England’s Kyren Wilson has secured his place in the semifinals of the World Snooker Xi’an Grand Prix after a commanding 5-1 victory over China’s Xu Si on Friday in Xi’an, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province. Wilson will now face fellow countryman and seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, who triumphed over Matthew Selt in a thrilling nine-frame encounter.
Wilson started strong, taking the first frame with ease. In the second frame, Xu Si built a 44-point lead with consecutive pots, but a critical mistake allowed Wilson to overturn the deficit. The players exchanged frames, but Wilson edged ahead to a 3-1 lead before the mid-session interval.
Hopes of a comeback for Xu were dashed in the fourth frame when he missed a crucial opportunity, falling three frames behind. Wilson sealed the match with an impressive break of 115, ending Xu’s tournament run.
“You can’t be perfect all the time. It’s about managing those ups and downs,” said world No. 3 Xu after the match. “I’ve been a top pro for quite a number of years, so it’s about keeping my focus and just trying to get on with the next shot that presents itself.”
Earlier, Matthew Selt proved a formidable opponent for O’Sullivan. Despite O’Sullivan leading 4-2, Selt rallied with breaks of 105 and 95 to force a decider. In the final frame, O’Sullivan missed a black on 36, giving Selt a chance to claim his first victory over “The Rocket.” However, Selt managed only 13 points before O’Sullivan returned to clinch the win.
“I thought the way Matt played, when I missed that black and he was at the table, that he would clear up,” O’Sullivan commented. “He was playing well. He allowed me to get back in the game and gave me a chance. At 4-4, anything could happen, but Matt deserved to win today; he was the best player by a long way.”
The upcoming semifinal between Wilson and O’Sullivan promises to be an exciting contest as both players vie for a spot in the finals of the Xi’an Grand Prix.
Reference(s):
Kyren Wilson to face Ronnie O'Sullivan in Xi'an Grand Prix semifinals
cgtn.com
