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20:53 BST - Thanks for joining us - good night!
20:52 BST - "I can't believe what I've done," an emotional Zhao told the BBC.
"It's very exciting, thank you.
"I was so nervous tonight. Mark is still a top player and put me under so much pressure. He's the best.
"I'm not tired. I'll maybe have a good drink tonight."
20:46 BST - Mark Williams earns £200,000 for being runner-up, while Zhao takes home a tidy £500,000.
20:43 BST - An epic fight back but it wasn't to be for Mark Williams tonight.
"It's been a brilliant tournament for me," Williams told the BBC.
"The support I've had for the past two weeks has been unbelievable.
"But what a potter Zhao is. I'm glad I'll be too old when he's dominating the game.
"I've got nothing but admiration for what he's done, coming through the qualifiers.
"He hasn't played for two years, bashed everybody up. There's a new superstar of the game."
20:38 BST - Zhao Xintong has won the Snooker World Championship after defeating Mark Williams 18-12 in the evening session at the Crucible on Monday evening.
20:36 BST - Zhao 18-12 - Zhao racks up 23 before a mistake on a long red, although Williams failed to capitalise on a long black with the rest at a crucial moment in the match.
Zhao then mops up with a clean-up job, just missing the black, to bag his first-ever world championship.
20:23 BST - The players are back out to a roaring reception from the Crucible.
20:16 BST - Zhao will be feeling somewhat shellshocked by what he's seeing, but perhaps a break may do him some good.
He's still just one frame away from becoming world champion. He needs just one chance.
20:06 BST - Williams 12-17 - Williams ensures the final will go past the interval as he picks up a 12th frame with a 73, finally forcing a wry smile out of Zhao.
19:54 BST - Williams flukes in a red to rapturous applause from the Crucible crowd - no guesses who they're rooting for.
No reaction from the ice-cold Zhao.
19:50 BST - Williams 11-17 - Williams wraps up a third consecutive frame with an impressive 96 to start putting the pressure on Zhao.
Can Williams make it to the interval?
19:36 BST - Williams 10-17 - The 50-year-old wraps up the next frame to make it two from two this evening.
19:31 BST - Williams sets the bar with 37 as Zhao weighs up his options.
Nine more to go for the veteran.
19:24 BST - Williams 9-17 - Williams lives to fight another day as he makes it 9-17 after a fine century break of 101.
19:10 BST - We're underway in what could be the deciding frame.
19:04 BST - The players are on their way out...
Catch up on the action from earlier in the contest with our recap: Zhao one frame away from World Championship final victory over Williams.
19:00 BST - World Snooker say people with tickets for tonight's final session will receive a 50 per cent refund if there are fewer than four frames played - which is highly likely.
18:40 BST - We're back but it may not be for long. Can Zhao wrap it up early?
Zhao needs to win one more frame in the evening session to clinch his historic title in the best-of-35 showpiece at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre.
15:48 BST - So, that's it for the afternoon session. It could be a short one, but we'll be back later for the final session this evening from 19:00 BST.
15:45 BST - Williams 8-17 (36-63) - Zhao wraps up the afternoon session by nabbing the final frame. Williams initially does well to somewhat narrow the points gap but comes unstuck on a red. Zhao takes it 63-36 to ensure he needs to win one more frame for the title when they return for the evening session.
15:19 BST - Williams 8-16 Zhao (26-79) - A bit of showboating from Zhao maybe? It looks it as he fails to convert a very long red which isn't taken too nicely by the BBC's commentary team. No foul, though, as Williams can't punish and misses a routine red, allowing Zhao to finish off.
Zhao is two frames away from the world title.
15:05 BST - Williams 8-15 Zhao (84-14) - Williams stops the rot! An early, audacious Zhao miss opens the door for the Welshman and he duly takes advantage with a solid 66 to at least take the final into a fourth session this evening. It could be short one though...
14:49 BST - Williams 7-15 Zhao (1-104) - Back following the interval, Zhao seizes his chance after Williams misjudges quite an important red. It does include a bit of fortune that Williams could do with as the green nestles into the middle pocket. He ends with a break of 52 to move within three frames of winning and it looks like a matter of when, not if.
14:16 BST - Williams 7-14 Zhao (45-85) - Another frame goes Zhao's way after Williams gets off to a 45 break. He can't take any advantage and Zhao cleans up, highlighted by a super red along the bottom cushion. This one is slipping away from Williams as we head into the mid-session interval.
14:00 BST - Williams 7-13 Zhao (7-65) - Zhao shows off his long potting with a red from distance. He goes on a run of 58 to ensure the frame is his, with one more to come before the interval.
13:46 BST - Williams 7-12 Zhao (66-18) - Williams is made to work but gets a frame back. It's a little messy from himself and Zhao and it looked to be heading the Chinese's way after missing the pink. But Williams returns and seizes control.
13:25 BST - Williams 6-12 Zhao (5-76) - Zhao gets going with a long blue pot in a 46 break before being forced into a safety. Williams then misses a simple blue to let Zhao back on to wrap up the first frame of the day.
13:00 BST - We're back for more! It's the second day of the 2025 World Snooker Championship final.
Xhao Xintong had the better of the first two sessions on Sunday, generating an 11-6 lead over Mark Williams as he bids to become the first world title winner from China.
Williams is the oldest Crucible finalist at the age of 50 and he showed some resilience in the evening session in the hope of sparking a comeback.
Sunday, May 4th
22:30 BST - That concludes our coverage tonight, but you can recap all the action with the report here.
Thanks for joining us, we'll be back again tomorrow.
21:50 BST - What a thrilling evening session that was.
Zhao remains strong favourite to become the first player from China to win the title, but don't bet against Williams, who will become the oldest champion if he wins on Monday.
Both rattled through the frames with Zhao averaging 20.5 seconds at the table compared to Williams' 24.9, but it's the pot success rate that counts, with the 28-year-old clearing 70 per cent with the Welshman on 63 per cent.
The world championship continues on Monday with the first of two sessions getting underway at 13:00 BST, with the final 10 frames - if it lasts the distance - starting at 19:00 BST. As a reminder, the winner is the first to 18 frames...
21:48 BST - Williams 6-11 Zhao (71-43) - Williams really needs to win the frame to be in contention tomorrow and the nerves are palpable. After both play snookers on the remaining red, Williams finally pockets before clearing the brown and blue for the final frame of the session.
21:19 BST - Williams 5-11 Zhao (63-71) - The Welshman isn't going down without a fight. A break of 63 sees him set for the frame, but he then misses a simple red allowing Zhao in! It's a long way back but it's perfect. Zhao clears the final black for a break of 71 and moves six frames ahead. He makes it look so easy.
"There was a certain air of inevitability about it (when Zhao returned to the table)," Shaun Murphy tells BBC Two. "Mark Williams knew that as well. It was Hendry-esque in the 90s."
21:05 BST - Williams 5-10 Zhao (23-102) - Another wonderful start for Williams who pockets a long red and looks on course for the frame, but wait! One red agonisingly taps the black and bounces off the cushion! Zhao returns to the table and pockets a superb break of 96 for the frame.
20:50 BST - Williams 5-9 Zhao (72-0) - Here comes Williams! The 50-year-old has a superb break of 62 to win back-to-back frames for the second time and leave Zhao rooted to his chair.
20:39 BST - Williams 4-9 Zhao (62-14) - A sign of nerves perhaps? Zhao leads 14-1 but misses a simple red and this is a huge chance for Williams. The Welshman pockets a long green to lead 33-14 but skews the cue ball as he attempts to clear the frame. They exchange safety shots before Zhao concedes.
20:21 BST - Williams and Zhao are back out. We have five more frames this evening.
20:04 BST - It's as you were at the interval with the Chinese amateur leading by six frames over the three-time world champion.
"There was the hint of a small panic station but Zhao Xintong has totally weathered it now," says 2005 world champion Shaun Murphy on the BBC.
20:03 BST - Williams 3-9 Zhao (0-74) - Zhao has looked a little unsettled in this session, but opens the frame with a terrific red before bursting Williams' momentum with some terrific pots under pressure for a break of 56.
19:52 BST - Williams 3-8 Zhao (9-85) - Zhao leads 14-1 but misses a red on the bottom pocket after splitting the pack. This is huge opportunity for Williams, who then agonisingly sees a red bounce off the cushion. It’s a gift for Zhao who moves five frames clear.
19:41 BST - Williams 3-7 Zhao (65-8) - Williams is looking far more comfortable, playing a fantastic safety at 27-7 before potting a brilliant red. Zhao fouls on the black and blue with Williams cleaning up for the frame.
19:20 BST - Williams 2-7 Zhao (86-0) - This is a great start to the session for Williams. He secures his first half-century break of the final with Zhao needing a snooker to stay in the frame. The 28-year-old decides to stay in his chair and the Welshman is up and running.
19:00 BST - The players are out and Zhao breaks. As a reminder there will be nine frames played in this session. Can Williams fight his way back into this?
18:30 BST - We are 30 minutes away from the evening session getting underway in Sheffield. Don't worry if you missed all the action this afternoon, you can recap Zhao's phenominal start to the championship here.
16:15 BST - The evening session will get underway at 19:00 BST. We'll see you soon!
16:14 BST - Williams 1-7 Zhao (0-95) - What a fantastic opening session for Zhao. He looks in total control as he wraps up his 100th frame of the championship with a break of 83 to take a commanding lead.
Zhao needs 11 frames to become China's first world champion.
16:01 BST - Williams 1-6 Zhao (0-119) - Williams is unravelling here. Trailing 15-0, he misses a straightforward red to hand the table back to Zhao who charges through the gears to take the frame with a break of 104.
15:44 BST - Williams 1-5 Zhao (61-71) - Goodness me. Williams takes advantage of a misshot on the middle pocket to take a 61-37 lead but then agonisingly misses a red and Zhao - as quick as a flash - wraps up the frame. Brutal.
15:29 BST - Williams 1-4 Zhao (42-72) - The Welshman is struggling here. He takes out most of the colours but is still 23 adrift and needs snookers with only 18 left. Swatting around the table can only last so long. He eventually concedes and Zhao restores his three-frame lead.
14:48 BST - Williams 1-3 Zhao (66-28) - Williams wins his first frame of the final. He takes a tricky red on the back pocket to edge 39-28 ahead before a deft touch on the yellow, green - and eventually brown - tees himself up for the frame.
13:50 BST - Williams 0-3 Zhao (44-47) - What a fightback! Zhao misses the green after swatting away a fly to trail 41-25, but comes back to pot the pink before missing a long black. Williams also fails on the black allowing Zhao to take the frame. Clinical.
13:50 BST - Williams 0-2 Zhao (38-100) - Williams has a couple of chances to take control of the second frame but they're not taken. Zhao punishes immediately, finishing on the black for the first century in the final, and his fifth of the tournament.
13:31 BST - Williams 0-1 Zhao (0-141) - Williams misses to long shots on the red and Zhao takes advantage, pocketing breaks of 51 and 77 as he breezes round the table for a perfect start.
13:10 BST - And we're underway in the 49th World Snooker Championship, and a place in history beckons for either Williams or Zhao.
There will be eight frames played this afternoon with nine to come tonight.
12:50 BST - It's good to see Williams crack a joke before the first session. Nerves? What nerves.
12:27 BST - Getting to know our finalists, Wales' Mark Williams is the oldest Crucible finalist at the age of 50 and he'll be looking to add a fourth World Championship title to his trophy cabinet.
In his way is the controversial Zhao Xintong, who is competing as an amateur after recently returning from a ban over match-fixing claims.
The 28-year-old will have his sights set on becoming the third-straight first-time winner of the tournament over the next couple of days.
12:10 BST - Play for the final gets underway today at 13:00 BST with the second of four overall sessions taking place later this evening at 19:00 BST.
The best-of-35 match-up continues into Monday with two further sessions at the same respective times.
12:00 BST - Good afternoon and welcome to Flashscore's coverage of the 2025 World Snooker Championship final!
An intriguing one awaits as Mark Williams – the oldest finalist in history, aged 50 – squares off against Zhao Xintong, 28, who is aiming to become China's first world champion.
We'll have coverage of the day's play through to Monday, so stick with us for all the key updates!