2024 Northern Ireland Open Snooker: Saturday 26th October Semi-Finals Preview, Schedule

George Wood/Getty Images
Only four players remain on course for the 2024 Northern Ireland Open title as we look forward to semi-finals Saturday at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast.

World Championship winners will face opponents looking to claim their maiden ranking event crown, with the £550,400 event now transformed to a single-table set-up.

Semi-final 1: Pang Junxu v Kyren Wilson (13:00BST)

The opening last four fixture brings together reigning World Champion Kyren Wilson and Pang Junxu.

24-year-old Chinese cueist Pang has defeated two world champions en route to the third ranking event semi-final appearance of his career.

The world number 27 eliminated Luca Brecel 4-1 in the last 32 - the third time this season that Pang has seen off the 2023 World Champion on the professional circuit - and in the quarter-finals he stopped Neil Robertson 5-4, showing great maturity and steel as he made breaks of 85 and a 129 total clearance in the final two frames.

Crucible King Wilson has yet to win a Home Nations Series event, but this could be the week to put that record straight.

Having survived back-to-back deciding frame finishes in his opening two assignments, Wilson dropped just two frames in his next two matches; dismissing Stan Moody 4-1 and Mark Williams 5-1 in the last 16 and eight, respectively.

In terms of Pang and Wilson’s career head-to-head record, it is 2-2 in all professional events, and one each in ranking event action. Their most recent encounter was in the last 64 of the 2023 Welsh Open; on that occasion, Pang came out on top with a 4-2 win.

Semi-final 2: Judd Trump v Elliot Slessor (19:00BST)

Judd Trump continues doing Judd Trump things in his pursuit of a record-extending fifth Northern Ireland Open crown.

The defending champion and world number one hit century breaks in successive frames on his way to seeing off Shaun Murphy on Friday night, 5-1.

Trump has dropped just four frames in four matches, so far, and he is into his fifth semi-final of the season, already.

World number 35 Slessor was already having a very good season prior to his trip to the Northern Irish capital, but wins over the past several days against Joe O'Connor (4-2), Long Zehuang (4-2), Lei Peifan (4-1) and Louis Heathcote (5-1) have put him into the last four of a ranking event for the fourth time in his career.

Seven years ago at this same event and venue, Slessor appeared in his maiden raking event semi-final. He knows the task to dethrone Trump will be a very difficult one, but as one of the World Snooker Tour's most improved players of recent times, he is better equipped than ever before to make his first ranking final appearance this weekend.

Reviewing all their previous meetings on the sport's top tier, it's a one-sided scoreline in favour of Trump (five wins to one), although that one for Slessor was their most recent match at the 2021 British Open where he won 3-2 in the last 32.

For full details on the 2024 Northern Ireland Open including the draw, results, prize money, schedule and how to watch, please visit our tournament information centre here.

2024 Northern Ireland Open Snooker, Saturday 26th October semi-finals schedule:

13:00BST

  • Pang Junxu v Kyren Wilson

19:00BST

  • Judd Trump v Elliot Slessor

Both semi-finals are the best of 11 frames with a scheduled mid-session interval after the fourth frame.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.

Register
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice