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Tom Bell

Zhao Xintong moved seven frames away from becoming the first Chinese player to win the World Snooker Championship by building an 11-6 lead over veteran Mark Williams on Sunday’s opening day of the final.
The 28-year-old Zhang left three-time world champion Williams playing catch-up after he made a blistering start to take the first session 7-1 at the Crucible Theatre.
But the 50-year-old Williams, bidding to become snooker’s oldest world champion, fought back during the evening session.
His recovery left him five frames behind in the best-of-35-frame contest.
“An incredible day for Zhao Xintong – it could not have got any better,” Shaun Murphy, the 2005 world champion, said in his role as a BBC pundit. “He will sleep like a baby tonight and come out tomorrow [Monday] for the biggest day of his life. He’s the real deal.”

Williams is attempting to surpass Ronnie O’Sullivan, who was 46 years and 148 days old when he won his modern-day record-equalling seventh title in 2022. The Welshman has reached the final despite his age and eyesight problems.
The junior man again looked at home, however: he had to play four extra qualifying rounds for this event, as he climbs back up the rankings following a ban for his role in a betting scandal, but he has cruised through the draw.
Zhao was serene in taking Sunday’s opening frame, racking up 141 points to 0, including a 77 break. He then made a classy century to go 2-0 up before coming from behind to pinch the third frame.
Williams edged the fourth before the mid-session interval, but that did nothing to deter Zhao, who remained clinical after the resumption while his opponent floundered.
Misses by the veteran cost him the next two frames, and it was one-way traffic as breaks of 104 and 83 allowed Zhao to end the opening session with a remarkable lead.
“I know it’s the second time for a Chinese player,” Zhao said earlier on Sunday as he prepared to emulate Ding Junhui, who reached the decider in 2016 only to lose to Mark Selby.
“I’m so proud of myself. Hopefully there will be more times, but I just want to catch this time.”

Williams won Sunday evening’s opening two frames. But Zhao, in his first world final, regained control with a break of 71 to go 8-3 up before taking the next to restore his six-frame lead.
Williams went 23-0 ahead in the 15th frame only to let Zhao back in with a couple of missed reds.
Zhao then produced a superb positional pot, as he went around the angles from red to blue, that sparked an impressive break of 96 and a 10-5 lead.
Williams was on the brink of winning the next frame with a break of 63 only to miss a clinching red. Zhao then held his nerve superbly with a clearance of 71 to again hold a six-frame advantage at 11-5.
Sunday’s final frame proved a nervy affair before Williams, benefiting from a fortunate snooker behind the green, reduced his arrears to five. The final resumes at 8pm Hong Kong time on Monday.
Williams had outlasted world No 1 and Hong Kong resident Judd Trump 17-14 in the semi-finals late on Saturday to book his place, after Zhao routed seven-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan the previous night.
The Welshman said he was looking forward to tackling the dazzling Zhao, with the winner to collect £500,000 (US$664,000) when the final concludes on Monday.
“I played him in an exhibition in China when he was about 12,” the world No 6 said, adding that the youngster knocked in two century breaks to beat him. “Here we are 16 years later and I am playing him in the world final.”


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World Snooker

Zhao Xintong a step closer to becoming first Chinese player to be world snooker champion

Mark Williams and Zhao Xintong pose at the start of the final in Sheffield. Photo: Reuters

Zhao Xintong greets fans as he enters the Crucible for the final. Photo: Action Images via Reuters

Mark Williams celebrates beating Judd Trump at the Crucible Theatre on Saturday. Photo: AP

World Snooker Championship: Zhao routs O’Sullivan to reach final and earn shot at history

Zhao Xintong in control during his semi-final against Ronnie O’Sullivan at the Crucible Theatre. Photo: Action Images via Reuters

It all goes wrong for Ronnie O’Sullivan at the Crucible. Photo: Action Images via Reuters

Ronnie O’Sullivan congratulates Zhao Xintong on his victory. Photo: Action Images via Reuters

Chinese snooker match fixing: Zhao Xintong ‘tried to talk Yan Bingtao out of cheating’, amid toxic gambling and bullying

Zhao Xintong (pictured) was revealed in the verdict to have tried to dissuade his friend Yan Bingtao from fixing matches. Photo: Xinhua

The verdict condemned Liang Wenbo for pressuring and threatening other Chinese players into fixing. Photo: Xinhua

Zhang Jiankang (pictured) was revealed to have been owed money by Liang. Photo: Handout

Which snooker players were banned for match fixing, for how long, and what did they do?

Yan Bingtao had won the Masters in 2021 before he was investigated for match-fixing. Photo: Xinhua

Liang Wenbo was found to have not only fixed matches but solicited and pressured others. Photo: World Snooker

Lu Ning was banned for over five years for fixing and trying to cover up his involvement. Photo: VCG via Getty Images

Stephen Lee was given a 12-year ban, the longest before the latest case of 10 Chinese players. Photo: AFP

Sport

China

Zhao Xintong holds 11-6 lead over veteran Mark Williams after first day of final in Sheffield


Zhao Xintong holds 11-6 lead over veteran Mark Williams after first day of final in Sheffield.


World Snooker Championship

Zhao Xintong a step closer to becoming first Chinese player to be world snooker champion

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Zhao Xintong holds 11-6 lead over veteran Mark Williams after first day of final in Sheffield

Zhao Xintong holds 11-6 lead over veteran Mark Williams after first day of final in Sheffield