Zhao 'increases his stranglehold' with clean 120 break against Wakelin
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World Grand Prix snooker AS IT HAPPENED – Zhao Xintong beats Xiao Guodong 6-3 to book final spot, where he will meet Zhang Anda on Sunday
World Grand Prix snooker LIVE – Zhao Xintong beats Xiao Guodong 6-3 to book spot place in final. He will meet Zhang Anda, who potted final black to win deciding frame in other semi-final. Xintong looks for first ranking-tournament victory of season as world champion and booked final place with an imperious break of 121 as he turned on the style in all-Chinese semi-final match in Hong Kong
By Ben Goddard | Updated 07/02/2026 at 15:48 GMT
14:37
ZHAO TURNS ON STYLE TO CLINCH FINAL SPOT
World champion Zhao Xintong sent a message to his rivals with a commanding 6-3 victory over Xiao Guodong in the World Grand Prix semi-final.
Zhao will face Zhang Anda in an all-Chinese final, after Zhang potted the final black in a decisive frame to beat Zhou Yuelong 6-5 in the other semi-final.
It will be 28-year-old Zhao’s first ranking event final since being crowned world champion in May last year.
Zhao was forced to come from behind after Xiao capitalised on an unforced error in the opening frame to take the lead.
However, the world champion responded with two frames thanks to breaks of 69 and 55.
Xiao was undeterred and the Wuhan Open winner responded to take the score 2-2 at the interval.
When play re-commenced Zhao charged clear after winning three consecutive frames with breaks of 56, 85 and 50.
Despite Xiao pulling a frame back, Zhao replied with an impressive break of 121 to clinch his first ranking final spot since last May's world final.
The win also booked Zhao a spot in the Players’ Championship ahead of Gary Wilson.
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Image credit: Getty Images
14:24
‘FASCINATING FINAL AWAITS’
TNT pundit Neil Foulds believes that Zhao versus Zhang Anda in tomorrow’s World Grand Prix final will provide a ‘fascinating final’.
He said: "He (Zhao) is world champion.
"Brilliant stuff. He’s in the final against a very difficult opponent (Zhang Anda). A fascinating match awaits us tomorrow."
14:17
ZHAO 6-3 XIAO
Zhao has thrilled the crowd in Hong Kong and books his spot in tomorrow’s final.
It looks simple for Zhao as he plays some dangerous plant shots off the reds, to continue his winning break in the ninth frame.
Zhao sweeps in the winning black without a glimpse of nervousness. The world champion has shown some imperious snooker in this match which will leave his rivals worried.
The Chinese star finishes on a century break 121.
14:10
ZHAO 5-3 XIAO (13*-0)
TNT Sports commentator Phil Yates says that Zhao will want to ‘kill the match off’ in this ninth frame and not allow Xiao to ‘build a head of steam’.
However, an early error from Xiao sees the experienced player miss the pack of reds and Zhao is given four penalty points.
Another ‘fabulous shot’ from Zhao from the top cushion to pot at the bottom corner. It was a lovely safety shot from Xiao who wouldn’t have expected that response.
Zhao follows that shot with another green across the table. ‘The shot of a world champion,’ says TNT pundit Neil Foulds.
14:02
ZHAO 5-3 XIAO
Another frame decided on a pivotal error. This time it’s Zhao who sees his advantage in this match cut to two frames.
Xiao has shown his experience in this frame to re-group from a missed yellow and build a second winning break.
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13:58
ZHAO 5-2 XIAO (32-54*)
Xiao is forced to stretch across the table for a yellow and subsequently sends it into the jaws of the pocket.
In his composed and fluent nature Zhao returns. The world champion breaks with 32, before an error results in Xiao being given a reprieve.
Once back at the table Xiao makes sone nice pots.
13:52
ZHAO 5-2 XIAO (0-31*)
Xiao needs to win four consecutive frames to turn this one around.
He starts with a few nice reds in this seventh frame, as he capitalises on some loose balls.
After three reds and blacks the 36-year-old opens up the remaining reds nicely with a break of 31.
13:47
ZHAO 5-2 XIAO
Zhao extends his lead and is one frame away from the final.
Despite his disappointing miss Zhao replies with a snooker which Xiao can only hit into a good position for Zhao.
The world champion grabs his second opportunity of the frame ball. He cleans up the remaining balls before missing the black.
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Image credit: Getty Images
13:43
ZHAO 4-2 XIAO (58-24)
A missed pot by Xiao could prove decisive as Zhao capitalises.
The world champion is poised and calm as he uses the spider to help pot an early red then yellow.
Once at the bottom of the table Zhao goes to work on increasing his advantage. The world champion is tested a tough pot on the blue before hitting the jaws of the pocket with a red with the frame ball.
13:36
ZHAO 4-2 XIAO (8-24*)
There is still fight left in Xiao has he sinks an excellent red across the table.
However, after a break of five he makes a ‘bad shot’ on the black to give Zhao a chance. The world champion finds an unbelievable shot across the table labelled ‘sensational’.
Once again the table isn’t kind and his break ends on eight.
13:29
ZHAO 4-2 XIAO (0-19*)
Xiao is up against it and TNT pundit Neil Foulds believes that Zhao is looking ‘deadly’.
However, the more experienced Chinese player has broken early in a frame he can’t afford to lose. He picks off a few early reds at the bottom of the table to give Zhao something to think about.
However, he runs out of reds and ends his break on 19.
13:24
ZHAO 4-2 XIAO
Zhao has seized on some nervous play from his opponent in this frame to hit a break of 85 to take a two-frame lead in this game.
TNT commentator Phil Yates said: "The initial red was such quality that it’s entirely fitting that it’s led to such a significant break."
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13:21
ZHAO 3-2 XIAO (38*-4)
Zhao looked in trouble and was forced into played a distanced shot. However, he pulls off an excellent effort which is possibly the ‘shot of the match’.
The world champion has shown glimpses of excellence in this game. The frame is far from won as the table is still awkward for Zhao.
However, an ‘expertly’ taken black opens up the remaining reds and scatters them across the table.
13:17
XIAO ‘TENTATIVE’
TNT commentator Phil Yates believes that Xiao is ‘tentative’ at the prospect of losing the sixth frame.
He said: "A couple of shots he has played to retreat down the down the table for pots. If he loses this frame and there’s a two-frame gap then the match could be slipping away from him.
"I think he’s a little tentative at that prospect, he knows he has to win this frame."
13:13
ZHAO 3-2 XIAO (0-4)
TNT pundit Neil Foulds has praised the ‘all around’ game of Xiao who looks unphased as he battles to stay in this match.
For his obvious talent Zhao is prone to making mistakes and fails to clip the red resulting in four penalty points early in the sixth of a possible 11 frames.
A lengthy spell of safety shots develops as both players know how important this frame is for the match.
13:05
ZHAO 3-2 XIAO
Zhao finishes his first break on 53 as the reds are bunched together. TNT commentator Phil Yates believes the world champion gives a ‘lesson to all players’ as he places the cue ball in an awkward position for Xiao to respond.
Another tactical phase of play develops before Zhao capitalises on a ‘poor’ shot and starts his second break with a ‘beautiful’ effort.
TNT pundit Neil Foulds says that Zhao has ‘done enough’ this week and that has continued in this match.
Foulds added that the world champion has made less mistakes in this match than in the quarter-final.
Zhao is imperious as he wins the fifth frame in style. Thanks to a 53 and 56 break.
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12:53
ZHAO 2-2 XIAO (40*-1)
Despite coming back from a 15-minute break Zhao returns to the table with a long-range pot on red.
He quickly picks off loose reds and the black at the bottom of the table to build a sizable break.
12:47
‘GREAT MEMORIES OF JOHN’
Ali Carter and Steve Davis have both recalled times when John Virgo would step away from the commentary box to offer them key advice during their respective careers at the summit of the sport.
Speaking at the World Grand Prix in Hong Kong, two-time Crucible finalist Carter reflected upon Virgo's life and times following the sad death of the celebrated former UK champion on Wednesday.
12:41
O'SULLIVAN TO MISS PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP
The Rocket will be absent in Telford and so could world champion Zhao if he is unable to triumph in this semi-final.
12:31
ZHAO 2-2 XIAO
Zhao fails at his first snooker attempt and then leaves the red open for Xiao. However, another miss for the experienced player keeps the frame alive.
Xiao eventually grabs his chance to sink the final red and subsequent black to confirm the frame which finishes 34-94
We are all level heading into the mid-session interval.
Watch the remainder of the match LIVE on TNT Sports and Discovery +