Zhao Xintong is technically classed as an amateur, having dropped off the professional tour because of his 20-month suspension, but he was well inside the world's top 10 and was a former UK champion before that ban began.

Given his immense talent, Zhao's impending coronation as world champion should not be a surprise.

For many, it was a case of when and not if it would happen.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

Zhao is in dreamland. This morning when he woke up after probably a terrible night's sleep, he couldn't have asked for anything better.

He'll be looking for one chance to finish the match off.

Image source, PA Media

As well as being a big occasion for the two finalists, that is also true of Bulgarian referee Desislava Bozhilova.

She is the second female referee to take charge of a World Championship final at the Crucible, and the first female to officiate a final at all three Triple Crown events.

"It's been my dream since I started," she told the BBC before the final. "At the beginning I didn't believe it was possible, but once I started going to more and more events and improving and getting bigger games, all of a sudden it became possible. I'm excited to have this chance.

"The world final is a huge match, but at the same time, it's a match where I should just do what I always do and that's how I've prepared for it.

"It does take a lot of [hard work] because you need to be able to constantly work on things, improve, keep concentration and listen to more experienced referees.

"I believe I've grown a lot as a person and as a referee. At the beginning you just know the rules, but you need the experience to be able to react to different situations and that comes with time."

BBC Two

Image source, PA Media

Hazel Irvine and the team will guide you through the final instalment of the 2025 World Snooker Championship, live on BBC Two.

You can also watch on BBC iPlayer or via the "Watch and listen" tab at the top of this page.

World Snooker say spectators with tickets for tonight's final session will receive a 50% refund if there are fewer than four frames played.

Of course, Zhao Xintong could wrap up the title within one frame.

Some fans were unhappy that refunds were not available for those attending Saturday's afternoon session, after Zhao's convincing semi-final victory over Ronnie O'Sullivan left a gap in the schedule.

An exhibition involving 1985 finalists Dennis Taylor and Steve Davis was put on instead, along with a Q&A session with former world champions Stephen Hendry and Ken Doherty.

Jamie Broughton
BBC Radio 5 Live at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield

Zhao Xintong’s impending victory will bring great excitement to all the young players working hard at China’s national snooker academy in Beijing.

The country’s best young players are based there, and put in long hours of practice as they look to follow in the footsteps of Zhao and Ding Junhui, who started the snooker revolution in China by winning the 2005 China Open.

Zhao’s success means there will be even more children inspired to pick up a cue.

Image source, Reuters

That's all Zhao Xintong needs to become China's first champion at the Crucible.

Millions and millions will be watching events in his adopted city of Sheffield on television in his homeland.

A snooker-mad nation expects.

We will return just before 19:00 BST for the concluding session of the 2025 World Snooker Championship.

There are possibly 10 frames to play - but Zhao Xintong needs to win just one of them to create snooker history.

The 28-year-old is set to become the third qualifier to win the title since the World Championship moved to Sheffield, and also the first Crucible champion from China.

us again later for the finale.

Mark Williams has posted on social media after the afternoon session left him 17-8 down and one frame away from a world final defeat by Zhao Xintong (I'm sure Mark won't mind us tweaking some of the typos):

"Oh well, that was tough, I've not got enough cue power to combat tough conditions like Zhao. His cue power is superb. Probably the best potter I have ever seen.

"Last session in a few hours. I have had this last two weeks has been amazing from the crowd and everyone."

Ken Doherty
1997 world champion on BBC Two

There will be an explosion of interest again in China. When Ding Junhui came on the scene, it did marvellous things for snooker in that part of the world. This would do even greater things.

There are reportedly 300,000 snooker halls in China. Good luck booking one on Tuesday.

These are the most recent Crucible champions - Zhao Xintong will surely add his name to the top of this list in a few hours' time.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield

Zhao Xintong is one frame away from being the winner today and will collect the a top prize of £500,000 if he lifts the trophy, while the runner-up will earn £200,000.

However, when I saw Jackson Page - who is a regular practice partner of Mark Williams - last night, it reminded me that he will earn £147,000 from the World Championship without even reaching the televised stages.

That is more than the £100,000 the semi-finalists are set to receive.

That's because Page compiled two maximum 147 breaks in one match during qualifying to secure a £147,000 Triple Crown bonus.

Image source, Getty Images

You can watch the Shot of the Championship by scrolling along to 18 seconds into the video below.

John Parrott said: "It was a lot thinner than it looks on the TV, it's 12-12 in a classic match and he's got the middle pocket in play. You could not put the cue ball better with your hand.

"There are other shots [in the shortlist] that show better technical ability, but to be able to play that when it's 12-12 all..."

Fellow BBC pundit Ken Doherty added: "That's the important thing - you take the context of the match as well. That requires not only skill, but temperament as well."

Mark Williams looks unlikely to win a fourth world title tonight, but his pot of the blue against John Higgins in the deciding frame of his classic quarter-final has been voted as the Shot of the Championship by BBC pundit and former world champion John Parrott...

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

It's taken too much out of Mark Williams for him to get to the final, you can see it's a match too far.

Ken Doherty
1997 world champion on BBC Two

Mark wasn't missing like that against Judd Trump or John Higgins. When you've been bruised and battered like he has been in the final, those shots become a lot harder.

Mark Williams misses the penultimate red to the corner and every chance now that Zhao Xintong will be 17-8 in front at the end of this session.

Just the baulk colours needed to leave Williams needing a snooker - and he gets them.

Zhao has won that session 6-2 and we will surely crown Asia's first world snooker champion when the two finalists return at 19:00 BST.

Shaun Murphy
2005 world champion on BBC Two

An incredible pot from an incredible player, he just won't lie down.

Mark Williams pots a great red to the middle from an acute angle and, with the black now free, will hope to seal the frame at this visit.