Mark Williams Digs Deep To Keep Crucible Dream Alive Against Zhao Xintong

Mark Williams. Pic: Alamy

He started poorly, but Mark Williams has given himself hope of a Monday miracle as the World Snooker Championship final comes to climax.

Mark Williams faces a steep uphill battle in the World Snooker Championship final, trailing Zhao Xintong 11-6 overnight — but the Welsh legend’s defiant fightback in the evening session has kept his title hopes flickering.

At 50, the Gwent grinder is attempting to become the oldest world champion in the tournament’s modern era, and his grit on Sunday night offered a reminder of why he’s already lifted the trophy three times — in 2000, 2003, and 2018.

After a punishing afternoon session where Zhao stormed to a 7-1 lead, the match looked to be running away from Williams.

The 28-year-old Chinese star, fresh off dismantling Ronnie O’Sullivan in the semi-finals, appeared to pick up right where he left off.

He strung together a series of fluent breaks — including 77, 100, 57, 104 and 83 — to take command, leaving Williams looking out of rhythm.

But Williams regrouped, emerging for the evening session with renewed focus.

He claimed five of the nine frames in the second session, including the final frame of the night, which he sealed on the last red after Zhao had earlier clawed back from a deficit.

His recovery was punctuated by composed breaks of 86 and 63 and showcased the tactical steel that has defined his career.

“Even at 7-1 down, he never stopped competing,” said BBC pundit John Parrot during the coverage.

“That’s why you can never write off Mark Williams at the Crucible.”

If Williams is to turn the tide and complete what would be the biggest final-day comeback in Crucible history, he’ll need to make up five frames — something no player has achieved in a World Championship final after day one.

Zhao, meanwhile, is bidding to make history of his own.

He could become the first Chinese player to win snooker’s biggest prize and the first amateur to triumph in Sheffield.

Having returned from a 20-month suspension for breaching betting rules, Zhao’s potential victory would cap a remarkable redemption arc.

It would also see him rejoin the professional circuit ranked 11th in the world and pocket a £500,000 winner’s cheque.

He added four more half-centuries to his already eye-catching tally and snatched key frames from under Williams’ nose — including the sixth and 16th — after the Welshman had carved out promising positions.

Play resumes at 1:00pm BST on Monday with the final session set for 7:00pm.

Williams, who stunned world No.1 Judd Trump in the semi-finals, will need all his experience, resolve, and flair if he is to engineer a comeback for the ages.

But if anyone in snooker can, it might just be the man who refuses to fade quietly.