SHEFFIELD, England (Reuters) -Chinese qualifier Zhao Xintong took an imposing 11-6 lead over Welshman Mark Williams on the opening day of the World Snooker Championship final at the Crucible Theatre on Sunday.

Zhao Xintong dominated Mark Williams in the opening session of the world snooker championship final on Sunday, running up a 7-1 lead in his bid to become the first Chinese winner of the sport's biggest prize.

China is edging closer to having its first world snooker champion after Zhao Xintong established an 11-6 lead over Mark Williams at the halfway point of the final at the Crucible Theatre. Zhao needs to get to 18 frames to claim the sport's biggest prize,