World Championship 2025: Mark Williams 'will be quietly pleased' after eating into Zhao Xintong lead heading into day two of Crucible final

The second session of the World Championship final saw Mark Williams eat into Zhao Xintong's sizeable advantage. Williams has a lot of work to do to win the title for a fourth time, but has his foot in the door heading into Monday afternoon. Watch and stream top snooker action, including the World Championship, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+

Mark Williams achieved his objective by winning the evening session, and will be "quietly pleased" heading into the second day of the World Championship final, according to Alan McManus.

Zhao Xintong dominated the opening session to secure a 7-1 lead, but Williams fought back to win the evening 5-4 and trail 11-6 overnight.

Williams still has a huge task ahead in the race to 18, but McManus feels he will be happy to have secured a foothold in the contest.

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"That was the bare minimum, win the session 5-4," McManus said in the TNT Sports studio. "At half-time tonight, I think he will be quietly pleased.

"He has grown into the final, where Xintong has kind of flatlined, albeit with lots of quality. I think he will look forward to tomorrow will Mark Williams. 

"He has a big eight frames tomorrow and if he wins that he will be right within striking distance."

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Video credit: TNT Sports

Jimmy White thinks Williams may have shaken off some lingering tiredness from his match with Judd Trump.

"The good news for Mark Williams and his fans, he is playing a lot better and a lot freer than in the first session," White said. "There may have been a bit of fatigue from his big match with Judd Trump. 

"He is still in it now as he is playing a lot better."

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Despite losing the session, McManus feels Zhao will be content with his position.

"He will be feeling really good," McManus said of Zhao. "I know he lost the evening, but really he will be pleased with his evening’s work. His goal at the start [of the evening] would have been 11-6, and he’s got what he wanted. He will be delighted."

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Video credit: TNT Sports

McManus guarded against getting carried away with sleeping on a big lead.

"The one small thing is he has got to sleep on a big lead so it might be uncomfortable, but that is a lot of guessing," McManus added.

"He does not look like there is a lot of panic in him, so that will stand him in good stead."

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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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