Summary

  • China's Zhao Xintong beats Luca Brecel 10-5 to win UK Championship

  • First ranking title at age of 24

  • Only the fourth non-British winner of the Triple Crown event

  • Moves up to ninth in world rankings and secures place at Masters

  • Zhao led 5-3 after opening session at York Barbican

Live Reporting

Steve Sutcliffe

  1. Frame 12: Brecel 4-7 Zhao

    Zhao Xintong is in command of this frame at 62-6 but is not going to get over the line here.

  2. Frame 12: Brecel 4-7 Zhao

    Zhao Xintong gets to 56 before his run ends.

    But the pink is on the right cushion and the black is nestled on the bottom rail. Not much for Luca Brecel to work with.

    And an attempted double goes all wrong on six, to leave his opponent with an easy start into the top left corner. The snooker gods definitely smiling on Zhao so far.

  3. Frame 12: Brecel 4-7 Zhao

    These pockets look like buckets for Zhao Xintong. At the very least American pool pockets. Another pink rolls into the middle at pace.

    Another half century well in view.

  4. Get Involved

    #bbcsnooker

    James: It appears the crowd have forgotten how to behave. How many times has the ref had to tell people to switch their phones off or stop shouting out?

  5. Frame 12: Brecel 4-7 Zhao

    Lots of oohs and aahs in the arena as both players take on pots and miss them, incurring the wrath of the referee, Ben Williams.

  6. Frame 12: Brecel 4-7 Zhao

    Luca Brecel gets back out of is seat but at least he's now able to smile. That was excellent.

    Still a lot of work to do mind.

  7. Frame 11: Brecel 4-7 Zhao

    Steve Davis
    Six-time world champion on BBC Two

    Zhao is looking really relaxed but Luca has given himself half a chance by winning that frame.

  8. 'Impressive from Luca Brecel'

    Frame 11: Brecel 4-7 Zhao

    John Parrott
    1991 world champion on BBC Two

    That was a very impressive frame from Luca Brecel with what he's had to put up with and the way he's been blitzed. That was an unexpected miss from Zhao into the middle pocket.

  9. Brecel pulls a frame back

    Frame 11: Brecel 4-7 Zhao

    As good as Zhao Xintong has been, this is a wonderful show of composure from Luca Brecel.

    He must have been in bits after spending most of the first two frames this evening in his chair.

    He knocks in a long red and is back in business.

  10. Frame 11: Brecel 3-7 Zhao

    Luca Brecel must be on edge every time he comes to the table.

    A strange sound followed by fits of laughter breaks the tension as Zhao and Brecel crack a smile. Brecel then takes the lead in the frame with the black and is looking in decent shape.

    He makes a break of 64. One snooker required.

  11. Get Involved

    #bbcsnooker

    Daniel Hurst: Goodness me. Zhao is making this look easy - Ronnie levels of easy!

    Leigh Sadler: Haven't seen snooker like this for a while, magic...

    Tiny Tom Wells: Wow. First time watching Zhao, I’m a fan

  12. Frame 11: Brecel 3-7 Zhao

    An untimely touch on the knuckle of the right middle sees Luca Brecel give up another 27 points to Zhao Xintong.

    Is this another frame gone? Not yet. Zhao amazingly rattles pink against the same knuckle that was Brecel's undoing a few moments back.

    About time the Belgian had a touch of fortune.

  13. Frame 11: Brecel 3-7 Zhao

    Steve Davis
    Six-time world champion on BBC Two

    Luca Brecel had a chance on the pink but the trouble is that the hole being dug for him is getting deeper and deeper. But we are witnessing a player coming of age to being one of the top players in the world.

    Zhao Xintong is growing in stature. As his opponent gets weaker he is getting stronger. Zhao is looking like a top eight, top four player of the future.

  14. 'He is top drawer'

    Frame 11: Brecel 3-7 Zhao

    John Parrott
    1991 world champion on BBC Two

    In the blink of an eye it has gone from 5-3 to 7-3. Zhao Xintong does not look like he is going to miss when he gets in. His cue-ball control is fabulous. It is effortless. I love watching him play. He is top drawer.

  15. 100 runs

    Zhao century sees him go four frames ahead

    Frame 10: Brecel 3-7 Zhao

    Zhao Xintong clears up and makes 120. His first century of the match.

    Just what Luca Brecel would have wanted!

  16. Frame 10: Brecel 3-6 Zhao

    Zhao Xintong has got this frame in the bag. And the way he is going this match could be over by 20:00 GMT.

    He's on 85 and closing in on a ton. This is sensational snooker.

  17. Frame 10: Brecel 3-6 Zhao

    A brief moment of humour as Zhao Xintong tries to knock a fly into the middle pocket.

    Uncharacteristically it takes him more than one go. A few laughs from the crowd. Luca Brecel is stony-faced mind.

    He is well aware that his opponent is racing towards another frame.

  18. Frame 10: Brecel 3-6 Zhao

    Zhao Xintong with another chance at a long red but this time he gets his angles all wrong.

    Luca Brecel is at the table and knocks in an easy opener. In goes the black and another red before his break unravels on a routine pink.

    Oh my. He'd have never missed that against Kyren Wilson on Saturday.

  19. Frame 10: Brecel 3-6 Zhao

    Steve Davis
    Six-time world champion on BBC Two

    This match is no entering another phase. Can Zhao Xintong keep his lead and can he maintain it and push on?

  20. Frame 10: Brecel 3-6 Zhao

    John Parrott
    1991 world champion on BBC Two

    If you are Luca you would be thinking, 'go on, have a go at this' and then you end up losing the frame.