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
CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
Follow our live blog below...
History sure to be made - but what type?
There's always something on the line, so what it it..
Zhao Xintong and Mark Williams are battling to make contrasting pieces of history.
Ronnie O'Sullivan's conqueror Zhao, 28, aims to become China's first ever Crucible king.
And Williams' reward for dispatching Judd Trump in the other semi-final is the chance to become the oldest world champion ever.
He's already the oldest finalist, having beaten the mark set by fellow Welshman Ray Reardon, who was 49 when losing to Alex Higgins in 1982.
Final Day
Morning and welcome to the final day of this year’s World Snooker Championship at the Crucible.
The last two weeks and a bit have seen some of snooker’s finest contest in Sheffield for the sport’s grandest prize, but only one can win.
From last year’s champion in Kyren Wilson being a victim of the Crucible curse in the first round to Ronnie O'Sullivan’s remarkable run to the semi-finals, the very best have endured the bravado of snooker’s World Cup.
O'Sullivan, like world No.1 Judd Trump, fell to the brilliance of our two finalists: Mark Williams and Zhao Xintong.
The former is no stranger in this arena, looking to a fourth World title to his collection, whilst Zhao aims to become the third consecutive first-time winner and first Asian after the success of Wilson and Luca Brecel in the last years.
There’s talk of a potential change in scenery in the future, but when the tournament keeps producing moments like this, why move?
“Snooker and Sheffield go together hand in glove – it used to be steel, it’s now snooker,” ex-champion Shaun Murphy said.
Stay tuned for all the latest build-up for the afternoon’s action!
