Mark Williams sets up Judd Trump showdown in Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters final after overcoming spirited Si Jiahui

Mark Williams will be chasing his 27th career ranking title when he takes on Judd Trump in the first-ever Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters final. Williams ultimately had too much quality on the night for Si Jiahui, who did nonetheless show signs of his undoubted quality. Si's highlight was a superb 136 clearance in the eighth frame, but it was the experienced campaigner Williams who progressed.

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Mark Williams set up a mouthwatering showdown with Judd Trump in the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters final after overcoming Ronnie O’Sullivan’s conqueror - Si Jiahui - in the semi-finals.

It was going to take some doing to repeat the absorbing first semi-final that saw Trump edge out Shaun Murphy with a thrilling 6-5 victory, but many were looking on with interest to see if Si could follow up his stunning win over O'Sullivan in the quarter-finals.

And the Chinese made a rapid start, motoring towards a hugely impressive century of 116 after opening up the pack of reds nicely and clearing to the yellow.

Saudi Arabia Masters

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Williams, 49, responded in the next frame despite missing an early red, as Si was thwarted in his attempt to pot a green into the left centre.

The Welshman would return to the table and make an excellent run of 60, in what was an intriguing start to this second semi-final.

Williams was in no mood to hang around, and continued his excellent response to the early setback of losing the opening frame by establishing a commanding 4-1 lead.

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Si failed to recover after losing position on the black in the third frame, and some sublime potting from his veteran opponent prompted the Chinese player to concede.

Momentum was firmly with the man dubbed the 'Welsh Potting Machine', as the 49-year-old ruthlessly punished Si's attempt to land a long red.

He would narrowly miss out on a century as his break came to an end at 97 after failing to land a tricky red, but this was an ominous early statement of intent from the three-time world champion.

Si's cavalier approach was proving to be his downfall, making mistakes which Williams seized upon with aplomb.

He would ease his way to a break of 77, and a place in the final against Trump was moving tantalisingly close at 4-1.

The 22-year-old was two frames away from exiting the competition, but reduced the deficit to 4-2 by playing some of his finest snooker of the contest.

Williams faltered on the rest, before Si took centre stage with a respectable break of 67 of his own to move within two frames of the Welshman.

Si looked like he may be on course to reduce the deficit even further when Williams horribly misjudged a red while using the rest, but the latter earned a reprieve.

That came after Si was thwarted on final red with a 56-30 lead, and had to look on ruefully as Williams entered the fray and cleared the table, in what looked like a potentially pivotal steal at the death.

Si was refusing to give up, and it was the turn of Williams to stay slumped in his chair with the 22-year-old going through the red-colour combination very nicely.

Si makes 136 clearance to keep hopes alive against Williams

Video credit: TNT Sports

He ended with the biggest clearance of the match at 136, and gave Williams food for thought heading into the ninth frame at 5-3.

Williams would have the final say though, after Si left the cue ball in a promising position for his opponent to exploit at the end of a safety battle.

In the end, a break of 80 would be enough to take this seasoned snooker star into the 42nd career ranking final of his career.

Watch and stream the Saudi Arabia Masters live on discovery+.

Saudi Arabia Masters