O/T Snooker

Zhao Xintong wins the World Snooker Championship by beating Mark Williams 18-12.

He is the first Chinese player to win the competition. The result also sees him re-enter the top 16.



Gutted for Williams, but he just didn't turn up in most of the final. Great comeback to keep the score respectable.

Zhao still had to do his job though, and he did.

Some not happy he was even allowed in this competition, but the way I see it is that he's served his time.

Congratulations to him.





Updated


Anyone been watching?

Been a decent tournament so far with some great performances and a 147 break from Mark Allen.

It's this week when the tournament really gets going with the quarter finals though.

Higgins v Williams will be one for the ages.

Based on current performance levels, I can see Judd Trump winning it - but you can't ever rule out Ronnie O'Sullivan, you just don't know which version of him will turn up.

World Snooker Championship final - best of 35

Zhao Xintong 18-12 Mark Williams

World Snooker Championship semi finals - best of 33

Zhao Xintong 17-7 Ronnie O'Sullivan

Mark Williams 17-14 Judd Trump

World Snooker Championship quarter finals - best of 25

Zhao Xintong 13-5 Chris Wakelin

Ronnie O'Sullivan 13-9 Si Jiahui

John Higgins 12-13 Mark Williams

Luca Brecel 8-13 Judd Trump

Love the world championships.

Would be great to see Ronnie win it again but I think you're right that Trump will win it.
Though Brecel is looking good. Amazing player to watch when he's on form

Hoping that Mark Williams can pull off something special but Trump is seemingly the man most likely.

I love the snooker so have been watching every day.

Judd Trump has been playing at the top of his game but he looked a bit nervy and shaky when Shaun Murphy won 4 on the bounce yesterday afternoon.

Luca Brecel has been fantastic, reminds me of the way he played when he won it a few years back.

Can never rule Ronnie out but he has his issues which have been well documented and his post match interviews haven’t screamed ‘confidence’ - not that it means much when it’s Ronnie.

First session done in all four quarter finals:


Zhao Xintong 6-2 Chris Wakelin

Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-2 Si Jiahui

John Higgins 5-3 Mark Williams

Luca Brecel 3-5 Judd Trump



Ronnie and Zhao with a great start to their matches in terms of having a four frame gap. Higgins v Williams and Trump v Brecel more or less in the balance but with Higgins and Trump leading by two.

Second session in the Ronnie v Si match is tomorrow at 10am, with Brecel v Trump back at 2.30pm.

Higgins v Williams and Zhao v Wakelin return at 7pm tonight.

Trump is going to take some stopping.
He's unplayable when he plays like that.
He's got everything to his game now

Higgins v Williams has been as good as expected. Not full of big breaks but some great tactical play.

8-8 going into the final session tomorrow morning. The winner will play Luca Brecel or Judd Trump in the semi final.

Zhao Xintong leads Chris Wakelin 12-4 after tonight, going into their final session tomorrow afternoon he's on the verge of the semi finals - where he'd play Ronnie O'Sullivan or Si Jiahui.

Anyone know what the century count is so far?
Rob Walker mentioned yesterday that we're on course for a record breaking amount this year.

Anyone know what the century count is so far?
Rob Walker mentioned yesterday that we're on course for a record breaking amount this year.

Don't know the exact number, but they keep on saying it could go close to the record.

109 is the record from three years ago.

Mark Williams beats John Higgins in a final frame decider, 13-12. Brilliant match between two of the Class of 92.

Ronnie O'Sullivan is 10-6 up over Si Jiahui going into their final session tonight at 7pm.

Brecel v Trump continues at 2.30pm, with Trump 5-3 up. The final session of that match is also at 7pm.

The other match at 2.30pm is Zhao Xintong v Chris Wakelin, but it could be a short final session as Zhao is 12-4 up.

Zhao Xintong gets the job done and is in the semi finals along with Mark Williams.

The final session of the last two quarter finals is at 7pm:


Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-6 Si Jiahui

Luca Brecel 8-8 Judd Trump

Decent semi final line up:

The world number one

A highly talented Chinese player

A Welsh player who is one of the Class of 92, back in the semi finals at the age of 50

Someone seen by many as the best player of all time



World Snooker Championship semi finals - best of 33

Zhao Xintong v Ronnie O'Sullivan

Mark Williams v Judd Trump

Can’t see past a Trump v OSullivan final but hope Williams can pull off some magic.

Can’t see past a Trump v OSullivan final but hope Williams can pull off some magic.

That's the way is see it ...

I can't see anything other than Trump as world champion.
Would love to see Ronnie win it but I think Trump will just be too strong for him.

Love the snooker! Was gutted to be outside the crucible last weekend after our defeat against the blades and couldn’t get in!

Big Mark Williams fan, he’s from my home town where I grew up and was in my sisters class at school. So good he nicked it off Higgins! Love watching the rocket of course. Two great semis to come

Can’t see past a Trump v OSullivan final but hope Williams can pull off some magic.

Ronnie will need to up his game against Zhao, a great player who would have progressed further if he hadn't had the ban for match fixing.

Williams always seems to play well against Trump whenever I've watched them, but can only see a win for Trump in that.

So I agree, Ronnie v Trump final (like in 2022) is the most likely outcome.

Trump is the obvious favourite, playing brilliantly.

The thing about Ronnie though is he's got to the semi finals by not even playing his B game, it's more like his C game.

If he finds a way to get back to close to his best then he'll give Trump a game.

They do say the semi finals is halfway through the tournament - five straight days of playing for whoever makes it to the final now.

Ronnie and Zhao finished their first session at 4-4. Zhao could easily have won the session, Ronnie was as bad as he's been for a lot of the frames - so I guess the seven time champion will be happy to be level. They return at 10am.

Williams v Trump about to start their first session. Williams has done alright against him recently so I think he'll cause problems, but I still expect Trump to win.

Trump leads Williams 5-3 after the first session.

Neither player played well, it was Trump's worst session of the tournament. Can't believe he'll play like that tomorrow.

So probably an opportunity missed for Williams.

Early days though. They return tomorrow afternoon, with the second session of Ronnie v Zhao in the morning.

I thought Zhao was going to run away with the first session. Classy looking player. Effortless cue action, just seems to float around the table. Future world champion there I reckon. Possibly even this year.

Trump not up to his usual standards. However he's playing a different animal in Williams. Master technician. Williams will be kicking himself not going into tomorrow all square.

Looking forward to tomorrow's matches!

Zhao this morning has been unbelievable.

Effortless, good to watch, and still very young.

What a player. If he continues to play to this standard he will be a multiple world champion in years to come.

Zhao this morning has been unbelievable.

Effortless, good to watch, and still very young.

What a player. If he continues to play to this standard he will be a multiple world champion in years to come.

Brilliant.

Ronnie has been poor but Zhao has been equally great.

I'm sure he would have been world champion by now if it wasn't for his ban.

I know you can't write off Ronnie, but can only see Zhao in the final with Trump right now. Could get it done tonight.

Zhao wins the second session 8-0, to be 12-4 up.

Looks like he's in the final already and could get it done with a session to spare tonight.

Brilliant session by Mark Williams against Judd Trump, he wins it 5-3.

Means the match is level at 8-8 going into the final two sessions tomorrow.

Ronnie need to be winning this session 6-2 minimum

Ronnie need to be winning this session 6-2 minimum

Just not happening for Ronnie, in truth he's done well to get to the semi final the way he's been playing.

All credit to Zhao though, been brilliant and not surprised me one bit. Looked like a future world champion before his ban.

Ronnie need to be winning this session 6-2 minimum

Just not happening for Ronnie, in truth he's done well to get to the semi final the way he's been playing.

All credit to Zhao though, been brilliant and not surprised me one bit. Looked like a future world champion before his ban.

Still looks like a future world champion.

Take nothing away from his performance because Ronnie isn’t at his best.

Hes taking his chances. His breaks are good

Ronnie will just want to get out of there now.
Very rarely has he been this poor.

Would love to see Zhao go on to win the championships. Would be great for the game

Ronnie need to be winning this session 6-2 minimum

Just not happening for Ronnie, in truth he's done well to get to the semi final the way he's been playing.

All credit to Zhao though, been brilliant and not surprised me one bit. Looked like a future world champion before his ban.

Still looks like a future world champion.

Take nothing away from his performance because Ronnie isn’t at his best.

Hes taking his chances. His breaks are good

Did you not see where I said "all credit to Zhao"?

He's in the WC Final so of course he's a potential champion.

Interesting to see who plays him in the final.

Strangely enough I think Williams will be more of a test for him because of the tactical play.

Although the form Trump has been in since the last couple of days is dangerous. But it's been proved that Zhao will take advantage if he's left with a chance.