'Bashed me up, bashed Ronnie up, bashed everyone up' - Mark Williams on 'superstar' Zhao Xintong after World Snooker Championship title victory

Zhao Xintong has made a stunning return to the top level of snooker and he secured World Championship glory at the Crucible with victory over Mark Williams in the final on Monday evening. The beaten Welshman had words of praise for the new champion. Watch and stream top snooker action, including the World Championship, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Mark Williams described Zhao Xintong as "a new superstar of the game" after the Chinese sensation lifted the World Championship.

After being swamped by Zhao in the first three sessions, Williams went out on his sword as he won the first four frames of the evening to threaten an unlikely comeback.

Zhao pushed back in the 29th frame and wrapped up the win with a break of 87 to cap an amazing comeback to the sport, only seven months after his suspension for his part in a match-fixing scandal came to an end.

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He had to come through four rounds of qualifying to reach the Crucible, and dumped out seven-time champion Ronnie O'Sullivan in the semi-finals. Williams was full of praise for the 28-year-old.

"What a potter he is," Williams told TNT Sports. "I am glad I will be too old when he is dominating. 

"I have got nothing but admiration for what he has done, coming through the qualifiers, hasn’t played for two years, bashed Ronnie [O’Sullivan] up, bashed me up, bashed everybody up. 

"What can you say? There is a new superstar of the game."

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Williams said before the tournament that he had booked himself in for eye surgery after struggling with his vision, but is now having a change of mind.

Asked if he was reconsidering eye surgery, Williams said: "Yes, absolutely. I am still playing good stuff. It is still a bit blurry, but I am playing good stuff."

'Excellent for the crowd' - Williams makes his 87th Crucible century to keep final with Zhao alive

Video credit: TNT Sports

Williams said his stated aim was to be in the top 16 in the world at 50 years of age. 

That has been accomplished, as he will start next season at No. 3, and he added: "Let’s see where I am in the rankings at 60."

Williams had a wonderful ovation from the crowd when entering the Crucible, and he thanked the fans for their support.

"It was unbelievable," Williams said. "Tonight, when I stood on those steps and they were all on their feet, it was like a tear to the eye."

Uncle Ding helped me

Zhao said he always had hope of being able to lift the title, and used the hours of practice in the academy in Sheffield to keep his mind on the job.

"I thought I could do it, but you have the Crucible final and it is far to the championship," Zhao said in the TNT Sports studio.

"I needed concentration and to play my snooker.

"It is very, very big pressure. And as you have big pressure you need concentration and to use what you practice in the academy."

'It is very, very big pressure' - Zhao thrilled to be crowned world champion

Video credit: TNT Sports

Ding Junhui was the inspiration for the Chinese players who are now on the scene and those emerging from the academies in the country.

Zhao has revealed that Ding’s father used to offer him words of advice.

"Uncle Ding helped me before when I was young," Zhao said. "He used to sometimes tell me what I needed to do."

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Watch and stream top snooker action live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+

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