I've been glued to my TV for the past two weeks, and I'm not even ashamed to admit it. The World Snooker Championship has delivered some absolute shockers this year - with half a million quid on the line, you'd expect nothing less!

Poor Kyren Wilson. The defending champ walked into Sheffield with that confident strut, probably already mentally spending some of that prize money... only to get absolutely demolished by Lei Peifan in the first round. The Crucible Curse strikes again! I actually had a tenner on Wilson making at least the quarters - shows what I know about snooker predictions.

When the Mighty Fall (and They Really Did)

The tournament has been absolutely brutal to the big names. World number one Judd Trump? Gone. Sent packing by the Welsh Wizard Mark Williams in a semi-final that had me spilling my beer at least twice. And Ronnie? God. The Rocket's quest for that record-breaking eighth title will have to wait another year after Zhao Xintong absolutely dismantled him 17-7 in a semi-final that was painful to watch if you're an O'Sullivan fan (which, full disclosure, I am).

My mate Dave texted me during that match: "Is Ronnie even trying anymore?" Harsh, but teh scoreline tells its own story.

Sheffield's Snooker Temple Has Been Electric

For those who've somehow missed it (were you living under a rock?), the action kicked off on April 19th and wraps up tomorrow night - Monday, May 5th. The Crucible has been absolutely buzzing.

I was lucky enough to grab tickets for the quarter-finals last Tuesday. £85 they cost me, but worth every penny to feel that atmosphere in person. The silence when players are at the table is so intense you can hear people breathing three rows away.

Where to Catch Every Last Pot

Been watching mostly on BBC Two, though they've been bouncing coverage between BBC One and Four as well. If you're stuck at work (like I was during that epic Higgins-Williams quarter), the iPlayer has been a lifesaver - literally every single ball from opening break to final black.

TNT Sports has coverage too, but who's paying for that when the BBC's giving it away free? Not me!

The Road to Glory Was Littered With Casualties

Looking back at the schedule, it's been absolute carnage. Remember when Allen got absolutely schooled by Wakelin 13-6? I was convinced Allen would go deep this year. Another betting slip in the bin.

The first round gave us some proper drama though. John Higgins scraping past O'Connor 10-7, Ronnie dispatching Carter 10-4 in what everyone thought would be a grudge match but turned out to be a bit of a damp squib.

And how about that Brecel-Junhui match? 13-4! Wasn't even close.

Quarter-Finals: Where Dreams Got Crushed

By the time we hit the quarters, things got serious. Williams edging past Higgins 13-12 in what might've been the match of the tournament. I was supposed to be on a Zoom call for work during that final frame - called in "technical difficulties" and watched it instead. Worth it.

Zhao absolutely steamrolled Wakelin 13-4, and Trump did the same to Brecel with an identical scoreline. Ronnie managed to put away Si Jiahui 13-9, but he looked tired. Should've seen what was coming.

The Semi-Final Bloodbath

Then came those semis... Williams grinding out a 17-14 win against Trump in a match that swung back and forth like a pendulum. But the real shocker was Zhao absolutely dismantling O'Sullivan 17-7. Wasn't even close. My dad (lifelong Ronnie fan) actually turned it off before the end. "Can't watch this execution," he texted me. Poor Ronnie.

So here we are.

The Final Showdown: Experience vs. Rising Star

It all comes down to this: 47-year-old three-time champion Mark Williams against 27-year-old Chinese sensation Zhao Xintong. The wily veteran against the fearless youngster. Classic snooker narrative.

They kicked off their first session today, and tomorrow night we'll know who's taking home that massive £500,000 winner's check. I've got another tenner on Williams (glutton for punishment, me), but after watching Zhao dismantle Ronnie, I'm not confident.

Whatever happens, it's been a tournament of upsets, drama, and some absolutely stunning snooker. I've enjoyed every minute of it... even if my betting account hasn't!

Will be back with a full post-mortem once we have our champion. For now, I'm stocking the fridge for tomorrow's sessions. This final deserves proper snacks and maybe something stronger than tea to get through the tension.