World Championship 2025: Zhao Xintong sinks 'shot of the championship' in Crucible final against Mark Williams - 'That is absolutely sensational'

At this moment in time it would come as no surprise if Zhao Xintong could walk on water. After breezing into the final of the World Championship, he powered into a 7-1 lead over Mark Williams. And for good measure, he pulled off what was billed as the "shot of the championship". Watch and stream top snooker action, including the World Championship, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Alan McManus feels there may need to be a new edit for shot of the championship, as Zhao Xintong moved into pole position with an incredible plant in the final against Mark Williams.

In his first World Championship final, Zhao was riding the crest of a wave as he raced into a 6-1 lead.

Williams was in containment mode in the eighth frame, and it looked like he had done a decent job of it when getting the white tight to the baulk cushion in a safety exchange.

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Zhao assessed his options and got down to take on a plant.

"This is incredibly difficult to go for," Neal Foulds said in the TNT Sports commentary box. 

Go for it he did and when it dropped, Foulds almost dropped his microphone.

"Oh my goodness, oh my goodness," Foulds said. "That is absolutely sensational. 

"I want to say it’s the wrong shot, but how can it possibly be the wrong shot when he’s knocked it in?"

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Video credit: TNT Sports

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It was a shot that caught the eye of the panel in the TNT Sports studio.

"If there is a shot of the championship, this is the winner hands down," McManus said. "It is not even on. 

"You get that maybe one in 10."

Jimmy White added: "It is an incredible shot. He’s maybe looked at it so naturally because he is 6-1 up."

Reanne Evans is a 12-time winner of the Women’s World Championship, and she added: "I would not even be looking at it."

Zhao built a frame-winning break of 83 on the back of the audacious plant to secure a 7-1 lead after the first session of the final.

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Watch and stream top snooker action, including the World Championship, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+

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