After the qualifier stoked into a 17-8 lead over Mark Williams in the final on Monday ( May 5 ), Zhao Xintong is on the verge of becoming the first Chinese player to win the World Snooker Championship.
To get the best-of-35 centerpiece at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre, Zhao must get one more body in the evening program.
The 28-year-old turned the lock on Williams in Monday’s day period after putting together an 11-6 result on Sunday.
With a program to go, Zhao could wrap up the final by winning four of the opening five frames, which would have put him 15-7 away.
The Taiwanese pain, who had a conference left unused in his 17-7 victory over seven-time earth champion RonnieO’Sullivan, was unable to do so this time as Williams briefly put a stop to the rot.
However, Williams ‘ attempt to become the sport’s oldest world champion by winning the title for the third day seems to be going to fail.
As the Foreign star sprinted toward the verge of billiard eternity, Zhao’s powerful shot-making and continuous break-building proved no match for the Welshman, who is now 50.
Zhao, who replicates Ding Junhui’s 2016 showcase work, is China’s next World Championship winner.
However, Zhao has produced a leaden screen to move within touching range of becoming Asia’s first world billiard champion while Ding was beaten by Mark Selby in the last nine years ago.
Zhao would be one of the game’s surprise winners.
He is acting like a pro as he resumes his rebound following a 20-month suspension for his presence in a betting scandal in 2023.
Zhao, who won the 2021 UK Championship, admitted to being a part of another player’s two-game fixing and self-betapping.
Ten Chinese players were punished as a result of the discussion, along with Liang Wenbo and Li Hang receiving living bans.
Due to his enforced professional status, Zhao had to struggle through four qualifying rounds in order to advance to the World Championship primary pull at the Crucible, which is close to his Sheffield home.