Stephen Hendry predicts winner of Zhao Xintong v Mark Williams due to major factor

Zhao Xintong and Mark Williams begin the final of the World Championships of Sunday afternoon

Stephen Hendry has offered his winning prediction for the snooker World Championships final between Zhao Xintong and Mark Williams.

Welshman Williams booked his spot in the final with a convincing win over world number one Judd Trump on Saturday evening, with the 50-year-old becoming the oldest player to reach the final at the Crucible in the process.

Chinese star Zhao, meanwhile, overcame legend of the game Ronnie O'Sullivan in the semi-final to set up what promises to be a fantastic finale in Sheffield over the next two days.

Zhao is aiming for his first world title, while the Welsh Potting Machine is looking to get his hands on the trophy for the fourth time in his illustrious career.

Williams is 22 years Zhao's senior and both are at different ends of their careers, however picking a winner is nigh-on impossible heading into the climax of the tournament.

However, Hendry, a seven-time world champion himself believes one player has the edge and believes one major factor will prove the difference.

When presenter Seema Jaswal asked who was going to win, pundit Hendry jumped in with: "It's difficult. I think Xintong. I think he's scoring too heavily and winning too many frames in a row."

Fellow pundit Steve Davis said: "He seems like he's a big-occasion player. I think it goes one of two ways. Either Xintong is an absolute flying machine and he just blasts Mark off the table. Or Mark puts him through the wringer.

"You don't know which one of those is going to happen. And Mark could give him a lesson in all of match play? Who knows."

Williams is known for his craftsmanship and cleverness around the table and that has been on full display in Sheffield over the last fortnight.

However, as Hendry pointed out, it's not just that side of his game which has been ticking along. The Scot believes Williams should be given credit for how well he's been building his breaks in the tournament.

"He's also scoring, very, very heavily," Hendry said of Williams. "He's not just using his craft or the dark arts, he's potting long balls and scoring very heavily.

"Along with everything else that he does, that's pretty hard to beat!"

The final will get under way at 1pm on Sunday, May 4.