Zhao Xintong plays a shot in the World Snooker Championship final as referee Desislava Bozhilova watches on.

Image source, Reuters

Neither player can get properly going in the third frame.

Mark Williams misses a brown to the middle pocket after a great red. "I'm not sure he was totally convinced he wanted to take that pot on, being 2-0 down," says Stephen Hendry in commentary.

But then Zhao Xintong misses a straightforward pink to the middle.

The scrappiest of the three frames so far.

Zhao Xintong carries on where he left off, knocking in a long red at the start of the third frame, but the break ends early when he miscues attempting to pot the next red.

Mark Williams replies with a couple of fine pots, but he runs out of position without making huge inroads either.

Ken Doherty
1997 world champion on BBC One

Even at a young age we could see what a prodigious player Zhao was. He's full of grace and poise the way he goes round the table. The way he took those balls was incredible. He looks totally at ease.

Here are the main stats of both players heading into the final - including Zhao Xintong's qualifying matches:

A break of exactly 100 and Zhao Xintong takes a 2-0 lead in this final. Still a long way to go.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC One

Mark has had a couple of chances in this frame, he won't be worried or panicking at all. He was 7-3 down against Judd Trump in the semi-final but came back and dominated.

But it doesn't matter who you are, you want to get a frame on the board to feel involved in the final.

A plant to the middle pocket gets Zhao Xintong up and running again, and he sets about trying to reduce his 38-point deficit.

In double-quick time he's into the lead, and a run-through on the pink to open up the three remaining reds is played to perfection.

The second frame is at his mercy.

An interesting talking point regarding how fresh both players will be feeling before this final...

Zhao Xintong wrapped up his semi-final on Friday evening so had a day off yesterday, while Mark Williams played two sessions against world number one Judd Trump.

But Zhao - 22 years younger that Williams - has played four extra matches in qualifying to reach this stage. His tournament started on 7 April, so could that be a factor?

Jake Mellor: 2 brilliant players, 1 brilliant referee. What an amazing two days this is going to be.

Our pundits thought this final was too close to call - it seems you agree, based on our quick poll at 13:04...

Meanwhile, Mark Williams has extended his lead to 38 points in the second frame - and then walks to the wrong seat after playing a safety shot, drawing some laughs from the Crucible crowd.

Ken Doherty
1997 world champion on BBC One

The big question before this match was whether Mark's craft and guile would overcome the inexperience of his opponent. At the moment, Zhao has answered that. He looks very comfortable.

Mark Williams has his first pot of the final early in frame two - a long red with position on the black to continue the break.

The Welshman's first chance to show he can score heavily when in among the balls.

But it yields just eight points - the second red did appear to pass the black, but it catches the far jaw.

Zhao Xintong can't capitalise, missing a red into the same corner pocket.

The first Sunday in May.

The Crucible Theatre.

The old lady.

Two finalists.

Iconic.

Image source, PA Media

Two half-centuries in the opening frame - a superb start by Zhao Xintong.

Steve Davis describes Zhao as "the exact opposite of a rabbit in the headlights" in the BBC studio.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC One

Zhao looks born to play here at the Crucible and this one-table situation. He looks so comfortable.

Zhao Xintong will be very happy with this start - he gets another chance and knocks in the couple of reds he needs to make the frame safe.

Zhao Xintong flukes a cross-doubled red into the middle pocket and then lays a snooker tight up behind the brown.

Mark Williams badly misjudges it on a couple of occasions, giving referee Desislava Bozhilova some early work to do to replace the balls. She is officiating in her first world final.

A third attempt doesn't have enough juice, but the fourth hits.

Zhao's lead is now 64 with 83 remaining.

Image source, PA Media

Mark Williams posted this on social media around 10:00 BST but he won't be expecting a walk in the park...

A bit of a safety exchange between the players over the past couple of minutes, with Zhao still 51-0 in front in the opening frame.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield

Matt and Kieran have travelled to Sheffield from Liverpool as part of 30th birthday celebrations and are looking forward to seeing what should be a sensational final between two players who have shown they can pot balls for fun over the course of this World Championship.

"We are just fans of snooker itself. Even though we have no preference for who wins, we think Zhao will probably edge it. It's our first time here, we thought we'd come over because it's Matt's 30th," said Kieran.