Zhao Xintong needs one more frame to become Halo World Champion, after surging to a 17-8 lead over Mark Williams in the penultimate session of the Crucible final.
History beckons for the 28-year-old, who is on the precipice of becoming China's first ever World Champion, the first ever amateur to claim the title and only the third qualifier to go all the way at the Crucible.
Welshman Williams is the oldest ever Crucible finalist, but his hopes of becoming the oldest World Champion are slipping away. The three-time Crucible king simply hasn't been able to gain any momentum or exert pressure on his opponent, who led 7-1 and 11-6 after yesterday's respective sessions.
The opening two frames this afternoon were shared, but at that point Zhao made his move. Breaks of 58 and 52 helped him to three consecutive frames and a 15-7 stranglehold on proceedings.
A contribution of 66 from Williams in the 23rd made it 15-8 and ensured that play would be extended until at least the evening. However, the 26-time ranking event winner spurned opportunities in the last two frames of the afternoon and was punished on both occasions to trail 17-8 heading into tonight.
They return at 7pm with Zhao needing one frame to capture glory and the £500,000 top prize.