Shaun Murphy beats Gary Wilson in second semi-final to set up Xi'an Grand Prix 2025 final against Mark Williams
Updated 12/10/2025 at 16:27 GMT+1
The Xi'an Grand Prix's semi-final stage saw Mark Williams win the final four frames to beat Daniel Wells 6-3 to reach the tournament showpiece. Next up in the final, Williams will meet Shaun Murphy. The Magician made three centuries in defeating Gary Wilson 6-4, and now the two Triple Crown winners will meet live on TNT Sports and discovery+ on Monday.
'I'm trying' - Williams pleads with crowd after slow start to semi-final
Video credit: TNT Sports
Murphy outguns Wilson in high-quality shoot-out
Shaun Murphy continued his superb form, hitting three centuries in defeating Gary Wilson 6-4 to set up a final with Mark Williams in the Xi’an Grand Prix.
In contrast to the first semi-final, which saw Williams beat Daniel Wells 6-3, this match was played at a fantastic level throughout, with both players knowing one mistake could end the frame.
All but one frame was won with breaks of 74 or higher, with four of these centuries and three total clearances.
Murphy made three centuries, two of these total clearances (131, 140 and 141), while Wilson’s lone century was a 139.
At the mid-point of the match, it seemed that Wilson - fresh from defeating Ronnie O’Sullivan - would force another upset as he raced into a 3-1 lead at the interval.
Although Murphy won the first frame with a 91, breaks of 81 and a total clearance set up Wilson with a big advantage to take into the break.
Murphy immediately potted a fine long pot after the break and followed up with ten more reds and blacks, before his bid for a maximum break ended at 81, but he then followed with back-to-back total clearances.
Winning a scrappy frame, took Murphy to the cusp of victory, before Wilson’s classy 74 kept the game going. Murphy just needed one chance in the final frame and went on to take it and the match with a 141-break.
Murphy 6-4 Wilson
A master-class from the Magician. A third total clearance, this one 141. A wonderful performance.
Murphy 5-4 Wilson (106*-0)
A third century in the semi-final for Murphy.
Murphy 5-4 Wilson (76*-0)
Murphy is over the line now and will meet old rival Mark Williams in the final.
Murphy 5-4 Wilson (31*-0)
A controlled cannon opens the reds and now Murphy looks like winning the frame at this visit.
Murphy 5-4 Wilson (8*-0)
Murphy first at the table after a good red into the right middle.
Murphy 5-4 Wilson
The break ends at 74. This is far from over.
Murphy 5-3 Wilson (0-73*)
That is the frame clinched for Wilson. An exceptional break. It could be his 12th century of the week.
Murphy 5-3 Wilson (0-30*)
He will need to open the pack but if he gets some luck doing so, Wilson could soon half the deficit.
Murphy 5-3 Wilson (0-7*)
Murphy with a foul trying to roll into the pack and worse than that he leaves a pot on for Wilson.
Murphy 5-3 Wilson
A superb display clearing to the pink and Murphy is now one frame away from victory.
Murphy 4-3 Wilson (36*-41)
Wilson goes in off, he leaves Murphy a difficult pot but he is turning down nothing - and potting nearly everything.
Murphy 4-3 Wilson (31-41)
This looks such a key frame now. Murphy's break ends quickly, but he leaves a devilish snooker.
Murphy 4-3 Wilson (28*-41)
Wilson caught the blue with his cue, it did look like it was a shot for a spider rather than a rest, now Murphy can make him pay.
Murphy 4-3 Wilson (22-29*)
Murphy just adds the six points, missing a red into the green pocket, leaving it for Wilson to pot.
Murphy 4-3 Wilson (17*-28)
Wilson pots the red but can't control the cue ball and leaves a long red on for Murphy afterwards, which the leader gobbles up.
Murphy 4-3 Wilson (16-27)
Murphy misses a very tough pot into the left middle and has left Wilson the chance to take the frame now.
Murphy 4-3 Wilson (16-27)
Neither player wants to make a mistake now as they play safety either against the pack or behind the black ball, with pottable reds at the top end of the table.
Murphy 4-3 Wilson (16-27)
Wilson mistimes a deep screw, leaving himself a double which agonizingly lips the right middle.
Murphy 4-3 Wilson (16-9*)
Three successive breaks of eight. And a very good pot from Wilson as he starts a break again.
Murphy 4-3 Wilson (9*-8)
Wilson gets a bit low on the black and leaves it in the jaws. Murphy has a second chance.
Murphy 4-3 Wilson (8-1*)
He wasn't perfect on the red after a poor positional shot off the black and Murphy's run without a point against ends at 360.
Murphy 4-3 Wilson (1*-0)
You can't leave Murphy anything. A cross-table long red wasn't that difficult but it was perfectly weighted to set himself for the black.
Murphy 4-3 Wilson
Another total clearance. This one is a 140. 352 points without reply.
Murphy 3-3 Wilson (105*-0)
Another hundred, Murphy's eighth of the week.
Murphy 3-3 Wilson (75*-0)
The frame is won now. Can he make back-to-back centuries?
Murphy 3-3 Wilson (46*-0)
The black goes into both pockets now and Murphy close to taking the lead once more.
Murphy 3-3 Wilson (14*-0)
After a couple of tricky pots the table looks nice for Murphy to swep through now, the black only goes to the bottom right pocket the only impediment really.
Murphy 3-3 Wilson (6*-0)
Wilson leaves Murphy a red into the left middle after an exchange of safety and he gets back on the blue.
Murphy 3-3 Wilson
A 131 total clearance from Murphy and we are level.
Murphy 2-3 Wilson (104*-0)
This is an amazing response from Murphy. A century after going into the break two frames down. What a match this is.
Murphy 2-3 Wilson (6*-0)
Murphy with a good long pot after Wilson left the cue ball against the pack.
Murphy 2-3 Wilson
He didn't get on a red perfectly and then left himself a difficult black which just stayed out, ending the break on 81.
Murphy 1-3 Wilson (73*-0)
The frame is won. Everyone cheering him on to go all the way to a 147 now.
Murphy 1-3 Wilson (56*-0)
We are officially on 147 watch! It could be the fourth in the tournament.
Murphy 1-3 Wilson (40*-0)
A very good red, with awkward bridging, extends the break. We now have five reds and blacks.
Murphy 1-3 Wilson (1*-0)
That's the way to start back up. Murphy pots in a tough long red after Wilson's break and sets himself on the black.
Murphy 1-3 Wilson
A total clearance of 139 has Wilson with a big advantage to take into the break.
Murphy 1-2 Wilson (0-100*)
Wilson has his first century of the match.
Murphy 1-2 Wilson (0-69*)
It looked like a red was going to stay in the jaws but it just dropped and that means Murphy will need snookers should Wilson miss.
Murphy 1-2 Wilson (0-44*)
A couple more decent pots and Wilson will take a two-frame lead into the interval.
Murphy 1-2 Wilson (0-6*)
Murphy gives Wilson a chance at a long pot and you can't do that this week.
Murphy 1-2 Wilson
A fine standard of snooker with both players knowing they cannot afford to give the other clear opportunities.
Murphy 1-1 Wilson (28-63*)
Murphy keeps the break going with a long blue cut into the green pocket but he then misses a long red and Wilson knocks in the frame ball.
Murphy 1-1 Wilson (7*-62)
Wilson stumbles before the finishing line and Murphy is at the table now. He can take the frame if he clears up from here.
Murphy 1-1 Wilson (0-58*)
Wilson with another very good black takes him to the brink of sealing the frame.
Murphy 1-1 Wilson (0-50)
Wilson gets the black into play and then drops it in a second time with awkward bridging, but misses an easier red so the frame is still live.
Murphy 1-1 Wilson (0-14*)
Wilson with a good long pot. He has the pink free now so hase a chance at a sizable break.
Murphy 1-1 Wilson (0-10)
With the lay out of the reds and the black on the bottom cushion it is hard to get a break together.
Murphy 1-1 Wilson (0-5*)
An awful foul from Murphy, misjudging whether he could swerve round a ball he was snookered from. He went in off too, presenting Wilson with an early pot.
Murphy 1-1 Wilson (0-0)
An intriguing safety battle with almost all the reds in the bottom left quadrant.
Murphy 1-1 Wilson
The break finishes at 81, but more than enough to level the scoreline.
Murphy 1-0 Wilson (25-39*)
This morning's match was a slog, this could be a shoot-out with both players looking in fine form.
Murphy 1-0 Wilson (25-5*)
Murphy misses a red into the right middle and now, after a good mid-range pot, Wilson has a chance to respond.
Murphy 1-0 Wilson (5*-4)
Murphy apologises after fluking a red but it will be no consolation for Wilson as he now has a chance to build a break.
Murphy 1-0 Wilson (0-4)
The first points of the match for Wilson come from Murphy just missing an attempted slight contact with a red.
Murphy 1-0 Wilson
Ominous signs for Wilson as Murphy in this free-flowing form looks a very hard man to beat. He cleans up with a a break of 91
Murphy 0-0 Wilson (72*-0)
Murphy over the finishing line in the frame now.
Murphy 0-0 Wilson (48*-0)
Murphy gifted an easy chance to go again and this should result in the frame being over shortly.
Murphy 0-0 Wilson (42-0)
A long pink into the yellow pocket keeps the break going but, having to make sure of the pot, he could not get position and he plays safe.
Murphy 0-0 Wilson (20*-0)
Nicely placed around the black spot, this is a fine chance for Murphy to win the frame in this visit.
Murphy 0-0 Wilson (5*-0)
Murphy with the first pot of the match, a fantastic cross-table long red and he follows it up with a good brown.
Play is about to get underway...
The boys are on the baize if you will.
Who will play Williams in the final?
Can Shaun Murphy set himself up to add to the British Open title he won a couple of weeks ago, or will Wilson back up his victory over 'The Rocket' with another upset.
Williams battles past Wells to secure final spot
Mark Williams reeled off the final four frames to complete a 6-3 win over fellow Welshman Daniel Wells in a marathon Xi'an Grand Prix semi-final battle.
With neither player making a break over 50 in the first six frames amid heavy table conditions, it was Williams who finally found some scoring form with breaks of 129 and 53 carrying him 5-3 clear of the world No. 47 Wells.
And the three-time world champion won a protracted ninth frame of a brutal session to secure a meeting with Shaun Murphy in Monday's best-of-19 frame final.
It will give Williams valuable recovery time with the first semi-final in danger of being forced to resume after Murphy v Wilson finished.
Due to the lengthy nature of the frames, the ninth frame would have been the last of the session, but was completed after around four-and-a half hours of exacting play.
Williams, 50, will bid to become the oldest player in history to win a major ranking event final, overtaking compatriot and six-time world champion Ray Reardon, who has held the record since 1982.
Result: Williams 6-3 Wells
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‘This is what great champions do’ – Williams nails first century with ‘outstanding break’
Video credit: TNT Sports
Williams 5-3 Wells (70-38)
And there is the concession from Wells as he fails to hit brown in clipping pink. A 6-3 win for Williams. He is through to face Shaun Murphy or Gary Wilson in Monday's final for the £177,000 first prize.
Williams 5-3 Wells (64-38)
This is the frame and match which refuses to die really. Williams leaves Wells in a snooker. Which he doesn't hit. So back to snookers required situation after all that. 26 the lead with 22 left up.
Williams 5-3 Wells (60-38)
Wells was surely on the brink of conceding, but has got four snookers needing three and is back in the mix. Wells then leaves yelllow over yellow pocket. And Mark drops it in. But he leaves green for Wells to slot. Down to the final colours now. 22 the difference with 22 left up.
Williams 5-3 Wells (58-35)
Excellent escape from Mark off one cushion to hit the yellow, but he swerves and hits pink trying to clock yellow seconds later. Would you believe this? And he then misses the yellow. So Wells can suddenly win. Did not see this coming. Some error on the swerve in hitting pink.
Williams 5-3 Wells (58-25)
Wells being forced to pot red and pink so will have to find snookers on colours. Gets one back on yellow. Lead is 33 with 27 remaining.
Williams 5-3 Wells (58-15)
In goes red Williams requires and another yellow is drained. 44 the lead with a possible 35 remaining.
Williams 5-3 Wells (52-14)
On the cusp of victory here. Wells won't be coming back to the table now surely. Yellow and red to secure it.
Williams 5-3 Wells (44-14)
Both players having a pop at reds, but neither on the potting angle. Willo then drops in a long red. All focus was on pot. In goes blue. This might well be game and match over now.
‘This is what great champions do’ – Williams nails first century with ‘outstanding break’
Video credit: TNT Sports
Williams 5-3 Wells (37-14)
So many times we've seen players roll up to reds in this match. Has been the shot of choice because of the table conditions.
Williams 5-3 Wells (37-14)
Error by Williams as he ends up knocking black in after rolling away from a red. Table very much suits Williams with this lead.
Williams 5-3 Wells (37-7)
Wells gaining the initiative in this tactical duel with all reds in baulk. Wells can take a red to left middle here. And he drops it in. Solid pot. But not much coming afterwards.
Williams 5-3 Wells (37-0)
More tapping on reds at top end of table. Williams obviously not seeking a re-rack holding this lead.
Williams 5-3 Wells (37-0)
Williams bags plant on a red, but no colour to follow. Just safety option. Willo looking for one more big opportunity to seal the deal.
Williams 5-3 Wells (36-0)
Or perhaps not as pink nudges the red. Pink didn't go. Big misjudgement. So not yet a done deal.
Williams 5-3 Wells (36-0)
An excellent recovery pot on a red by Williams. Fine cut, but made it look easy. Looks like the end could be nigh for Wells here.
Williams 5-3 Wells (25-0)
Wells with a highest break of only 34 so far. Which is never really going to cut it at this level after Williams raised his game.
Williams 5-3 Wells (18-0)
Wells doesn't escape from a snooker, but Williams not nicely on a red and opts to put his opponent back behind the yellow. And again he hits blue, but leaves an easy opener. Golden chance for Williams then to finish off this match.
Williams 5-3 Wells (2-0)
Willo fires in a pristine long red, but doesn't land on a colour for his next shot. Wells goes for a plant on red, but nowhere near it. Williams cuts in a red and rolls up behind yellow. This is likely to be the final frame of this session whatever happens.
Williams 5-3 Wells (0-0)
Wells breaks off for frame nine of a possible 11. He will need them all from here.
Williams 4-3 Wells (69-17)
But in goes the red Williams requires to see off this frame. A 53 break and a 5-3 advantage then. One more required to reach the final on Monday and a meeting with Shaun Murphy or Gary Wilson.
Williams 4-3 Wells (68-17)
No heroics needed as a red along top cushion disappears. 55 ahead with a possible 43 remaining. Snookered on the next colour. Goes for yellow. And misses it.
Williams 4-3 Wells (59-13)
This is very, very smooth from Mark. Red and black will give him a 5-3 lead in this semi-final.
Williams 4-3 Wells (51-13)
Willo running into some prime form at exactly the right time in this semi-finals. Suddenly getting the familiar assured walk on.
Williams 4-3 Wells (29-13)
Looking to erect a decent lead in the frame that would carry him one from victory.
Williams 4-3 Wells (16-13)
Another supreme red by Williams to right middle. What is he going to run in here? Mark with his eye in now. Dangerous moments for Dan.
Williams 4-3 Wells (15-13)
Stunning pot on a red along top cush by Williams to remain at the table. That is a quite superb cut on red. But not on a red from green. So just the safety effort.
Williams 4-3 Wells (11-13)
Wells with first prod at the balls in the eighth frame. Goes into pack off blue, but ends up making a plant on reds. Fine red by Williams to left middle is dropped in.
Williams 4-3 Wells (0-0)
Off we go then for the eighth frame of a possible 11. Williams looking to get these two frames won in next 40 minutes. Otherwise they will need to come back later on.
Williams 3-3 Wells (145-0)
Total clearance of 129 from Williams for a 4-3 lead. Outstanding level of play. Throwing down the guantlet to Wells.
Williams 3-3 Wells (118-0)
And there is the century from Williams in this seventh frame. Quite majestic from Willo.
Williams 3-3 Wells (102-0)
86 and chance of a century is coming up..out of nowhere..
Williams 3-3 Wells (79-0)
Much more like the Mark Williams you expect to see on these occasions. A rare moment of scoring form. But might just settle him down.
Williams 3-3 Wells (70-0)
11:20am is the curtain cull for this final frame of this session. Otherwise they will have to return after the second semi-final to complete the contest. Willo finding some fluency in his pots. 54 from Williams is the first half-century of the match. Not before time.
Williams 3-3 Wells (38-0)
Big chance then for Williams as Wells goes for a long red. Object balls comes back out and suddenly his opponent has chance to extend lead. Which he is doing here.
Williams 3-3 Wells (16-0)
Tomorrow could be a new day for both players. Today is all about winning and reaching the final.
Williams 3-3 Wells (16-0)
Chance for Daniel to sink a red across table, but nothing doing there as red hangs in jaws. What can Willo produce here?Normally this looks like a great chance. But reds don't open off black. Safety the only option. Heavy cloth is tough going.
Williams 3-3 Wells (0-0)
Mark shouts to the fans: '"I'm trying". Has been very trying. For both men and the fans today. But on we go into frame seven of this brutal contest. One very definitely of the old school variety when you used to see a few highlights of frames.
Williams 2-3 Wells (59-23)
Mark with a corking long pot on yellow. Wells says enough is enough. Back to 3-3 in chase for six.
Williams 2-3 Wells (57-23)
And Williams rams in red he requires to leave Dan needing a snooker as we head for colours. Another frame running over 30 minutes.
Williams 2-3 Wells (56-23)
But Williams fails to escape from a snooker. So this frame back in the mixer then. 33 points the difference with possible 35 remaining.
Williams 2-3 Wells (56-19)
Williams with a timely knock to get himself into snookers required position. One red left on deck.
Williams 2-3 Wells (51-19)
Not much more need for Willo to fall over the winning line in this sixth frame. Blue and a red would just about get the job done.
Williams 2-3 Wells (25-19)
Quite incredible to think we've not witnessed a break over 50 today. What can Mark produce here? Balls look inviting, but dangerous to assume stuff in this semi-final.
Williams 2-3 Wells (20-19)
Might need to finish off this match after the second semi-final at this rate. A nice pot on a red by Dan is followed by green to left centre. But doesn't find the mark. Which isn't a surprise.
Williams 2-3 Wells (20-18)
The scoring has almost come to a halt. Reds and colours are rare birds indeed. Stuck in a minefield of molasses in this semi-final. Table conditions the biggest issue you suspect.
Williams 2-3 Wells (20-17)
Now then. Can Mark lift himself out of this torpor. In goes a long red from Willo. Lovely pot. But out of position seconds later on blue. Just the safety to follow.
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‘He was back in his chair’ - Williams benefits from ‘very fortunate’ fluke
Video credit: TNT Sports
Williams 2-3 Wells (5-16)
Two attempts on double reds ends with Williams sinking one. Back into the safety duel seconds later. This match is one for the purists.
Williams 2-3 Wells (0-16)
Wells has a huge chance to reach his first major final with Williams well off his peak levels so far. Couple of reds and blacks before a safety is the shot of choice. Like so many today.
Williams 2-3 Wells (0-0)
A bit of scoring form now would feel like money in the bank. Williams breaks off for the sixth frame off a possible 11.
Williams 2-2 Wells (38-57)
Williams escapes from a snooker at second attempt after missing first time. But he leaves blue. Wells clips in cut on blue before pink is downed. A 3-2 lead for Wells.
Williams 2-2 Wells (38-46)
Williams making a quick surge for the line on the colours then. Blue is safe then. 25 from Williams to conclude. Looks like a blue-ball frame.
Williams 2-2 Wells (13-46)
Wells inching towards the winning line late in the fifth frame. In goes red to a blind pocket, but refuses black to run safe off blue. And Wells then misses straight red to a top bag. Wow. This match is oozing errors.
Williams 2-2 Wells (13-35)
Nobody is going anywhere fast out there as black along top cushion doesn't drop. Williams then misses a straight red. Duo struggling badly for any sort of form. Willo could do with a bit of Tom Jones to get him going.
Williams 2-2 Wells (5-21)
Nice red and yellow combo from Dan, but pink is out of commission too. So tough to make swift progress from this juncture.
Williams 2-2 Wells (5-10)
Mark chops in a solid red followed by green. Can he finally piece together a few points? And the answer is no. Out of position right away. Safety to follow. Story of the day.
Williams 2-2 Wells (0-9)
We go again then. Willo twice missing reds and could be docked the frame if he misses for a third time. Makes sure of the hit this time, and plays a little beaut. Superb from Williams.
Williams 2-1 Wells (8-60)
One hour and 45 minutes for the first four frames. Conditions dictating matters out there. Looks like Dan is going to draw us level at 2-2. Neither player reaching the heights. But 37 to finish off the fourth frame from Wells. Back to 2-2 in Xi'an. Phew! A real war of attrition.
Williams 2-1 Wells (8-23)
Brown to left middle is well off potting angle from Wells, but Williams squanders a fine chance as a red rattles the jaws. Bad miss.
Williams 2-1 Wells (8-23)
Decent chance then for Wells to construct a lead in this fourth frame. Nothing coming easy in this contest. Highest break in the match is 42 from Williams with 34 coming from Wells. A bit of a slog and then some.
Williams 2-1 Wells (8-10)
Willo goes for plant on reds, but nothing doing and has splattered the reds too. Now then. What next for Dan? And it is brown to head back down table for reds.
Williams 2-1 Wells (8-5)
No damage done early on in this fourth frame as Williams can't chip in red to right middle. All hard work at the moment as Wells reaches five before he is forced to run white safe. "A battle of wills rather than skills," says Fergal O'Brien on comms. Which is about right.
Williams 2-1 Wells (8-1)
Williams breaks off for frame four of a possible 11. Big one coming up for Wells as he bids to avoid falling two behind at mid-session interval.
Williams 1-1 Wells (64-44)
Supreme stuff from Williams at end of frame to power in brown before blue is downed. A 40-minute frame falls to Willo, who moves 2-1 clear.
Williams 1-1 Wells (55-44)
Great pot on yellow by Williams is followed by a routine green, but brown is welded to a side rail. Superb safety to follow to leave Wells in behind the black. Dan hits brown, but sticks it up.
Williams 1-1 Wells (50-44)
Down to a scrap on the colours then to see who will grab the early advantage in this semi-final. A lot of effort going into this third frame from both men. Williams requires up to blue.
Williams 1-1 Wells (49-39)
Wells laid up in a tough snooker and twice misses the red before Mark tucks away a tricky red near top cush. But then misses a red at close range. So chance for Wells to hit back late in frame. But he then misses the final red along top cush.
Williams 1-1 Wells (35-37)
29 from Williams on that occasion. Tough old slog, but back to the grind in this third frame before Willo clips in an excellent red.
Williams 1-1 Wells (34-37)
Chance then for Willo to fight his way back into the mix in this frame. Williams happy to win frames in any manner.
Williams 1-1 Wells (5-37)
Balls dictate the nature of a match, and this one is a slow burner early on. Safety exchange in progress. Williams goes for a long red, but well off the potting angle. And Wells does likewise with a cut on a red.
Williams 1-1 Wells (5-37)
A 33 break from Wells before he loses position and runs the white safe to baulk. Decent safety to conclude.
Williams 1-1 Wells (4-30)
Plenty of reds next to the black spot. Not sure how many are on out there. Wells taking his time to dissect the table. Back up for blue to make life easier for himself.
Williams 1-1 Wells (4-10)
Error by Mark in leaving white short in trying to run up to the pack of reds from baulk. Short of pace and chance for Wells with first scoring poke at these balls of the third frame.
Williams 1-1 Wells (0-4)
Not sure this match is going to be dominated by big breaks. A very cagey affair so far in Xi'an. Williams feels like he has been scrapping it out this week so far. Which probably reflects the start to this semi-final.
Williams 0-1 Wells (97-0)
42 from Mark Williams to see out the second frame as pink to right middle stays out, but no matter. 1-1 in this opening semi-final.
Williams 0-1 Wells (73-0)
Looks like Willo is going to level us up here. Playing in fits and starts, but Wells has been frozen out and the three-time world champion will restore parity.
Williams 0-1 Wells (55-0)
Willo goes for a long red, doesn't drop, but then sees the red drop in with a massive fluke. Well now. Chance for Mark to get frame won on back of the fluke. Only 10 added though as he is forced to run safe. This match yet to catch fire.
Williams 0-1 Wells (43-0)
Williams misses a tricky black off spot on 31, but gets lucky as black knocks white back down to baulk. Not truly settled out there.
Williams 0-1 Wells (20-0)
Williams first to the punch in the second frame of a possible 11 with Wells twice missing reds in attempting to escape. Willo with chance to go to work around the business end of table.
Williams 0-0 Wells (16-73)
Superb red is floated home by Williams after a bout of safety with black over a top hole. In goes black too, and suddenly the counter punch is on. But he misses a red with rest. Can't believe that. Wells is going to trouser this first frame. Very scrappy, but they all count.
Williams 0-0 Wells (0-61)
So 34 to go with a 23, but he misses a tricky black off spot. So frame not yet quite a done deal.
Williams 0-0 Wells (0-52)
Heading over the 50-point mark. Which is a nice lead in the first frame. Won't be wanting to see Mark back at the table in this opener.
Williams 0-0 Wells (0-33)
A second visit to the table for Wells here in this first frame. How much further can he progress his case this time?
Williams 0-0 Wells (0-23)
Mark Williams enjoying a consistent start to the campaign. Reaching two quarter-finals and two semi-finals this season so far. Which is not a bad return at all.
Williams 0-0 Wells (0-23)
Only 23 from that first visit of the day before Wells is forced to run safe. Settling in out there. Take your time, just settle in..
Williams 0-0 Wells (0-8)
Corking long red by Wells right away. And he spins the white across to land perfectly on black. Very nice. Very nice indeed.
Williams 0-0 Wells (0-1)
A 69th ranking event semi-final appearance for Williams with Wells playing his fourth. Judd Trump defeated Wells 6-1 at this stage last season. Wells gets the balls moving on this one.
Wilson takes lead in century chase
Winner of this race is going to need to go deep in these events for rest of season, you suspect.
Williams with a winning record
The two Welsh players have met twice in ranking events, with Williams winning 5-1 in the first round of the 2014 China Open and 6-0 in the last 64 of the UK Championship in 2018.
A bit different today with a meeting in the last four bringing the pressure of major trophy and £177,000 first prize on the line.
Boys on baize at 7am BST.
A big day ahead at the Xi'an Grand Prix
Semi-final Sunday
The Xi'an Grand Prix has reached the semi-final stage, with Shaun Murphy, Daniel Wells, Mark Williams and Gary Wilson chasing glory.
Williams and Wells get the action underway in the morning session at 7:00am UK time, with Murphy and Wilson following on in the afternoon.
You can follow the action right here with our text commentary, as well as tuning in on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Sunday's schedule
Semi-finals
07:00
- Daniel Wells 3-6 Mark Williams
12:30
- Shaun Murphy v Gary Wilson
- - -
Watch and stream top snooker action, including the Xi’an Grand Prix, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+
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