens replacement was booked for 12 June - deposit paid - but I'm going to have to have a think. I want my deposit back!"
Judd Trump 14-17 Mark Williams - WILLIAMS WINS THE MATCH AND IS INTO THE FINAL
21:14 , Luke BakerHe’s done it! Finished with a century break of 123 for good measure! Mark Williams wins frame 31 and triumphs 17-14 in this semi-final to reach the World Snooker Championship final for the fifth time.
He’ll face Zhao Xintong in a best-of-35 final over the next two days to try and lift the title for a fourth time at the age of 50. Simply remarkable. Wow!
Judd Trump 14-16 Mark Williams
21:11 , Luke BakerHow has that gone in?! With Williams on 50, a red wipes its feet once, twice, three times before dropping into the corner pocket.
Even the normally nonchalant Welshman scrunches his face up after that - he thought it had missed. A couple of shots later, he floats in a black to move 64 points ahead with just 59 remaining.
Snookers required for Trump now and Williams is going to win this match. A pump of the fist - he knows it
Judd Trump 14-16 Mark Williams
21:09 , Luke BakerWilliams pulls out a cracking pot to right corner but has no colour to follow before Trump pots a red but then misses a very tricky thin black to the right corner.
It leaves the Welshman in the balls. The reds are well spread, the black is over the corner pocket and this is a glorious opportunity. It could be frame and match.
Judd Trump 14-16 Mark Williams
21:03 , Luke BakerIt’s starting to feel like game on here. Trump has a look at a long red to left corner but it hits both jaws and stays out. Doesn’t leave Williams a pot though.
Judd Trump 14-16 Mark Williams - TRUMP WINS FRAME 30
20:53 , Luke BakerAnd he does indeed make the century - good stuff from the world No 1.
Judd Trump wins frame 30 with a break of 116 and keeps his hopes alive.
Williams had a chance to win it there but missed it and Trump pounced. Only two behind now. He couldn’t, could he...?
Judd Trump 13-16 Mark Williams
20:51 , Luke BakerThis has been a really good break by Trump. He’s had the cueball well under control and he passes 50, then cuts a red into the corner with the black to follow that leaves Williams needing snookers.
He could make his 14th century of the tournament here - all the balls are there for him
Judd Trump 13-16 Mark Williams
20:46 , Luke BakerCould this be the start of things beginning to turn for Trump? Williams gets in but surprisingly misses a relatively simple red on 14. That allows the world No 1 to have a go himself.
He quickly eradicates Williams’s small lead and goes about building one of his own.
Judd Trump 13-16 Mark Williams - TRUMP WINS FRAME 29
20:39 , Luke BakerTrump does indeed get over the line to win frame 29.
Stays alive and closes the gap to three. Still a long way back but that’s what he needed. Another couple and he can really start to put the pressure on Williams.
Judd Trump 12-16 Mark Williams
20:36 , Luke BakerTrump makes 42 before missing but Williams can’t pull out a tough pot on a red to right middle, so Trump back in leading 42-10. He needs to finish the frame off at this visit
Judd Trump 12-16 Mark Williams
20:31 , Luke BakerBack underway and the task for Trump is clear. He has to win all five of the remaining frames.
Williams in first in this frame with a nice long red up to the green pocket but he can only make 10 before a bout of safety ensues.
Trump edges that battle when a Williams pot to right middle rattles the jaws and the world No 1 crunches a long pot into the left corner. Can he score heavily in response?
Judd Trump 12-16 Mark Williams - WILLIAMS WINS FRAME 28
20:07 , Luke BakerThis has been sublime by Williams. He’s been so focused and efficient this evening to take the match away from Trump. He completes the century for a perfect riposte.
Mark Williams wins frame 28 with a break of 100 exactly and he’s now one frame away from the World Snooker Championship final.
Trump will have the 15-minute mid-session interval to plot how to make a comeback.
Judd Trump 12-15 Mark Williams
20:02 , Luke BakerGreat response by Williams, who immediately gets back in among the balls and takes his first five reds with blacks. Maxi attempt?
No. Gets out of position to stay on the black, so has to go up for the yellow from the sixth red. Keeps the break going though and soon passes 50. Trump hoping for a mistake but it doesn’t seem like one is coming
Judd Trump 12-15 Mark Williams
19:58 , Luke BakerThat’s Trump’s 106th century of the season - a player scoring 100 tons in a campaign had only been done twice before and one of those was Trump himself. He is a prodigious scorer.
Winning that frame guarantees us a mid-session interval, although Trump will be desperate to win frame 28 and move just two frames behind.
Judd Trump 12-15 Mark Williams - TRUMP WINS FRAME 27
19:55 , Luke BakerNice pot down the cushion from Trump to put the frame beyond doubt. and he’s done what he needs to.
He goes on to make the century and that’s a great statement frame from the world No 1.
Judd Trump wins frame 27 with a break of 104 and keeps himself in the contest
Judd Trump 11-15 Mark Williams
19:52 , Luke BakerTrump ticking along nicely in this break. Even pots two reds for the price of one when he reaches 35. He has knocked the black safe in the process so the rest of the break will be using the blue and pink.
The break passes 50 - this has been tidy stuff from Judd when he’s needed it most. Pots a blue to move 60 points ahead with just 59 remaining, leaving Williams needing snookers.
Judd Trump 11-15 Mark Williams
19:48 , Luke BakerWithout wanting to slip into hyperbole, this frame is simply must-win for Trump. In fact, he has to win both the remaining frames before the mid-session interval. This is where the greats step forward - when their backs are up against the wall.
He makes a decent start to frame 27 as he gets in first with a nice pot on the red and can build a break at the business end of the table. Winning this frame in one visit would be an important statement.
Judd Trump 11-15 Mark Williams - WILLIAMS WINS FRAME 26
19:42 , Luke BakerOh Mark Williams - stop it! After his break of 65 comes to an end, he returns to the table and floats a ridiculous long red into the left corner, a thin cut that glides home. Roars from the Crucible crowd.
That’s the pot that leaves Trump needing snookers. He comes back to the table but the jig’s up and the Welshman quickly finishes off the frame after that.
Mark Williams wins frame 26 and he has suddenly taken complete control of this semi-final. He’s two frames from victory at 15-11!
Judd Trump 11-14 Mark Williams
19:32 , Luke BakerOooh, that is not what Judd Trump needed. He pots an absolutely stunning long red to the right corner and then an even better brown to middle to follow.
Lands perfectly on another red but misses that simple pot! How has he done that?! He looks shell-shocked as he leaves the table.
Williams right back in again, he loses the cueball a bit early in the break but pulls out a great pot when on 20 to keep it going - a thin cut, while hampered. Huge applause from the crowd. This could be a huge blow to Trump.
Judd Trump 11-14 Mark Williams - WILLIAMS WINS FRAME 25
19:26 , Luke BakerAnother mid-range red from the Welshman and Mark Williams wins frame 25 thanks mainly to a lovely break of 67.
Things are getting precarious for Trump now - his margin of error is narrowing significantly.
Judd Trump 11-13 Mark Williams
19:22 , Luke BakerTrump takes on a tough red with the long rest when on 16 but he didn’t want to play a safety and leave the table. A grimace from Judd as it misses by quite a distance.
And Williams punishes him! Crunches a long, straight red into the right corner - heart of the pocket. He misses the subsequent black and although Trump returns to the table to play for snookers, he’s 52 points behind with just 51 remaining.
Williams should be over the line here
Judd Trump 11-13 Mark Williams
19:19 , Luke BakerWilliams looking in very good touch early on here. Floating the balls in, in his trademark style, and a lovely split of the main cluster of reds when he’s on 29.
The crowd are really into this already, lots of applause for the Welshman.
But then a mistake! Williams looks set to win the frame but misses a red on 67. A big lead but Trump is still alive. Can he launch a counter?
Judd Trump 11-13 Mark Williams
19:13 , Luke BakerLovely long red to the corner by Williams to get things going this evening and he lands nicely on the blue. First scoring opportunity goes to the veteran.
Judd Trump 11-13 Mark Williams
19:11 , Luke BakerA standing ovation as both players come out for this final session. This could be absolutely epic.
Remember, 17 is the target for victory
Judd Trump 11-13 Mark Williams
18:59 , Luke BakerIt was another compelling session this morning and Mark Williams took the final frame to lead 13-11.
It’s not the biggest advantage but does give him the slight edge heading into this evening.
Judd Trump v Mark Williams
18:25 , Luke BakerRight, we’ll start turning our attention to the conclusion of tonight’s semi-final now, which will resume in about 35 minutes’ time.
It’s perfectly poised with Mark Williams leading 13-11 in the race to 17. Judd Trump needs a good start this evening as they battle it out for the right to face Zhao Xintong in the final, which starts tomorrow.
It has been hugely compelling stuff so far between these two. We could be set for a Crucible classic.
O'Sullivan leaving UK for 'new life'
18:00 , Lawrence OstlereO'Sullivan is preparing to start "a new life somewhere else", revealing he will soon be moving to the Middle East after crashing out of the World Snooker Championship with a heavy semi-final defeat.
Read more:
Defeated Ronnie O’Sullivan reveals he’s leaving UK for a ‘new life’
Snooker fans fuming as refunds denied after O’Sullivan game ends early
17:26 , Lawrence OstlereIn place of the semi-final, an exhibition match featuring snooker legends Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor has been scheduled.
The exhibition commemorates the 40th anniversary of Taylor's victory in their iconic "black-ball final" and will run from 2.30pm to 4pm, including a short interval.
However, for fans eager to see a competitive match, the replacement has done little to quell the frustration.
Responding to the announcement on social media site X, formerly Twitter, Andy Wilson wrote: “Like both Steve and Dennis but I paid £115 for my seat yesterday.
“Endlessly rolling out the old guys isn’t an answer today. But WST do like to keep their money. Refunds can and should be made.”
Another response, from Luigi di Falco, read: “It’s pretty much daylight robbery. Those semi-final tickets were so expensive to not offer refunds you should be ashamed.”
Snooker fans fuming as refunds denied after O’Sullivan game ends early
17:01 , Lawrence OstlereSnooker 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.
Who is Zhao Xintong?
16:32 , Lawrence OstlereThe 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’ outshining Ronnie O’Sullivan after ban
Zhao praises 'idol' O'Sullivan after semi-final
15:44 , Lawrence OstlereSheffield-based Zhao, whose aggressive break-building piled the pressure on his opponent throughout the match, admitted having mixed thoughts over beating his hero O’Sullivan.
He said: “He’s my idol. To be honest I didn’t want to win this time because I wanted to see him win his eighth here.
“But I won and I know I needed to play well because before the match I didn’t think I could win.
“I know he’s a legend and everyone wanted him to win this tournament and I could feel that.
“I know it’ll be really hard (to win the title). Everyone says no Chinese player has won this before but I’ll just try to enjoy today.”
Judd Trump 11-13 Mark Williams
12:33 , Lawrence OstlereMore brilliance by Williams, potting a doubled red to the left middle pocket from the bottom of the pack. He puts on a telling half-century to clinch the frame, and with it a lead of two heading into tonight’s race to 17.
Williams win frame 24.
Judd Trump 11-12 Mark Williams
12:20 , Lawrence OstlereSensational break by Trump! He gets the frame won and in the middle of it all was a nerveless do-or-die red down the rail.
Trump wins frame 23.
Judd Trump 10-12 Mark Williams
12:04 , Lawrence OstlereMagnificent by Williams, who clears the table with ease after another lovely long red. He is playing at a supremely high level right now and Trump is struggling, without a point since the mid-session interval. Two frames left this afternoon.
Williams wins frame 22.
Judd Trump 10-11 Mark Williams
11:43 , Lawrence OstlereMark Williams takes immediate advantage of a poor break-off, something which has been bothering Trump all tournament, and sweeps up a 70-odd break to clinch the frame and lead again.
Williams wins frame 21.
Judd Trump 10-10 Mark Williams
11:19 , Lawrence OstlereWilliams clears up! That will hurt Trump, who threw away some big chances to seal a two-frame lead at the mid-session interval. Instead the go in all square once more.
Williams wins frame 20.
Judd Trump 10-9 Mark Williams
10:56 , Lawrence OstlereTrump scores another break of 71 but misses a red to the left middle which allows Williams to come back to the table chasing a snooker and a clearance to steal the frame.
Williams decides to polish off most of the balls before trapping Trump around pink and black, but he can’t get control of the safety battle and, after leaving the pink over the pocket, picks up the black to signal his surrender.
Trump wins frame 19.
Judd Trump 9-9 Mark Williams
10:37 , Lawrence OstlereThis is world-class break-building by Trump, featuring a brilliant positional shot from yellow down into the reds near the black, developing several balls in the process. A break of 71 gets the frame won. What a match this is.
Trump wins frame 18.
Judd Trump 8-9 Mark Williams
10:24 , Lawrence OstlereWilliams pots a brilliant, high-tarrif red into the bottom-left pocket and knocks in a few more balls to see off Trump’s challenge, and he’s ahead.
Williams wins frame 17.
