So, we have our final. Mark Williams v Zhao Xintong. Who would have picked that one at the start of this tournament?

Williams, aged 50, is 22 years the senior of his opponent. The Welshman turned professional in 1992, 24 years before Zhao,

They have met a couple of times before, but their last meeting was back in 2022. Zhao won 5-3 in the third round of the German Masters – the Crucible final over 35 frames could hardly be more different.

Here’s a look at some of the recent champions…

A great thing about these matches is that it brings the most unexpected snooker fans out of the woodwork.

“What a player,” writes Liverpool forward Diogo Jota on X, external, in response to a World Snooker Tour post about Mark Williams reaching the final.

Mark Williams take a bow. Judd battled really hard and both players put on a wonderful semi final, but Williams was outstanding. Zhou vs Mark in the final will be a fantastic final. The young, up and coming apprentice vs the experienced master. Gents, best of luck and please give us an 18-17 black ball decider.

Max

Judd Trump, speaking to BBC Two after losing to Mark Williams at the semi-final stage:

“I tried my best, I didn’t quite play as well as I did in the first few games, Mark played extraordinarily well from when I think I should have gone 11-9 up at the interval [on Saturday morning].

“I didn’t do much wrong, a few little mistakes on safety, it wasn’t quite firing but it wasn’t that far off. When you play someone as good as Mark, everything is magnified.

“The difference was just at the crucial moments, he potted them and I didn’t. There were a couple of times – a big frame at 7-3 and a big frame to go 11-9 – where I had a really good chance. I just didn’t quite find what I had in the first few games, Mark was the more consistent player throughout and in the end he really deserved the win.

“If my best is good enough, that’s amazing, if it’s not, I’ll go back again next year. There are no negatives, I tried my heart out and just ran out of steam. I probably would have preferred to peak as the tournament went on, I probably started off too well. Any other player apart from Mark and I probably would have been in the final, so I think you just have to take your hat off to him, he was too good over the three days and I’ll try to improve for next year.”

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

There were a couple of little wobbles in the break, a black rattled in the jaws, but what a way to win the match and cruise over the line.

And it was thoroughly deserved. In today’s two sessions, he was by far the better player.

It’s going to be a battle of the dragons at the Crucible!

Nathalie

Welsh dragon versus Chinese dragon. Who will come out on top?

More from Mark Williams, speaking to BBC Two:

“I never really play the opponent. I shouldn’t really be competing with the number one player in the world over three days in a first-to-17, but somehow I’m plodding along for us oldies.

“When I shook Judd’s hand at the end, he said some lovely words – he said ‘it’s unbelievable that you’re still going at your age and all the best, I hope you win it’.”

On facing Zhao Xintong in the final:

“I’m sat here now, tomorrow’s the final and I wouldn’t have thought I’d be here at the start of the tournament. But I’m still plugging away. I haven’t had an easy match. I don’t know what’s left in the tank – we’ll have to see, I suppose!

“I remember playing him when he was 11 or 12 in China. We played a best-of-five, he beat me 3-1, there was about 500 people there and it was live on TV. He had two total clearances. I told everyone then that he’s going to be pretty good.

“It would be a great occasion if a Chinese player wins the World Championship and great for our sport – but not just yet!”

Ken Doherty
1997 world champion on BBC Two

What a remarkable performance.

At the age of 50, he’s going to be in the final.

More from Mark Williams, speaking to BBC Two:

“I came here with not much form, I lost in the first round in the past few tournaments, but I wasn’t really too concerned.

“I worked in the club from half past eight every morning for four or five hours, me and Lee [Walker, Williams’ coach], and we’ve been putting the hours in just to try to get a bit of form, trying with contacts and without contacts.

“I really struggled with my eyes in the past couple of tournaments and I’ve tried everything – contacts, varifocals. I left it for Lee to decide because he knows if I’m playing alright and how I’m hitting them, and he said he thought I was better off going without them.

“Lens replacement was booked for 12 June – deposit paid – but I’m going to have to have a think. I want my deposit back!”

Mark Williams, speaking to BBC Two after reaching the World Championship final:

“I was starting to twitch towards the end, I’m not going to lie. I nearly missed the black in the last frame – I did feel a bit of tension on the back arm.

“I’m never normally nervous at any stage but I was in that break.

“I can’t believe I’m in another final – I don’t know how I’m doing to be honest.”

The first all left-handed Crucible final ever?

Craig, Falkirk

It is indeed!

Judd Trump, Mark Williams and Neil Robertson are the previous left-handed world champions, and none of them played a fellow leftie in the final.

Mark Williams reveals he is due to have his eye surgery on 12 June and has paid his deposit, but now isn’t sure whether he might have wasted his money.

There looked to be nothing wrong with his vision, nor his snooker, tonight.

Mark Williams is in the BBC studio.

“I was starting to twitch before the end,” admits the 2025 finallist.

Full Willo quotes to come.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield

Mark Williams’ long pot success is 69%. Not bad for a player who says he struggles to see the balls.

A handshake between two left-handed greats, two of the finest players of their both own and this current generation.

But tonight belongs to the elder statesman.

Mark Williams, aged 50, becomes the oldest man to ever reach the World Snooker Championship final.

If Mark Williams sinks the black here, surely that’s game over…

He does it!

And Williams celebrates with a fist pump.

Ken Doherty
1997 world champion on BBC Two

Mark Williams is so cool, he doesn’t feel nerves like other players, he’s very calm.

Mark Williams has not reached the Crucible final since he last won here in 2018.

He is on the verge of ending that seven-year wait now, this break looks potentially match-winning.

Oh! The black wipes its feet before dropping in to the bottom right. Heart in mouth moment.