Zhao Xintong took a commanding 11-6 lead over Mark Williams on day one of the World Snooker Championship final, setting the stage for a dramatic showdown. The 28-year-old Chinese player, aiming to become the first from his country to win the title, dominated the opening session with a remarkable 7-1 scoreline. Zhao, fresh off a dominant semi-final victory over Ronnie O’Sullivan, showed his quality and composure, leaving Williams with a mountain to climb.
The opening session saw Zhao playing with confidence and precision. He began with a strong performance, taking the first frame after a quick 51-point flurry and then sealing it with a well-executed safety exchange. He continued his momentum with a stylish break of 100 in the second frame, and then extended his lead to 3-0 with a series of impressive shots, particularly a combination of brown, blue, and pink, showcasing his wide range of skills.
Williams, aiming to make history as the oldest World Champion at 50, struggled to find his rhythm in the early stages. He stopped the rot just before the mid-session interval, securing a tight frame to put his first point on the board. However, Zhao’s dominance continued as he responded with a decisive 57-point break, maintaining his solid lead.
Williams managed to put together his best break of the session, a 61, but an unfortunate misjudgment off the black prevented him from capitalizing on it. Zhao quickly took control, finishing the frame with a stunning long red and following up with an 83 to end the session strongly. His performance left Williams with little room for error, and at the close of the opening session, Zhao was firmly in command.
The evening session saw Williams recover slightly, winning 5-4, but the gap remained significant. He came out stronger after the break, taking the first two frames with a break of 86, which was a marked improvement on his earlier form. Williams also displayed his skill in escaping a snooker with a precise four-cushion shot, showing that he still had plenty of fight left in him. Zhao’s lead was trimmed to four frames, but he quickly halted Williams’ momentum with a break of 71 and followed it up with another strong frame to move closer to the 18 frames needed for victory.
Williams showed resilience, taking the 13th frame after a lengthy battle for control, and then played a brilliant long red to claim his fifth frame of the final. However, Zhao responded decisively once again, clearing the table with a 96-break to push himself within touching distance of the title. In the 15th frame, Williams seemed poised to fight back, leading 63-0 with just 75 left, but a missed shot at the final red left the door open for Zhao to seal the frame with a break of 71.
Despite being down by five frames, Williams remained determined and fought hard for the final frame of the evening session, eventually winning it to reduce Zhao’s lead to 11-6. Although the odds remain stacked against him, with no player ever having come back from a five-frame deficit overnight to win the World Championship, Williams will have the chance to mount a comeback on the final day of play.
For Zhao, the chance to make history and become the World Champion after coming through qualification is within reach. He needs just seven more frames to secure his victory, but Williams, a seasoned competitor, will surely fight to the end. The final day at the Crucible promises to be a thrilling conclusion to what has already been a captivating final.
