2025 World Championships

[PatBlock]

Has anybody mentioned to Zhao that he's playing in a world final? Maybe it'll dawn on him later. Has anybody mentioned to Mark that he's playing in a world final? maybe....

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[neuronic]

Bit of a pity, isn't it...? But there it is, the change of the guard.

[JimMalone]

So I did a quick check. Since 1980, when the final first was contested as Best-of-35 there were 4 occasions on which a player trailed 1-7. None of them went on to win the title. Also only 2 of 13 overcame a 2-6 deficit to win the title.
However the glimmer of hope for Williams is of course the 1985 final, when Taylor trailed 0-8, but as you probably heard once, won in the end.

[daffie]

Didn't see this coming. This evening's session is mega for Mark...(and on the flip side could then be for Zhao as well )

[JimMalone]

From 1-7 down I don't see a way back for Williams. Hopefully he somehow keeps it close, so we don't have a too lopsided final.

[JimMalone]

It's always difficult when you have a really tough semifinal, that ends rather late. The first session of the final then is really hard. We saw it for example with Mark Selby two years ago again Brecel and it happens this year to Williams as well. There is a bit of freshness and concentration simply missing.

[cueman]

Maybe a touch premature but maybe Williams age caught up with him today. I did feel that back to back 4 session matches might be too much to ask of someone that age. Concentration and focus are difficult to maintain as you get older and I'll be surprised if Williams turns it around.

[trains]

Every body is beautiful


Yeah, right now you almost gotta fear Xintong running away with it. I don't have problem with him winning it, but I want a good, close match, so... come on, Mark!

[neuronic]

Not a sight I think anyone in their right mind would want to see

So far early signs are, Williams struggling. In fact he's made more mistakes in the first frame than he made in both sessions yesterday. Too early to say if he's going to struggle today because it's just frame one, but Xintong has settled well and could build up a good lead.

Every body is beautiful


Yeah, right now you almost gotta fear Xintong running away with it. I don't have problem with him winning it, but I want a good, close match, so... come on, Mark!

[trains]

Williams refused a red to middle in the first frame, easy to second guess but i don't think he should have, 2 - 0 to Zhao.

[cueman]

To honour MJW's fourth world title, I command full frontal nudity in all after match coverage, on everybody.

Not a sight I think anyone in their right mind would want to see

So far early signs are, Williams struggling. In fact he's made more mistakes in the first frame than he made in both sessions yesterday. Too early to say if he's going to struggle today because it's just frame one, but Xintong has settled well and could build up a good lead.

[trains]

The start of the final has been shifted to BBC1, cool , can't remember when that happened before.

[snookerfollower]

Xintong will win this comfortably.

[travisbickle]

Doesn't necessarily mean they think he will win. Just means they would rather accept bets on Williams at this stage, trying to balance their books. Maybe they took a few bets on Xintong early on at astronomical odds, looking at a bigger payout for a win by Xintong? I wonder what odds you could have got on him at the qualifiers.

Going to be a good result for the bookies you would think though, neither would have really been backed heavily.

Xintong was as high as 40/1 with one bookmaker and 33/1 with most of the others before the qualifiers
Guess quite a few punters took them odds

[robbo mcs]

Bookies make Xintong favourite. They’re never wrong. Personally I would have Mark slight favourite based on his years of experience. Not really bothered who wins. Bring it on.

Doesn't necessarily mean they think he will win. Just means they would rather accept bets on Williams at this stage, trying to balance their books. Maybe they took a few bets on Xintong early on at astronomical odds, looking at a bigger payout for a win by Xintong? I wonder what odds you could have got on him at the qualifiers.

Going to be a good result for the bookies you would think though, neither would have really been backed heavily.