- Zhao Xintong is bidding to become China's first World Snooker champion
- At 50, Mark Williams is the oldest player to reach a World Championship final
- Recommended bet: Over 6.5 century breaks in the match

The final of this year's World Snooker Championship will be contested over four sessions at the Crucible across Sunday and Monday, but will it be Zhao Xintong or Mark Williams that gets their hands on the trophy following the conclusion of the best-of-35 frame contest?

Qualifier Zhao is bidding to become China's first-ever world champion, as well as the youngest winner of snooker's biggest prize since Shaun Murphy lifted the trophy aloft in 2005.

By contrast, three-time former champion Williams, who turned 50 earlier this year, is the oldest player to reach a World Championship final as he now looks to add to his title successes of 2000, 2003 and 2018.

Both players have enjoyed remarkable runs to reach this stage, with Zhao, who had to come through four qualifying rounds just to make it to Sheffield, seeing off Jak Jones, Lei Peifan and Chris Wakelin to set up a semi-final showdown with seven-time champion Ronnie O'Sullivan.

The 28-year-old could easily have been overawed by that prospect, but with O'Sullivan struggling for confidence, particularly with his cue, he was able to claim an unprecedented 17-7 victory that included picking up all eight frames during the second session.

Williams came into the tournament out of form and with discussions surrounding his well-documented eyesight problems, but he has put all that to one side to produce some memorable performances, notably his 13-12 success over fellow Class of '92 member John Higgins in the quarter-finals.

The Welsh Potting Machine then recovered from a slow start to his semi-final clash with world number one Judd Trump to eventually come through 17-14 and set up this mouth-watering showdown with Zhao.

The stats

Zhao is bidding to become just the third qualifier, after Terry Griffiths and Shaun Murphy, as well as the first amateur to be crowned world champion since the tournament moved to the Crucible in 1977.

The Cyclone is just the second player from China to reach a World Championship final after Ding Junhui, who was beaten 18-14 in the 2016 final by Mark Selby.

The former world number six is a two-time ranking event winner, with his success at the 2022 German Masters following on from landing a Triple Crown event at the 2021 UK Championship.

Williams is through to his fifth World Championship final and he is bidding to land his fourth title at the Crucible, which would draw him level with Selby and Higgins on the all-time list.

At 50 years of age, the Welshman is the oldest player to ever reach the final of this competition, surpassing compatriot Ray Reardon, who was 49 when he lost the 1982 showpiece to Alex Higgins.

This will be the seventh time these two players have faced off on the tour, with Williams leading the head-to-head 4-2, although it was Zhao that triumphed in their most recent meeting en route to his German Masters success three years ago.

Prediction

Regardless of who wins this final there will be a story to come out of it, with Zhao aiming to become China's first Crucible winner and Williams the oldest in the tournament's history.

With both players having looked so impressive in their semi-final victories, picking a winner is difficult, but one thing that should be guaranteed is plenty of high scoring.

Despite spending much of this season on the amateur circuit, Zhao has still managed to muster 20 century breaks in the professional ranks, three of which came during his victory over O'Sullivan.

The Chinese star also holds the second-highest break at this year's World Championship, making a 142 during his first-round win over Jak Jones — a score only beaten by Mark Allen's incredible 147.

Williams has also been scoring well, recording four century breaks in his semi-final victory over Trump, including a knock of 123 in the decisive frame, while it is only the world number one that has produced more three-figure breaks across the tournament.

With all that in mind, the best play for this final could be siding with the two players to combine to make at least seven century breaks across the best-of-35 frame contest.

Back over 6.5 century breaks in the match at 5/4 with LiveScore Bet