Ex-Match of the Day star spotted in crowd watching Zhao Xintong vs Mark Williams in World Snooker Championship final
ADRIAN CHILES enjoyed a front row seat at this evening's World Snooker Championship final.
Zhao Xintong took on Mark Williams in the Crucible showpiece.
Advertisement
3
Adrian Chiles could be seen in the front row behind Mark Williams
Credit: BBC
3
Chiles, 58, had a brilliant view of the action
Credit: Getty
The Chinese star, 28, went into the evening session leading 17-8, needing just one more frame to clinch victory.
Three-time world champion Williams, however, refused to give up without a fight - winning four consecutive frames to go into the interval 17-12 down.
Watching on from the front row was Match of the Day legend Chiles.
The 58-year-old presented MOTD2 from 2004 to 2010.
Advertisement
READ MORE IN SPORT
The huge
Chiles' appearance sparked plenty of chatter on social media.
As Williams, 50, began to launch a comeback, one X user wrote: "Mark Williams doing it for Adrian Chiles there. Making sure his money wasn't wasted. What a man. What a men."
While a second commented: "lol at Adrian chiles being in the background of every low camera shot."
Advertisement
Most read in Snooker
Exclusive
CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
3
Zhao Xintong hoists aloft the trophy at the Crucible
Credit: Getty
A third posted: "You can keep your global sports stars, Hollywood A-listers and YouTube influencers front row at the boxing. Give me Adrian Chiles, Reverend & The Maker and Steve Bracknall any day."
With Chiles watching on, Zhao
Advertisement
Mark Williams apologises for swearing in live TV interview on the BBC after reaching World Snooker Championship final
The Cyclone held his nerve to complete an 18-12 victory, becoming China's first ever world champion in the process.
Following his historic triumph, Zhao said: "I can't believe this. Yes, I can't believe what I have done in this match. I'm very excited. Thank you.
"I have been so nervous. Mark is a top player and gave me so much pressure. He's the best.
"I'm not tired. I will celebrate, maybe have a good drink tonight. I need to say thank you to everybody coming here. Thank you everybody.
Advertisement
"I can't believe this. I think I am dreaming. Maybe it's true. Thank you to my parents, manager Victoria and girlfriend, WST and CBSA academy."
'UNBELIEVABLE'
Williams, who has been
"The support I have had from the crowd over the last two weeks have been unbelievable.
"What a potter he is over there, I'm glad I will be too old when he's dominating the game.
Advertisement
"I have nothing but admiration for what he has done, having come through the qualifiers.
"He hasn't played for two years, bashed Ronnie up, bashed me up, bashed everybody up.
"There's a new superstar of the game and here's over there.
"Let's see where I am in the rankings at 60. I am still playing quite good stuff. Even though it's a bit blurry. What I can say, the night belongs to him and congratulations.
Advertisement
"It was unbelievable, the reception I have had all week, but tonight it was special. Everybody was on their feet and it was like a tear to the eye."
World Snooker Championship 2025
THE World Snooker Championship has concluded after a thrilling final!
Follow all the reaction with SunSport's live blog of the World Snooker Championship
Latest News
Snooker Explained
FULL results for 2025
How much prize money was won?
Who were the BBC snooker presenters and pundits?
What is on Zhao Xintong's bow tie?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
29 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Three killer holes at Oakmont including one that cost Tiger Woods a US Open as Rory McIlroy and Co face savage test
WELCOME to the torture chamber hosting the world's top stars for the next four days, as the US Open comes to Oakmont for a record tenth time. Some holes are as notorious as the players are famous, with hot favourite Advertisement 11 English ace Justin Rose gets down to business in practice Credit: Alamy 11 Scottie Scheffler is the favourite after three wins in four tournaments Credit: Alamy 11 Bryson DeChambeau asked for patience as he signed autographs Credit: Reuters 11 It's three and far from easy for players at Oakmont this week Back in 2007 legend However, reigning champion And world no.2 But here's a look at three of the toughest holes any golfer could face - plus the verdict of players on the ominous Oakmont course. Advertisement Hole 3 (par 4 - 462 yards) THIS difficult par-four provides the first sight of the massive Church Pews bunker down the left-hand side of the fairway. And if you steer too far wide of it, there is a row of deep bunkers down the right waiting to gobble up balls. Rated as one of the toughest holes on the course — just ask Tiger Woods. He made his only double-bogey here in 2007 and ended up finishing one shot behind eventual winner 11 DeChambeau hailed his US Open glory at Pinehurst last year Credit: AP Advertisement 11 Tiger Woods famously found trouble at Oakmont in 2007 Credit: Getty BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Most read in Golf Hole 4 (par 5 - 611 yards) ONE of only two par-fives and considered a must-birdie hole as it is shorter than the 12th — which can play anything from 632 to 684 yards. Church Pews bunker is in play down the left. Going for the green in two means taking on a long, blind shot. DeChambeau and Rose's response to how club golfers would cope at Oakmont US Open course Hole 8 (par 3 - 289 yards) THIS is where The Beast — as Oakmont is known — really shows its teeth. Advertisement It usually plays into the wind, so most will have to reach for the driver. Johnny Miller made his only bogey when he shot a course-record 63 on his way to the 1973 US Open here. He said it felt like a par! Scheffler's "hardest ever" verdict on the course is more than matched by the assessment of fellow superstar players. Double UPSGA champ Justin Thomas says 'you can look stupid pretty fast' at the US Open venue, and reckons it will 'psyche a lot of guys out before they hit a shot'. Advertisement But another double Major winner, 11 DeChambeau watches his practice putt on the 14th green Credit: Getty 11 Scheffler putts on the same hole on the tournament eve Credit: Shutterstock Editorial But is all the talk about this 7,531 yards par 70 being the toughest course on the planet justified? In the words of Advertisement Johnson finished four under par nine years ago, on a course playing much easier than usual, because so much rain fell it was nicknamed 'Soakmont'. But only three other players in the 156 man field finished below par - all on one under - and 14 of the 18 holes played above par. Eight of them featured in the top fifty hardest holes among the 990 used on the PGA Tour that year. That did not compare to what happened at the previous US Open at Oakmont, in 2007. That year all EIGHTEEN holes played over par. Advertisement Meanwhile, Woods' Pew peril led to caddie Steve Williams suggesting he should throw a few balls in there so Woods could practice escaping from the trap. Woods shook his head and replied: "No way. I don't practice negativity. I'm just going to avoid it. I'll hit away from it every day." The hole that strikes most terror in competitors' hearts is the 289 yards par three eighth, which is likely to be pushed back beyond 300 yards at least once this week. He did, but still only managed to break par once on his way to runners-up spot. But the hole that strikes most terror into the hearts of the competitors is the fearsome 289 yards par three eighth, which is likely to be pushed back beyond the 300 yards mark at least once this week. Advertisement World No 4 He explained: 'I completely forgot that that was the long par three, and I honestly asked Joe, my caddie, and everyone in the group, do you go for this par four or do you lay up? 'Now that I know it's a par three, I recommend going for it! I'll probably hit driver or three wood and hopefully hit the green. If not, make up-and-down. 'Honestly. it's a hole I'll take four pars right now, and walk away.' Advertisement Schauffele reckons some players will have bruised egos about using a driver on a par three, but said they had to 'suck it up' to give themselves the best chance of making par. And he reckons TV viewers will love the carnage they are likely to witness over the next few days. He explained: 'I don't think people turn the TV on this week to watch some of the guys just hit like a 200 yard shot onto the green, you know what I mean? 'I think they turn on the U.S. Open to see a guy shooting eight over, and watch him suffer. That's part of the enjoyment of the U.S. Open for viewers. Advertisement 'My attitude is that you have to stay as calm as possible because we're all going to struggle at times. Maybe that's why I've done so well in this tournament. 11 Sam Burns is a figure of focus as he practices Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 'I think I look pretty level-headed when I play, but internally I might be absolutely just thrashing myself. That happens to me more than you might think. 'I think truly having a good attitude is accepting what just happened, and allowing yourself to be pretty much at zero to hit the next shot.' Advertisement Thomas believes most of the field will not be able to handle the setbacks as well as the top players. He said: 'Being perfectly honest, and very selfish, I hope it psyches a lot of players out. This course requires tons of patience and discipline, and not everyone can get a handle on that. 'Above all else, Oakmont tests the mental aspect of your game. But with tight fairways, deep rough, difficult bunkers and lightning fast greens it also tests you to the limit technically too. 'If you just get lazy - like on any drive, any wedge shot, any chip, any putt - you can look stupid pretty fast. Advertisement Read more on the Irish Sun 'But I understand this place is hard. I don't need to read articles, or I don't need to hear horror stories. I've played it. I know it's difficult." So sit back and enjoy the ride. It is going to be a bumpy one. 11 Collin Morikawa took a snap of Gary Woodland's club Credit: Reuters 11 Will Chandler spent time on the driving range Credit: Alamy Advertisement
Irish Examiner
35 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Tom Dunne: Rory Gallagher still rocking Cork 30 years after his passing
You will be hard pressed to avoid Rory Gallagher's presence in Cork this weekend. Thirty years gone but never forgotten. The main road in Cork airport is to be named after him, exhibitions at City Hall and the Library, a city-wide walking trail… it is as it should be. The consensus at this point is that he is Cork's finest cultural export and I wouldn't question that. Time spent in Rory's world is time well spent. It does the heart good. Rory rocked Cork and Cork rocks Rory. I met him twice. The first, when my band Something Happens made its first ever UK appearance in the late 1980s. As part of that magic trip, a very early days Ryan Air flight, a gig at Vince Power's Mean Fiddler, a night in the Columbia Hotel, we were invited onto the BBC. It was impossible to have seen any BBC output in those days without having also seen Broadcasting House, the BBC London headquarters. Situated between Oxford Street and Regent's Park, bombed twice in World War II, it seemed as iconic as the queen herself. It was the last place you expected to hear a Cork accent. But as we approached the doors that was what we heard. 'You an Irish band lads?' asked the voice. We turned and there he was, Rory Gallagher. Bold as brass and twice as good-looking. He asked how we were getting on, seemed genuinely excited that we had signed a record deal, enquired about Virgin, sang the praises of the Mean Fiddler, and wished us the best in our interview. We were gobsmacked, speechless, in awe. I hear his voice still. A few years later we got to play with him at the Lark by the Lee in Cork. We stood side stage to watch that most inspiring of all sights: Rory Gallagher, his 1961 Fender Strat and his Vox AC30 amp. The holy trinity of rock. A spinning dervish, the guitar speaking for him, saying what he couldn't. I still think of it. It comes with a whiff of imposter syndrome for us to have been on that same stage as him, but for him to have made time to talk to us that night at the BBC, the sheer generosity of it, is something I will never forget. I hope in the exhibitions, one of which Rory's Early Impact focuses on his early years in the Fontana Show Band (later The Impact) a light is shone, tangentially at least, on his mum, Monica. If a proper biopic is ever made, hers will be a key role. It was Monica who took Rory and his younger brother Donal to live in Cork when the children were very young. Rory already has his sights set on music and Monica promised to buy him a guitar if he settled in his new school. It was she who accompanied him to Crowley's music shop, then on Merchant's Quay when in 1963 he had his heart set on a Fender guitar. He'd hoped that when faced with Mick Crowley she'd weaken and buy him the guitar despite the exorbitant price of £129. But she stood firm. Jim recalled that once outside the shop there was a conflab and after it, Monica returned to ask if they ever got in any second-hand Strats. Mick told her it was unlikely. He'd only sold two or three such guitars and most people would keep them forever. What happened next is a fantastic reflection on the vagaries of the Irish showband scene at the time. When a member of the Royal Showband found that his new guitar clashed with the band's new suits it was the guitar got hocked and not the suits. Crowley's suddenly had a second-hand Strat. Mick made his way to the Gallagher's and left a message. Rory slipped out of school to examine the guitar and conclude 'Yep, that's the one!' He was back with Monica at 5.30pm to pay a deposit and negotiate a hire purchase. In his showband days, still a young teen and playing gigs while still going to the North Mon school, Rory fell foul of the teachers and was beaten for his long hair. Monica pulled him out of the school and deposited him at Saint Kieran's college, a co-ed on Camden Quay. Monica warned the new principle: 'My son is a musician…some mornings he will be late coming in.' It wasn't off the stones he licked it, as they say.
The Irish Sun
44 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Cruz Beckham post heartbreaking family snap after brother Brooklyn tells them he ‘wants no contact'
CRUZ Beckham has shared a throwback family snap amid the ongoing family feud between the Beckhams. The youngest son of David and Victoria appeared to be looking back at happier times in the family as he shared an old snap of the three brothers with their mum after she had just given birth to daughter, Harper Seven. Advertisement 5 Cruz has shared a throwback snap of his family amid the ongoing feud Credit: Instagram 5 The family are locked in a feud Credit: Instagram/victoriabeckham The snap, believed to be taken in 2011, showed the three boys beaming down the lens of the camera as they snuggled up to their mum. Victoria tenderly held her daughter in the heartwarming picture. Cruz's decision to upload the image is very telling amid ongoing tension in the family after Brooklyn decided he no longer wanted contact with his famous family. Cruz did not add any captions nor did he tag his family members in the snap. Advertisement Read More on the Beckham's Earlier today, it was revealed that Brooklyn is refusing to reply to messages amid the bitter feud, according to reports. The 26-year-old, who lives in LA has no desire to speak to his parents or siblings after only in the press, an insider has told . The sourced said: "Brooklyn told his family he wants no contact and he's not responding to those that try to connect.' However, a source close to Brooklyn denied this and said, "this seems to be another deliberate attempt to misrepresent the truth, and it only serves to distract from this honor being bestowed on Brooklyn's father." Advertisement Most read in Celebrity The Sun has contacted representatives for Brooklyn and the Beckhams for comment. England legend as part of King Charles' birthday honours. Peltz-Beckham's respond to reports of family feud It's a title he has coveted for some time and it means Victoria will be come Lady Beckham. David was first put forward for a knighthood in 2011 after helping to secure the London 2012 Olympics. Advertisement But he was His finances were cleared by the taxman at least four years ago - paving the way for him to finally get the coveted honour. Just weeks ago we revealed how David and Victoria feel there might be no way to reconcile with their eldest child. , who was a no-show at David's star-studded 50th birthday celebrations last month, shared a video of himself and riding on his motorbike and wrote: 'My whole world. I will love you forever. I always choose you baby.' Advertisement Those close to A source added: 'It shows how much this situation with his family has escalated. 5 Brooklyn has cut all contact with his family Credit: Getty 5 Brooklyn has been going through a difficult time Credit: Getty Advertisement "It's very sad for everyone involved, especially 'This post was like a dagger to their hearts but they will always be there for Tensions became public when Brooklyn did not publicly acknowledge fashion designer . He then failed to show at any of His mum and dad have continued to acknowledge him on social media, but pals of Brooklyn and Nicola suggested that was for show. Advertisement The Sun revealed that the couple recently had 5 The timing of Cruz's post is very telling Credit: Instagram
