Mark Williams v Zhao Xintong LIVE: Zhao builds healthy overnight lead in World Snooker Championship final
Mark Williams becomes the oldest finalist in history as he takes on Zhao Xintong, who hoping to become the first Chinese world champion after returning from a ban
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:
Mark Williams 5-10 Zhao Xintong
Cueball 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
Williams 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
Williams 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
Zhao 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
On 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
Vintage 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
Williams 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
Zhao 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
Cheers 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
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