Zhao Closes In On Historic Victory Over Williams In Crucible Final

Zhao Xintong is conscionable 1 framework distant from becoming nan first subordinate from China to triumph nan World Championship aft extending his lead to 17-8 complete Mark Williams successful nan final.

The 28-year-old, who is aiming to go nan first amateur to triumph astatine nan Crucible, led 11-6 overnight and was capable to return 3 of nan first 4 frames disposable connected Monday to spell 14-7 up astatine nan mid-session interval.

And erstwhile he compiled a break of 52 to triumph nan next, Zhao looked connected people to triumph his 2nd successive lucifer pinch a convention to spare and would grounds nan biggest winning separator successful a world last since Stephen Hendry defeated Jimmy White 18-5 successful 1993.

Three-time victor Williams averted that possibility, concisely rallying to guarantee nan title would astatine slightest widen to Monday evening pinch a break of 66 to get backmost to 15-8.

However, nan Welshman, 50, who is nan oldest ever finalist successful Sheffield, was incapable to make immoderate further inroads.

His Chinese opponent, who was conscionable 3 years-old erstwhile Williams won his first world crown successful 2000, capitalised connected a missed reddish to nan near mediate pinch a 66 break and cleared up again aft Williams grounded to driblet successful a reddish to nan correct area to move connected to nan brink of a historical victory.

Zhao, who won nan UK Championship successful 2021 but past served a 20-month prohibition for his engagement in a match-fixing scandal which rocked nan sport, is hoping to subordinate Terry Griffiths and Shaun Murphy arsenic nan only qualifiers to seizure snooker's biggest prize since nan tournament's 1977 move to Sheffield.

He would besides gain nan £500,000 apical prize and climb to 11th successful nan world rankings erstwhile he returns to nan main master circuit adjacent season.

The best-of-35 last continues connected Monday astatine 19:00 BST and will beryllium shown unrecorded connected BBC Two.