I'm still shaking as I type this. What we just witnessed at the Crucible might go down as the most insane comeback in snooker history.

Zhao Xintong was ONE. SINGLE. FRAME. away from making history as the first Asian player and first amateur to lift the World Championship trophy. The guy had Williams on the ropes, practically measuring the trophy for his mantelpiece. Then... well, snooker happened.

The Comeback That Broke Physics

Williams looked dead and buried when we started the evening session. I'd already drafted half this article about Zhao's historic win (my editor is gonna kill me for scrapping four hours of work). The Welshman walked into the arena with this weird calm about him - almost like he knew something we didn't.

Three frames later, my colleague leaned over and whispered, "Is this actually happening?" It was.

Williams started potting balls like they were magnetized to the pockets. Clearance after clearance. I've covered snooker since 2016, and I've never seen focus like that. The man's 50 years old for crying out loud!

£500K and a Place in History

Let's talk about what was at stake here. Not just the iconic trophy that Williams has kissed twice before. Half a million quid. That's life-changing money for Zhao especially - the amateur who fought through qualifiers and had the snooker world buzzing for two straight weeks.

God. Poor Zhao.

Where Were You When It All Went Down?

If you missed it live (and why teh hell would you?), you can still catch the highlights on BBC iPlayer. Free streaming - the only good thing the license fee gets us these days.

I was sitting three rows back, watching Zhao's face as the momentum shifted. You could literally see the moment he realized what was happening. His coach dropped his head into his hands during frame 31. That told us everything.

The Sheffield Roar

The crowd was... complicated. Started firmly behind Williams (home nations loyalty and all that), then swung toward Zhao as he built his lead. By teh end, it was just pure appreciation for the drama. The noise when Williams sank that final black... I think I've lost 40% of my hearing.

My mate texted me from the concourse: "Just witnessed a grown man cry into his pint. Best £75 I've ever spent on a ticket."

What's Next?

Williams heads to the Champions Ball tonight. (Back in 2018 when he won, he showed up naked to the press conference... please god, not again.)

For Zhao, this will sting. For weeks, months... maybe forever. Coming that close to making history only to watch it slip away? Brutal.

The evening session kicked off at 7pm on BBC One and TNT Sports 1 & 3. If you're reading this wondering how you missed such an epic sporting moment... I don't know what to tell you. Some things you just had to see live.

I need a drink after that one. And maybe a new job where my heart doesn't get put through a blender every April.