Snooker: Zhao Xintong Dominates Opening Session Against Mark Williams

Zhao Xintong took a commanding 7-1 lead over Mark Williams in the World Snooker Championship final, with chairman Jason Ferguson praising his potential to become the sport's biggest star.

Zhao Xintong surged into a commanding 7-1 lead over Mark Williams in the World Championship final, making a blistering start in his pursuit of history.

11-6 🙌

Zhao Xintong holds a commanding lead over Mark Williams, but the Welshman did win the evening session to put pressure on the Cyclone.

What a day we have in store tomorrow! 🔥#HaloWorldChampionship pic.twitter.com/TxntIiilBw

— WST (@WeAreWST) May 4, 2025

At 50 years old, three-time world champion Williams is chasing his own piece of history, aiming to become the oldest winner of the World Snooker Championship. He would surpass Ronnie O'Sullivan, who won his seventh title at 46 years and 148 days old in 2022.

Despite the deficit, Williams, who staged an impressive comeback from 7-3 down against Judd Trump in the semi-final, still has ample opportunity to mount a fight. The final will be a best-of-35 frames contest at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre, giving him time to recover.

Williams's run to the final has defied expectations, with the 50-year-old overcoming eyesight issues to reach the final. However, a fourth world title would likely require Zhao to experience a dramatic collapse. Meanwhile, Zhao reached the final after a remarkable journey, overcoming a 20-month ban for betting scandal-related offenses. He qualified through four rounds as an amateur and delivered a stunning performance in the semi-final, thrashing Ronnie O'Sullivan 17-7 with a session to spare.

Zhao Xintong dominated the start of the match, winning the first three frames on Sunday with two century breaks. Mark Williams briefly stemmed the tide, reducing Zhao's lead to 3-1 before the mid-session interval.

During the break, Jason Ferguson, chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, expressed his excitement about the potential implications of a Zhao victory. “I think he has the potential to become the biggest star in the sport,” Ferguson told the BBC. “Certainly the earning opportunities for someone like him are immense. It's a huge nation.”

That is INCREDIBLE! 🔥

Zhao Xintong bags a brilliant 3-ball plant after a stalemate period 💪 pic.twitter.com/tmtrm1GbER

— TNT Sports (@tntsports) May 4, 2025

When play resumed, Zhao Xintong, the second Chinese player to reach the final after Ding Junhui, extended his lead with a 57 break. Mark Williams briefly found his rhythm with a 61 break, more than double his previous best on Sunday. However, he squandered his chances, misjudging a cannon shot off the black when the frame seemed within his grasp, and then missed a fine cut on the red, allowing Zhao to capitalize and take control.

Zhao concluded the session in commanding fashion, adding to his lead with a 104 break. He followed this up with an impressive 83 break, courtesy of a superb plant on a long red, leaving him six frames ahead. The final will resume at 20:00 CET on Sunday.