World Snooker Championship 2025 FINAL LIVE RESULTS: Zhao Xintong holds huge five-frame lead over Mark Williams
Final Day
Morning and welcome to the final day of this year's World Snooker Championship at the Crucible.
The last two weeks and a bit have seen some of snooker's finest contest in Sheffield for the sport's grandest prize, but only one can win.
From last year's champion in Kyren Wilson being a victim of the Crucible curse in the first round to Ronnie O'Sullivan's remarkable run to the semi-finals, the very best have endured the bravado of snooker's World Cup.
O'Sullivan, like world No.1 Judd Trump, fell to the brilliance of our two finalists: Mark Williams and Zhao Xintong.
The former is no stranger in this arena, looking to a fourth World title to his collection, whilst Zhao aims to become the third consecutive first-time winner and first Asian after the success of Wilson and Luca Brecel in the last years.
There's talk of a potential change in scenery in the future, but when the tournament keeps producing moments like this, why move?
'Snooker and Sheffield go together hand in glove – it used to be steel, it's now snooker,' ex-champion Shaun Murphy said.
Stay tuned for all the latest build-up for the afternoon's action!
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Daily Mirror
7 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Kane fumes at England decision as Tuchel's side suffer embarrassing defeat
Harry Kane bemoaned the decision that would've seen England equalise before going down to Senegal as Jude Bellingham's late strike was ruled out by VAR for handball Harry Kane felt England were cruelly denied an equaliser as Jude Bellingham 's late strike was disallowed with the skipper ruthlessly claiming "if you know the rules it's a goal". The Real Madrid man came off the bench and was looking to help rescue the Three Lions as they trailed to Senegal - eventually falling to defeat. He thought he'd found it with a quick touch and finish from close range, setting up a grandstand finish. However VAR quickly interjected to highlighted a potential handball to the referee, who then went to the screen for a second look. The initial delivery from the corner hit Levi Colwill on the arm before it headed in Bellingham's direction and that was deemed deliberate. As Bellingham, the goalscorer, didn't handle the ball the interpretation of the rule can be different, which is what Kane may have been hinting at as he claimed England should've had a second goal. He told ITV: "If you know the rules it is not handball. It obviously gets us back in the game at 2-2 and maybe we go on and win the game so it is a big moment but its something to discuss with them after." Bellingham's strike would've given England just over five minutes to find a winning goal at the City Ground in Nottingham. Instead Senegal were able to add a third in stoppage time. Both Ian Wright and Roy Keane agreed that the officials had got the decision wrong. The loss comes after Andorra had run England close, eventually losing 1-0 having been level at the break. The Three Lions were booed at half-time and needed a response, but were again poor with jeers ringing out at the full-time whistle. Kane said on the performance: "Again, not really good enough. I think we had moments but with and without the ball aren't quite clicking, the right passes, the right tempo. One-on-one we're losing those duels, lacking that aggressive nature and we got punished. we're playing against a good side. "We're not going to panic, but for sure we know we need to be better. There's some ideas that are new, we have new players in the team who don't haven't international experience. Its a mixture of things but it is no excuse. We need to find it quick, obviously we won't meet again for a few months but the World Cup is going to come around fast." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
The Independent
8 minutes ago
- The Independent
England left battered and booed as Senegal expose the weaknesses Thomas Tuchel must address
Managing England, as Thomas Tuchel is fast discovering, is harder than it may seem. A chastening week took a turn for the worse, culminating in the boos that followed his first defeat. It is a moot point whether losing to an accomplished Senegal side is actually a better result than only beating Andorra 1-0 but, a year from the World Cup, England looked anything but potential winners. It was a momentous occasion instead for Senegal: when Cheikh Sabaly scored the injury-time third, they celebrated becoming the first African team ever to beat England. They did not merely overcome them. They outclassed them. Out-passed, outrun and outwitted, England encountered opponents who were quicker of foot and mind, cleverer and more coherent. That can't all be attributed to Tuchel, in just the fourth game of his reign, but this was a snapshot of familiar England weaknesses. They lost their way after taking an early lead, lacked control in midfield and looked less than the sum of their parts. They were dismal and dreadful. Rarely a man to keep his emotions under wraps, Tuchel was visibly irritated. His quixotic moves compounded their difficulties. If friendlies offer a chance to experiment, if he needs to get to know his new charges, if there is an element of trial and error, some of the choices that backfired felt odd. Even the most successful arguably illustrated their problems. Dean Henderson was the first goalkeeper to concede in Tuchel's tenure but a string of saves illustrated that England at least have a fine alternative to Jordan Pickford. His best stops came in the opening quarter of an hour, blocking Nicolas Jackson 's shot with his legs and parrying his Crystal Palace teammate Ismaila Sarr 's header. Yet he was overworked, his defence shambolic at times. Tuchel had argued that fielding an all- Chelsea centre-back pairing would help subdue Jackson. They did not, though the debutant Trevoh Chalobah made several timely interventions. Levi Colwill fared worse, while Habib Diarra surged behind left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly for Senegal's second goal. Yet neither was embarrassed quite as much as the senior citizen in the back four. While Kyle Walker 's evening included a guided deep cross that, somehow, Anthony Gordon steered wide from four yards, he offered evidence his 96th cap should be his last. Senegal's equaliser was an indictment of Walker: as Jackson hooked the ball across the penalty area, he was too slow to react as Sarr stole in to finish. It should scarcely be news that Walker has lost his speed. A booking for a late challenge on El Hadji Malick Diouf was a case in point: Walker would have got their quicker if he still had his pace. Tuchel had seemed to ignore Walker's performances in his final few months before leaving Manchester City when selecting him; Trent Alexander-Arnold, left unused on the bench, may wonder how he was deemed an inferior option. In midfield, meanwhile, Conor Gallagher was particularly poor in possession. England's formation strayed dangerously close to a lumpen 4-4-2, making it easier for Senegal to outmanoeuvre them. The exception came when Harry Kane dropped deep; at times he came so deep he materialised behind much of the midfield, doing his impression of a quarterback, an East London Andrea Pirlo, looking to release Gordon, who began with energy and intensity but faded. Kane had started his night in familiar terrain and fashion. Tuchel made 10 changes. One name stayed the same: Kane started again and marked a fourth cap under Tuchel with a fourth goal in that time. A tap-in was testament to his predatory instincts, even if much of the credit belonged to Eberechi Eze, for winning the ball from Lamine Camara, and Gordon, whose shot was parried into Kane's path. A 107th cap took him past Sir Bobby Charlton; Kane now has as many goals as Charlton and Geoff Hurst combined. But England are yet to get goals from many of their other attacking talents under Tuchel. When Kane went off, the German initially played without a specialist striker; a slight, perhaps, for Ivan Toney, who was confined to a late cameo, as Morgan Rogers and Eze operated in central attacking roles, with neither as an out-and-out centre-forward. One substitute thought he had equalised, Jude Bellingham celebrating what seemed a leveller only for his volley to be disallowed because Colwill had handled. Another substitute twice almost brought England level. The Nottingham Forest favourite Morgan Gibbs-White was bright and prominent on home soil as Edouard Mendy made two fine saves, denying him and Bukayo Saka. But no sooner had Gibbs-White come on than England were behind, Diarra shooting through Henderson's legs. And another England replacement inadvertently set up their third goal, Curtis Jones losing the ball and Camara, in redemptive fashion, powering away to find Sabaly. After three wins for England came three goals in a loss. Senegal are much the best side they have faced under Tuchel but they could face far better again next summer. To say this bodes badly is an understatement. The rest of the world are unlikely to be quaking in their boots.
Scottish Sun
13 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
England player ratings: Walker's future in jeopardy after horror show as Eze and Madueke show flashes of real quality
Scroll down to see the best of the action from the City Ground SLEEP WALK-ING England player ratings: Walker's future in jeopardy after horror show as Eze and Madueke show flashes of real quality Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ENGLAND suffered their first defeat under Thomas Tuchel and their first to an African nation. Despite taking an early lead through Harry Kane, Senegal fought back with goals either side of half-time in their friendly at the City Ground. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 England suffered defeat at home to Senegal Credit: Reuters 4 The Lions of Teranga became the first African nation to beat the Three Lions Credit: Getty 4 Thomas Tuchel remonstrated with the officials after a controversial VAR call Credit: Reuters 4 Crystal Palace star Ismaila Sarr equalised just before the break. Then Habib Diarra beat Dean Henderson from a tight angle. Jude Bellingham thought he had grabbed a late equaliser. However, the close-range finish was ruled out by VAR for a handball in the build-up from Levi Colwill. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL STAR'S NEW LOVE Millie Bright's personal trainer lover revealed as kickboxer dad of SEVEN Then at the other end, a super Senegal counter-attack was rounded off by Cheikh Sabaly deep into injury time. And so, following the drab 1-0 win over Andorra, it was more disappointment for England to wrap up the season with a year and a day to go until the World Cup. Here's how SunSport's Tom Barclay rated the Three Lions players... Dean Henderson: 6 Making just his third cap for England, the Crystal Palace stopper made a number of good stops in the first half. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS The pick of the bunch was against club-mate Ismaila Sarr's header, but there was nothing Henderson could do about the jet-heeled winger's finish shortly before the break. May feel he could have done better for the second goal as he was beaten from an acute angle. 'They looked bored' - Roy Keane slams England's 'poor attitude' as Thomas Tuchel admits 'I didn't like' Andorra effort Kyle Walker: 3 This was Walker's 96th cap - but his poor performance means a 97th is by no means guaranteed. A good cross for Anthony Gordon aside, Walker was rusty with his touch and looked uncharacteristically slow. The way Sarr raced past him for the leveller made you wonder if time is finally catching up on the 35-year-old stalwart. Trevoh Chalobah: 6 An okay showing on his England bow, coming up against his Chelsea colleague Nicolas Jackson. Though Chalobah was caught out for the leveller, with Jackson managing to get in behind him and hook it back for Sarr to net. Chalobah's appearance meant for just the third time since the start of the 20th century England had two brothers representing them, following on from sibling Nathaniel's solitary cap in 2018. Levi Colwill: 4 Not a great night for the Chelsea man on his fifth cap. Had a slack pass charged down by Jackson early in the second half which served as a warning. Then got nowhere near Habib Diarra as the midfielder raced onto a long ball from Blues old boy Kalidou Koulibaly and then slotted it past Henderson. His handball also saw Jude Bellingham's late equaliser ruled out after a VAR intervention. Myles Lewis-Skelly: 5 Was nowhere to be seen when Koulibaly's ball went into England's left-back area for the second goal. Did not do much else wrong but also did not catch the eye either with not a lot of stepping into midfield. Then again, the guy is only 18 and it is more a mark of the brilliant impact he has made so far that this performance left you feeling underwhelmed. Third cap. Conor Gallagher: 5 Mixed game for the Atletico Madrid man who was one of four of England's starting line-up heading off to the Club World Cup. He was burnt for pace by Iliman Ndiaye early on, chose not to pass to Gordon when the Newcastle man was in the clear and was lucky not to be booked for a lunge on Sarr. But he did tee up Gordon for the shot that led to Kane's opener. Declan Rice: 5 Some lax passing that perhaps was not unexpected in the final game of a long, frustrating season. But let's be honest, whatever Rice had done here, we know he will still be an automatic starter in central midfield come next summer. The question remains, who will join him? Bukayo Saka: 5 His first appearance under Thomas Tuchel, having been injured for the German's first two games and left out for fitness reasons of the third against Andorra on Saturday. It certainly was not his most memorable performance, though he was only just back from a strain. Looked like he was about to level for 2-2 but was denied by a fabulous stop from Edouard Mendy. Eberechi Eze: 7 (STAR MAN) In a team performance bereft of real quality, Eze provided a few flashes of class. He was the one who won the ball in the build-up to Kane's opener. While the Crystal Palace star also plucked the ball out of the air brilliantly on two occasions - and had a gorgeous backheel to tee up Morgan Gibbs-White. Anthony Gordon: 5 Gordon's international career has been a perplexing one, looking like it could explode at times but ultimately failing to launch so far. This was his 12th cap and there were hints of what he can bring with his rapid pace and enthusiastic pressing. But he was not clinical enough in front of goal, missing a sitter midway through the first half, once again leaving fans wondering if he has the genuine quality to shine at this level. Harry Kane: 7 Kane plays, Kane scores. It has been rinse and repeat for a decade. Here it happened again as he tapped in a rebound for his 73rd in 107 caps, an appearance feat which drew him level with Ashley Cole. Did not do a right lot else, mind, although still looked our best passer, which is an issue for Tuchel and his midfield. SUBS Morgan Gibbs-White (for Gordon, 58): 6 Biggest cheer of the day was when the Nottingham Forest star was introduced in front of the City Ground. Had a blast well saved. Curtis Jones (for Gallagher, 58): 5 Fired a shot well over soon after coming on, and lost the ball in the build-up to Senegal's third. Morgan Rogers (for Kane, 58): 6 Played up front when coming on while Ivan Toney was left on the bench. Full of running but the team struggled to pick him out. Noni Madueke (for Saka, 70): 7 It was his corner that led to England's equaliser - until ref Stephanie Frappart ruled it out after looking at her touchline monitor. Jude Bellingham (for Rice, 70): 7 Thought he had levelled after a clever touch and finish but the goal was chalked off for Colwill's handball. Ivan Toney (for Lewis-Skelly, 87): 6 First England appearance since going to Saudi Arabia but he was on so late, he barely had time to make an impact - even if he has a famous history of doing exactly that. MANAGER Thomas Tuchel: 3 HIS first defeat in his fourth game and it was well-deserved. Senegal were much the better team as his side lacked creativity and looked vulnerable at the back. Question marks over his decision to play veterans like Walker - and Jordan Henderson in previous games - remain. While you wondered what the point of selecting Ivan Toney was if he was barely going to play once Kane went off. None of Tuchel's quartet of matches have been that impressive so far - but this was downright dire.
