We are down to the semi-final stage of the Xi’an Grand Prix with four players battling it out over the two matches on Sunday to decide who will play off for the title out in China on Monday and all the benefits that go with it.
Three of the four players left in the tournament are in the top 16 in the world rankings and for them it is about winning the title from here but the other is an outsider for whom this could be the biggest week of his career with two more wins.
Afternoon Session
Mark Williams vs Daniel Wells
Two Welsh players will get the day up and running in the opening semi-final when the veteran Mark Williams looks to make it through to a first final of his season when he meets a Daniel Wells who is eyeing up a first major final of his career.
Wells has had an excellent run this week, one which has moved him into the World Grand Prix spots and a win in this match would pretty much seal his participation in that competition so this is a big contest for him, not to mention because it would open the door to play for a first title. This is all nothing new for Williams though. He has been to major finals throughout his career and continues to improve as the week goes on, even though he has needed a deciding frame to win the last two matches. Wells can win this but he will need to start well and have his best stuff with him because I doubt that he will need reminding that the previous two battles between the pair have ended 5-1 and 6-0 in favour of the elder man. The last meeting was in 2018 though and Williams is considerably advanced in years since then which could level the gap between the two. Even despite all that, I don’t see Williams losing this but I’m not really interested in backing him to cover a handicap at this stage of the tournament so I’ll leave this one alone.
Special Offer
OPEN AN ACCOUNT WITH 888SPORT AND BET £10 TO GET £30 IN FREE BETS PLUS A £10 CASINO BONUS! PERFECT OFFER TO USE ON THIS TOURNAMENT! CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW TO JOIN. USE CODE 30F. NEW ACCOUNTS ONLY. 18+ T&Cs apply (See image for significant terms). Gamble Aware.
Evening Session
Shaun Murphy vs Gary Wilson
The pick of the two semi-finals is the one which comes along in the evening out in China as the British Open winner Shaun Murphy looks to make a second final in just over a fortnight when he takes on the Wuhan Open finalist Gary Wilson for a spot in the title match.
Murphy has picked up where he left off in Cheltenham this week and after that incredible showing against Kyren Wilson in the last 16, he was too good for Ding Junhui in the quarter final, although he wasn’t quite as dominant as he was against ‘The Warrior’. Murphy is clearly hitting the ball as well as he ever has done though and he will take a bit of beating. Wilson has gone well himself this week though and has clearly taken a liking to China this term having made the final in Wuhan and now the last four here. He saw off Ronnie O’Sullivan in a quarter final which he led from start to finish and that was impressive because the Rocket had been playing some excellent snooker and it was going to take a big performance to stop him. The obvious question for Wilson will be whether he has it in him to go again after beating O’Sullivan but it wasn’t the first time he had beaten the superstar so you wouldn’t think that would be a problem. Both these men are clearly playing very well so this should be a cracking match but you wonder if the exertions of the last couple of weeks will catch up with Murphy at some point. I would expect a close contest here. Wilson beat Murphy in the Wuhan Open earlier in the season and while I wouldn’t say that won’t happen again here, I respect the Murphy form enough to take Wilson to get to five frames on the +1.5 frame handicap which at odds against is still good value.
Tips
Back G.Wilson (+1.5 frames) to beat S.Murphy for a 3/10 stake at 2.10 with Paddy Power
