KEY MOMENTS
Frame 14: Williams 5 Zhao 9NEW
William wins another
Frame 13: Williams 5 Zhao 9
Welshman back within five frames
Frame 12: Williams 3 Zhao 9
Frames shared before mid-session interval
Frame 11: Williams 3 Zhao 8
Zhao five frames in front
Frame 10: Williams 3 Zhao 7
Welshman pulls another frame back
Mark Williams is battling hard to get back into contention in the world championship final
Mark Williams is battling hard to get back into contention in the world championship final Credit: Reuters/Andrew Boyers
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Frame 14: Mark Williams 5 Zhao Xintong 9
Mark Williams is currently 68 points up in this frame with 67 remaining. A challenging frame-ball red awaits with the spider – but it drops and that would be 9-5. There we go it is, a 72 break which does the job for Williams..
The Welshman is not playing at his best according to John Parrott. But he is digging deep and winning the crucial breaks.
Frame 14: Mark Williams 4 Zhao Xintong 9
A dreadful shot from Zhao Xintong leaves the table open with reds everywhere. Williams is right amongst the balls and currently on a break of 54 and looking to close this frame out.
It is another big chance for the Welsh wizard to claw another frame back in this Crucible final.
Frame 13: Mark Williams 4 Zhao Xintong 9
Maybe Zhao Xintong comes back to the table to find some rhythm in this 13th frame. However, the concession comes and Mark Williams wins frame and reduces the gap to 9-4 in this final.
Frame 13 (best of 35): Mark Williams 62 Zhao Xintong 14
Frame 13: Mark Williams 3 Zhao Xintong 9
Williams break of 39 comes to an end by a kiss on the red. The Welshman has no option but to play up behind the pink. However, Zhao Xintong safety is letting him down as it catches the blue and Williams is back on the table.
There is a huge change of a long red for Williams.Of course, he fully commits and lands on a choice of colours. Another big shot ahead for the Welshman – a long red – which goes in and it must be a frame-winner. Williams is now 48 ahead with 35 remaining in this frame but Zhao surprisingly comes back to the table.
Frame 13: Mark Williams 3 Zhao Xintong 9
Zhao Xintong starts to put a break together but then misses a black, leaving Williams on the table. The Welshman begins by trying to nudge past a red to land on the black but it is left without a pot on it. So, he goes for a risky green and punches it superbly into the pocket. What a shot from the Welsh wizard!
Williams keeps the break going on 32 but it was a gusty move! If he missed it, it would have left the door open for Zhao to bang in! The Welshman is still at the table and 25 ahead with five reds left.
Frame 13: Mark Williams 3 Zhao Xintong 9
The players are back in the arena after their mid-session interval at the Crucible.
This such a huge five frames for the Welshman. It is a promising start for the Welshman who crunches the long red into the right corner with his first shot. However, he cannot land any colour so only a single point for him. But a positive start to this frame for Williams.
Mid-interval thoughts
Mark Williams needed a fast start tonight and he took his chances early on as he won the first two frames.
However, Zhao responded with a break of 71 break to go 8-3 up and followed by winning the ninth frame.
We have five frames left in this session tonight and Williams needs to win most of them to stay in touch with Zhao Xintong.
Frame 12: Mark Williams 3 Zhao Xintong 9
Momentum is with Zhao Xintong, as his lead is up to 51 and all the remaining reds are in the open.
He is looking to have found his rhythm in the final. Is 9-3 lead moments away at the Crucible?
There we go, Zhao Xintong gets past the winning line with a lead of 74 in the frame as Williams decides not to get out of his chair to play on. He heads off to the interval break six frames ahead.
Frame 12 (best of 35): Mark Williams 0 Zhao Xintong 74
Frame 12: Mark Williams 3 Zhao Xintong 8
Here we go, Zhao Xintong is back in this final. He begins the frame by drilling a long red into the corner. Xintong makes 18 when he gets in first but then breaks down after missing the pink in the middle.
He seemed to have got himself into the perfect position but all is in the balance again during this 12th frame.
Frame 11: Mark Williams 3 Zhao Xintong 8
The table looks perfect to Zhao to find his rhythm and win this frame now. If he does, the lead will be back out to five frame. That should settle any nerves that Zhao Xintong had.
His cueing seems to back in this session and he is potting freely now. A break of 79 is good enough for the Chinese player to extend in his lead in the final.
Frame 11 (best of 35): Mark Williams 9 Zhao Xintong 85
