Frame ball is a simple black to the corner - one Zhao Xintong will have potted millions of times in practice.

Snookers required now for Mark Williams, who has put up an extremely brave fight tonight, but his race is run.

We're about to crown a new world champion - the first man from Asia to win the title at the Crucible.

Plenty of open reds, the frame at his mercy - Zhao Xintong might be about to achieve his dream of becoming a world champion.

"He's just got to hold himself together," says John Virgo in the commentary box.

Zhao Xintong's demeanour has not changed at all during this match, but he could be forgiven for that heart rate going up a couple of beats per minute at this stage.

However, that's a rash attempt at a long red to keep his break going and he's left Mark Williams on a red to the corner.

Zhao leads by 23.

But Williams is left with his head on the table after he misses a close red with the rest. Could that be it?

Image source, Reuters

This could be the chance that Zhao Xintong is looking for to clinch frame, match and tournament.

Mark Williams has a go at a long red which pops back out of the jaws and gives Zhao an opportunity in among a host of open reds.

Can the 28-year-old hold himself together?

Is the seemingly impossible possible? Mark Williams has won four frames in a row tonight, he needs to win the remaining six to become world champion for a fourth time.

Thumbs up if you think Williams will mount the comeback of all comebacks, and down if not.

BBC Two

The coverage on BBC Two has just been showing a review of this year's World Championship - it really has been a cracker.

My highlight? Plenty to choose from, but Luca Brecel turning up for his first eight frames against Ding Junhui with about 20 minutes to spare having flown in from Belgium and then producing one of the most stunning sessions in Crucible history is right up there. A maverick.

Anyway, the two finalists are back in the arena and you can watch the finale on BBC Two, the BBC iPlayer or at the top of this page.

That's exactly what you came to this live text commentary for - a picture of a vol-au-vent.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

When the mindset of the players change, you can get a different pattern of play. When you relax a bit, your luck changes.

The most worried person might be the person who's done the vol-au-vents for the after-match party. They will be going cold.

Image source, Getty Images

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

Mark is free-wheeling and him playing the way he is - it is so dangerous, it can frighten the pants off you.

The best thing that can happen is for Zhao to get out of the arena and into the interval because if Mark carries on playing the way he is, he'll win frame after frame.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield

The greatest deficit that any player has come back to win at the Crucible is nine frames.

That was only a couple of years back when Luca Brecel fought back from 14-5 down to defeat Si Jiahui 17-15 in a semi-final.

Dennis Taylor was 9-1 down against Steve Davis in the 1985 final but Mark Williams really is in uncharted territory. He must be kicking himself for losing the two afternoon sessions by an aggregate score of 13-3.

The roar when the players left the arena - my word, this Crucible crowd are being treated to something special tonight.

He couldn't, could he?

This is ridiculous. Mark Williams is potting balls off spots, off cushions, off the lampshades.

I must admit I never thought I'd be writing this sentence about an hour ago, but...

We'll be going to a mid-session interval.

Mark Williams is a crowd favourite at the Crucible.

He was given an extraordinary ovation when entering the arena for this evening session, and has really treated his fans so far.

He's 37 points up in this frame and in with a chance for four in a row.

Image source, Reuters

Shaun Murphy
2005 world champion on BBC Two

He can't do any more than this. What a fighter.

Will frame 29 be the one where Zhao Xintong gets it done, or will Mark Williams ensure we have a mid-session interval?

An almost embarrassed smile from the Welshman as a long red wobbles in the jaws, hits another and the top spin takes it into the opposite corner.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

If these frames start to eke away, it will get interesting. but you feel Zhao Xintong just needs one crack at it.

Ben Price: There is such a long way to go, but can you imagine if Mark Williams wins the World Championship from here?!

Jack: Mark Williams is going to do this. This is going to be the greatest comeback in snooker history.

Century break number two of the evening for Mark Williams? Not quite - but it's 17-11 now.

He's won all three frames so far tonight.

Shaun Murphy
2005 world champion on BBC Two

It's amazing, the grit and determination to keep going, no matter how bad the situation looks.

If the number 17 wasn't next to Zhao Xintong's name, he would start to get a little bit worried here.

The fact he needs just one frame to be champion of the world - you would think he will get a clear chance, but he hasn't had it yet, such has been the brilliance of Mark so far tonight.

Is this going to be another frame back for Mark Williams?

His break is up to 35 and he has plenty of loose reds, although the clearance is a little more complicated by the fact that the black is only available into one corner pocket.

Williams soon rectifies that - should win the frame from here.