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. Brecel's toilet mishap

    Shamoon Hafez
    BBC Sport at the York Barbican

    Luca BrecelPA Media

    Luca Brecel has been flawless on the table, particularly in with his barrage of scoring in the semi-final victory over Kyren Wilson.

    But he might not have made it to the final because of a slight off-table issue before his fourth-round match against Anthony Hamilton.

    Brecel had taken a trip to the toilet at his apartment when the door lock got jammed and he was stuck inside.

    "I was in there for about 10 minutes," Brecel told reporters on Saturday. "But I only had a further 10 minutes to get to the venue in time for my match."

    After managing to click the lock back into place, he hastily made it to the Barbican and completed a comprehensive victory.

    Asked if he feared getting docked frames for appearing late, Brecel replied: "I won 6-1 anyway. I could have stayed in there a bit longer."

  2. Frame two: Brecel 0-1 Zhao

    Luca Brecel made four century breaks in a devastating display of potting against Kyren Wilson in Saturday's semi-final.

    More of the same very much needed here and a lax safety from Zhao Xintong gives him his first chance with the reds already split and an easy opener over the middle bag in his sights.

  3. The good and great of snooker send their support

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  4. Zhao takes the opener

    Frame one: Brecel 0-1 Zhao

    A break of 79 sees Zhao Xintong take the first frame. A real statement of intent from the Chinese player.

  5. Brecel v Zhao

    What can Zhao Xintong do here? He made one century and three breaks of 78, a 74 and an 81 in his resounding win over Barry Hawkins.

    He's already heading towards a half century.

  6. Brecel v Zhao

    What a way to get under way. Zhao Xintong takes on a long red and smashes it in. No signs of any early nerves there.

  7. Away we go

    Right all the pre-match photographs are done and dusted. Here we go.

  8. Head-to-head

    Brecel v Zhao

    The players have just emerged to a huge roar.

    Let's have a quick ganders at how they compare.

    Head-to-headBBC Sport

  9. Watch: 'The Barbican has erupted' - Brecel completes win over Wilson

    Brecel v Zhao

    If this doesn't help you get in the mood for this one, I don't know what will.

  10. Brecel v Zhao

    Belgium's Luca Brecel is set to face China's Zhao Xintong in the UK Championship final, with both players aiming to win the event for the first time.

    Brecel, 26, overcame Kyren Wilson with a barrage of brutal scoring, including four centuries, to triumph 6-4.

    Zhao, 24, was also in destructive form, dismantling former World Championship finalist Barry Hawkins 6-1.

    Sunday's best-of-19 final, live across the BBC, will guarantee a new name being engraved on the trophy.

    An added significance to the contest will see the winner not only taking home the trophy and £200,000 in prize money, but also climbing into the elite top 16 and qualifying for next month's invitational Masters event in London.

  11. Watch: UK Championship final live on BBC Two

    BBC Two

    Snooker is very much a global game but I have to say I'm pretty pleased to be watching this one from the UK.

    You can tune into our coverage on BBC Two now or just click the play button at the top of the page.

    World snooker map@WeAreWST

  12. The start of new era for snooker?

    Luca Brecel & Zhao XintongPA Media

    Two prodigious talents currently in their twenties.

    Two players ranked outside [at present] the world's top 16 and two players aiming to win a Triple Crown event for the first time.

    Welcome to our coverage of the UK Championship final between Belgium's Luca Brecel and China's Zhao Xintong.

    The start of new era for snooker?