2024 Xi'an Grand Prix Snooker: Saturday's semi-finals set

One of Kyren Wilson, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Judd Trump or Daniel Wells will collect the £177,000 first prize at the Xi’an Qujiang E-sports Centre and become the inaugural champion of this big-money tournament.

Reigning World Champion Wilson will face seven-time World Champion O'Sullivan in the opening semi-final on Saturday after both players emerged in contrasting fashions.

Having squeezed through against Jimmy Robertson in the last 16 the day before, Wilson was comfortable during this outing as he compiled breaks of 69, 50 and 115 in a 5-1 victory over Xu Si. World number 58 Xi was appearing in the second ranking event quarter-final of his career.

Over on the main feature table, O'Sullivan required a deciding frame to see off Matthew Selt, 5-4.

O'Sullivan had coasted to the last eight stage in Xi'an, having dropped just three frames in four matches in as many days. World number 37 Selt claimed the opening frame, but O'Sullivan levelled before breaks of 56 and 50 assisted “The Rocket” to a 3-1 profit heading into the mid-session interval.

On resumption, Selt struck a 102, although O'Sullivan reached the hill by depositing frame six. However, 2019 Indian Open champion Selt showed his class as runs of 105 and 95 forced the contest all the way.

48-year-old O'Sullivan was not be denied his 93rd ranking event semi-final appearance, though, as he won the decider with two scoring visits.

In ranking events, Wilson and O'Sullivan have played each other six times, and they have shared the spoils with three wins each. The last time they met in professional competition was at the 2022 Championship League invitational, when Wilson won a group match, 3-0.

Judd Trump wins to continue China streak

Judd Trump remains on course for his fourth professional title victory in China within the past 12 months after he defeated David Gilbert, 5-2.

Trump nicked a close opening frame before Gilbert squared up at 1-1, although breaks of 52 and 67 aided Trump to a 3-1 mid-session interval lead.

Gilbert halved the deficit when the duo returned, but efforts of 67 and 94 guided Trump through to the 62nd ranking event semi-final of his career.

The 28-time ranking event champion maintains his 100% winning record this season (9 out of 9 match wins) and he has now won 23 of his last 24 professional matches in China.

If Trump is the last cueist remaining on Sunday, he will become the most decorated ranking event winner in the country. He is currently tied with Mark Selby on seven triumphs each.

World number 65 Daniel Wells completed arguably the greatest win of his professional career, so far, as he recovered from two frames down to dispatch Barry Hawkins, 5-3.

Whilst the other semi-finalists have all won the sport's biggest accolade at the Crucible Theatre, Welshman Wells will be aiming to make his first ranking event final when he plays Trump in Xi'an on Saturday.

Wells secured the opening frame with a 73 break, but contributions of 90 and 80 from four-time ranking event victor Hawkins put him ahead, before the world number 15 extended his lead before the interval.

However, after the break, Wells turned things around, winning three consecutive frames to go on the cusp of victory at 4-3 up. Hawkins scored first in frame eight but it wasn't decisive; Wells sank a long red and compiled with a cool counter of 72 to leave his opponent requiring penalty points.

That wasn’t the end of the drama, though. Hawkins received the penalty points he needed from a snooker he laid on the final blue, but a few moments later there was another twist as Wells - who breathed a sigh of relief - fluked the blue into a middle pocket to cue a concession.

Trump and Wells will meet in the second semi-final. Trump holds a 5-1 career head-to-head record between the two, although Wells won their most recent encounter at last year's Welsh Open when he prevailed 4-2 in the last 32.

For the full draw, results, schedules, format, prize money and how to watch, please visit our 2024 Xi’an Grand Prix Tournament Information Centre here.