World Snooker Championship final 2025 LIVE RESULT: Zhao Xintong beats Williams to win Crucible title and £500k jackpot
ZHAO XINTONG has beaten Mark Williams 18-12 to win the World Snooker Championship.
The Cyclone went into the evening session with an astonishing 17-8 lead, but Willo won four on the spin to set up the unthinkable.
A fourth Crucible crown wasn't to be for Williams as Zhao became the first Chinese player and first amateur to claim the iconic Crucible title.
The 28-year-old doesn't just take home the iconic trophy, but will leave Sheffield with a huge cheque for £500,000.
- Final result: Zhao Xintong 18-12 Mark Williams
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Historic route to final
Zhao Xintong will never forget this journey to the title....
Last 32: Jak Jones 10-4
Last 16: Lei Peifan 13-10
Quarter-final: Chris Wakelin 13-5
Semi-final: Ronnie O'Sullivan 17-7
Final: Mark Williams 18-12
It has been a tough battle for the Chinese star but it will all seem so worth it now he won one of snooker's biggest prizes.
Welshman still has the hunger
It is safe to say that Mark Williams is not done with snooker.
He may be having some issues with eyesight but this Crucible crowd todays he shown him why he loves it just so much.
The Welshman took to X this afternoon in between sessions:
On top of the world
It will be some party tonight for Zhao Xintong.
Over the next few hours the reality of being world champion will no doubt slowly set in as he receives messages of congratulations from all over the world.
With his girlfriend alongside him, to ensure he does not have confetti in his hair for his thousands of pictures.
Credit: AFP
Zhao on top of the world
As he celebrates with his mum and girlfriend, Zhao Xintong seems to have only an adoring glance for one thing and it is not the trophy.
You can see how proud they both are of him.
His world is going to change drastically overnight.
Credit: AFP Show me the money
As it sinks in just what he has achieved, Zhao Xintong admires the trophy everyone dreams of winning.
Along with the silverware, the 28-year-old also scoops a prize of £500,000.
Not a bad month's work if you can find it.
Zhao is just checking that the prize money is not inside thhe trophy it seems.
Credit: AFP Moment to cherish
Zhao will never forget this day.
Celebrating becoming a world champion with his country's flag draped over his shoulders.
He had to overcome some amazing opponents along the way, but he did in style and has won the admiration of The Crucible in the process.
Credit: PA China's first-ever snooker world champion
Zhao Xintong did it the hard way, having to come through four qualifying rounds to get here.
He has been playing in this tournament for nearly a month.
The performance of Zhao making him a deserving champion and now he can go and celebrate re-writing history.
Credit: Getty Zhao so humble in victory
Speaking with BBC Sport, the new champion had his say:
I can’t believe it. I can’t believe what I do. It is so exciting, thank you. I am so nervous tonight, Mark Williams is so good tonight, he is still such a good player. Yeh he’s the best. Nah I’m not tired. Maybe have a good drink tonight and I need to say thank you for everybody who come here, a nice crowd. Thank you everybody. I think I have had a dream. Maybe it not true.
Zhao XintongAsia's first world champion
Zhao Xintong has made his country proud.
In fact, he has made a whole continent stand up and take notice.
He fully deserves his win and can now say he is world champion.
Credit: PA
Zhao Xintong is the 2025 World Snooker Champion
Former champ gracious in defeat
Speaking with BBC Sport the beaten finalist gave his views:
I think it has been a brilliant tournament for me. The support I have had is unbelievable, but what a potter he is over there. To come through the qualifiers and he has bashed me up, he has bashed everyone up. He deserves it. I tell you what, let's where I am in the rankings at sixty. I'm still playing some quite good stuff, it's a bit blurry but the night belongs to him.
Mark WilliamsZhao Xintong beats Mark Williams 18-12
Mark Williams 8-110 Zhao Xintong (Frames: 12-18)
A break of 87 seals the frame for Zhao Xintong.
He has written his name into snooker history.
What a performance from the 28-year-old.
Mark Williams 8-63 Zhao Xintong (Frames: 12-17)
Zhao looks to be heading to that elusive frame he needs to win it.
He is on a break of 40 and about to make history.
The potting has been out of this world during the tournament.
Mark Williams 8-23 Zhao Xintong (Frames: 12-17)
Wow, Williams misses a cut with the rest.
He was on the black had he potted it.
That could be his last shot of this final.
Mark Williams 0-23 Zhao Xintong (Frames: 12-17)
Zhao is putting a break together but it seems quite nervy.
His positioning is all over the place.
He misses a red and now a big chance for Williams.
Mark Williams 0-0 Zhao Xintong (Frames: 12-17)
Williams seems to living rent-free in Zhao's head right now.
He is not taking on shots he usually would currently.
The pair exchange safety shots, seeing who cracks first.
Mark Williams 12-17 Zhao Xintong
The players are backstage ready to enter the arena.
Williams will be brimming with confidence and wanting to continue what he started here.
Zhao just needs that one frame to become champion.
Fans to start to wonder
After seeing the form of Mark Williams this evening, people are starting to question whether the Welshman can actually come back in this final.
It would be the most incredible fightback ever seen in the sport.
Could we be about to witness the equivalent of Liverpool's miracle of Istanbul at The Crucible?
Credit: AFP Mark Williams 73-0 Zhao Xintong (Frames: 12-17)
Mark Williams clinches another frame.
The Welshman wins all four frames of the session.
He is full of fight and not willing to give up on this trophy.
Credit: AFP Mark Williams 56-0 Zhao Xintong (Frames: 11-17)
Mark Williams, take a bow.
He is making this evening session a must-watch.
It looks like he is going to win all four frames of the session.
Mark Williams 25-0 Zhao Xintong (Frames: 11-17)
Williams attempts a long pot and misses.
It rattles in the one pocket, strikes another red out of the way and rolls into the other bag.
There are huge cheers whenever he sinks balls or makes some wonderful positional play with the cue ball.
Mark Williams 96-6 Zhao Xintong (Frames: 11-17)
Williams has clinched the frame and with it a 96 break.
This is the form of a three-time world champion we are seeing.
Zhao must feel like he is playing a completely different player in this session.
Mark Williams 43-6 Zhao Xintong (Frames: 10-17)
Well Mark Williams has certainly brought his game here.
He is still at the table on a break of 43 and the reds are open.
The Welshman has a chance of clawing back another frame.
Mark Williams 0-6 Zhao Xintong (Frames: 10-17)
A brilliant cut from Zhao gets him on the scoreboard.
Nothing about the break is easy and it soon comes to an end.
Williams now has a chance to build a foundation in this frame.