China’s Zhao leads Williams 11-6 in world snooker final

LONDON: Zhao Xintong moved seven frames away from becoming the first Chinese player to win the world snooker championship after 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,” 2005 world champion Shaun Murphy 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. Zhao, playing as an amateur as he continues his comeback after a 20-month ban for involvement in a betting scandal, came through four rounds of qualifying.

He also produced a stunning display to thrash O´Sullivan 17-7 with a session to spare in his semi-final. On Sunday, Zhao, the 2021 UK Championship winner, started in commanding style by taking each of the first three frames, including two century breaks.

Williams reduced fellow left-hander Zhao´s lead to 3-1. After the mid-session interval, Zhao, only the second player from China to reach the world final after Ding Junhui, restored his three-frame advantage with a break of 57.

Williams found some form with a break of 61, only to misjudge a cannon off a black with the frame at his mercy. He was then unable to make a fine cut on the red and Zhao cleaned up. Zhao wrapped up the first session in style, making a break of 104 before a superb plant on a red led to a contribution of 83 that put him six frames ahead.