Giant-killer Saengkham marches on as qualifier guaranteed to be in China Open final

Saengkham's giant-killing run continues as he defeated Shaun Murphy, 6-4, to reach the seventh ranking event semi-final of his career.

The world number 45 - who had to win two qualifying matches held in Leicester several weeks ago in order to feature in these main venue stages - had already eliminated world number one Judd Trump, and seven-times world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan in recent days.

Thai ace Saengkham took the opening frame of the contest with an 81 before world number six Murphy levelled with the help of a 51, and then nudged 2-1 in front.

Frames either side of the mid-session interval went the way of the underdog (58 break, frame five) as the pendulum swung again, but from behind in frame six, a run of 50 aided reigning British Open Murphy in squaring up at 3-3.

At a crucial juncture, Saengkham managed to stitch together back-to-back frames (67 break, frame seven) for 5-3, but spurned a glorious chance for the match in frame nine which Murphy punished to half his deficit.

However, Saengkham regrouped from that disappointment in the next, fashioning an effort of 85 to record one of the biggest results of his career.

In this his 15th season on snooker's top-flight, 34-year-old Saengkham is guaranteed at least £50,000 for making the last four in China - this equals his previous highest payday in the sport for the 147 he compiled at the 2024 Saudi Arabia Masters.

From his previous six ranking event semi-final appearances, Saengkham won just one - at the 2023 Scottish Open where he defeated John Higgins, 6-3, before being denied a maiden title by Gary Wilson in the final.

Zhou Yuelong into home soil semi-finals

In a match that finished well over five hours after it began, Zhou ousted David Gilbert in a scrappy, protracted deciding frame to tee up a tenth ranking event semi-final of his career.

But Chinese cueman Zhou had to do it the hard way, coming back from 3-0 and 4-1 down to level up at four each.

Gilbert went back into the lead at 5-4, but world number 22 Zhou - a four-time ranking event runner-up - forced the contest all the way where he came through a lengthy and nervy final frame climax.

A bit like Saengkham’s situation, Zhou's previous biggest payday on the professional tour was £45,000, so he is already certain to top that with his work over the past few days.

Two of the best players currently on the World Snooker Tour without a ranking title to their names, a huge opportunity awaits both Saengkham and Zhou this weekend in the Far East.

To view the full draw, results, schedule, and other information from the 2026 China Open snooker, visit our tournament information centre here.